Last updated: May 2026
A Code Black is called in a hospital when staff require emergency assistance because a patient or other person poses a serious safety risk to others in the organisation. Incidents may involve armed or unarmed aggressors threatening to harm themselves or others — including bomb threats, hostage situations, active shooters, or threats to a specific person’s life.
Resolution Education has 28 years combined of experience in adult training and education, specialising in de-escalation, OVA, and dealing with difficult people — including delivering specialist Code Black training to healthcare organisations across Australia.
How Can Organisations Improve Their Code Black Procedures?
Increase Code Black awareness among all staff — every employee should know when and how to call a Code Black and who will respond.
Practise drills with Code Black teams — scheduled drills build confidence, competence, and procedural fluency in a low-risk setting.
Ensure clarity around Code Black team roles — each team member must know their exact responsibility before an incident occurs.
Review all Code Black incidents — post-incident review identifies trends, prevents recurrence, and improves response procedures.
Focus on de-escalation — verbal de-escalation strategies reduce the severity of incidents and minimise the need for physical intervention.
This article is for: healthcare managers, nursing unit managers, WHS officers, security coordinators, and team leaders responsible for Code Black procedures in hospitals, aged care facilities, emergency services, and community health organisations across Australia.
This may not apply if: your organisation already has fully embedded Code Black procedures with regular drills, clearly defined team roles, structured post-incident review, and active de-escalation training in place.
Many healthcare organisations operate with a set of codes that alert staff to emergencies within the workplace. These codes are categorised by colour and ensure efficient communication, quick response time, and increased safety of all involved.
source: firewize
What Is a Code Black in a Hospital?
In the healthcare sector, there are many colour-coded incidents that staff use to communicate emergencies with each other. They can be announced over speakers or pagers and tell staff what to prepare for. A Code Black call is significant in relation to Occupational Violence and Aggression.
A Code Black is called when staff require emergency assistance because a patient or other person(s) poses a serious safety risk to others in the organisation (staff, volunteers, patients, visitors, etc). Incidents may involve armed or unarmed aggressors threatening to harm themselves or others. Violence is likely, and the code could even refer to a bomb threat, a hostage situation, an active shooter, or a threat to a specific person’s life.
What Is Code Black in an Emergency?
In an emergency setting, code black has the same meaning – a violent threat is underway, and the Code Black team must be deployed to de-escalate the situation. If there is another kind of emergency happening at the same time, the team should have procedures for how to deal with this.
What Is Code Black in Surgery?
The security threat is the same when a code black is called during a surgery, but in this case the threat may be coming from staff, a patient, a visitor, or another outside party while the surgery is occurring or in the theatre. Surgery staff will call the Code Black team to help with the situation so that they can continue with their work.
What Is the Code Black Team?
Healthcare organisations create Code Black teams whose responsibility is to answer these Code Black calls. This means that in the event of an emergency, they, along with security personnel and emergency services, are called on immediately to de-escalate the situation. However, there are some ways these Code Black teams falter which results in a lack of efficiency and a decrease in the level of safety. That is why Code Black training provided by Resolution Education is becoming so popular.
What are other hospital colour codes? Other colour codes include grey for aggressive persons, red for fire, brown for external disasters, yellow for internal disasters, and orange for evacuation. Remember that some codes can differ between hospitals, so staff should always be updated on procedures.
Outlined in this article are common mistakes these teams make, how to avoid them and how to improve your Code Black procedures overall.
How Can Organisations Improve Their Code Black Procedures?
Tip #1: Increase Code Black Awareness Among All Staff
One of the key aspects of effective Code Black systems is that every employee — whether they are a part of the Code Black team or not — recognises exactly when and how to call a Code Black as well as who will be responding if they do. If an organisation does not provide this necessary information, it creates confusion among employees around boundaries and what constitutes an emergency, a lack of trust in the workplace support system, and an increased risk of danger to staff and members of the public. It is important that organisations take the time to clearly define within their team what a Code Black is and when to call one.
Suggestion: It is recommended that companies create a work environment where there is a consistent understanding of boundaries, the steps taken when a Code Black is called and each person’s role to play in a Code Black procedure.
Tip #2: Practise Drills With Code Black Teams Regularly
Practising drills builds confidence and competence when dealing with emergencies. Many organisations have Code Black systems in place, but they fail to drill employees on them. This is an issue because it means their Code Black teams lack the knowledge and skill to carry out the emergency protocols effectively. When teams are provided with scheduled practise drills, there is time for immediate corrective instruction in a low-risk setting, reinforcement of new learning, and procedural fluency. Therefore, team members are better equipped to safely handle a Code Black call in their workplace.
Suggestion: Try to take your Code Black team out every couple of months to practise different drills, increase confidence, and improve any weak areas in the procedures.
Tip #3: Ensure Clarrity Around Code Black Team Roles
When a Code Black is called, members of the Code Black team should be well-trained on their part in the procedure. Issues arise when there is confusion about each team member’s role and responsibility, resulting in a lack of structure in the procedure and a delay in response time. This creates a level of danger that could be prevented with clarity around roles.
Resolution Education’s Code Black Training allows for up to six roles in a Code Black scenario, depending on the healthcare facility:
Communicator: The lead team members on the team and the first point of communication with the aggressor.
Left Arm: The team member in charge of securing the left arm of the aggressor*
Right Arm: The team member in charge of securing the right arm of the aggressor*
Guide/Observer: The team member approaching from the back helps move the aggressor during the restraint by coordinating the Left and Right Arm or observes what is happening and contacts the police to escalate the situation if needed.
Controller: The team member tasked with handling doors and other people in the area.
Clinical Staff: The team member required to administer medication and check the well-being of the aggressor.
*Only required if doing restraints.Suggestion: Take a moment to clearly define the roles that each Code Black team member is responsible for and communicate these roles with all staff.
Tip #4: Review All Code Black Incidents
A significant aspect of effective Code Black procedures is reviewing incidents after they take place. Many organisations do not allow time to review incidents even though it helps determine trends and identify patterns. Not only does this prevent incidents from reoccurring, but it creates an opportunity to assess and adapt responses and adjust roles where necessary.
Suggestion: To ensure the greatest safety within your organisation, take time to review incidents with the Code Black team and adjust procedures accordingly.
Tip #5: Focus on De-escalation
Focusing on de-escalation strategies can help reduce the severity of Code Black incidents. Many organisations are not aware of the benefits of using verbal techniques to de-escalate a situation before it turns to physical intervention. All Code Black team members can be trained on these de-escalation strategies which will minimise the need to physically intervene and therefore reduce the level of danger for all involved.
Suggestion: Take time to up-skill staff on effective de-escalation strategies, this will ensure a reduced number of physical interventions and greater safety in the workplace.
Resolution Education’s training is built on the A.D.P. Framework — Awareness, De-escalation, and Protection — which outlines the necessary skills and steps needed to prevent and respond to difficult situations effectively. It is comprised of three modules, all of which are key components of an effective OVA prevention and response strategy.
If you need help training your staff and Code Black teams, as well as creating drills for practising incidents, then fill out the form below as we at Resolution Education would be happy to outline training programs that meet your specific needs.
Key Takeaways: Improving Code Black Procedures
All staff need Code Black awareness — not just the response team. Every employee should know the trigger, the process, and who responds.
Drills build real readiness — having a system in place is not enough. Regular, scheduled drills are what build the confidence and fluency needed in a real incident.
Role clarity is critical — confusion about who does what during a Code Black creates dangerous delays. Roles must be defined and communicated before an incident occurs.
Review every incident — post-incident review is how organisations stop the same mistakes from recurring and continuously improve their response.
De-escalation reduces harm — verbal de-escalation strategies are the most effective way to reduce the number and severity of physical Code Black interventions.
Glossary of Key Terms
Code Black — a hospital emergency code called when staff require immediate assistance because a person poses a serious safety risk, including armed or unarmed aggressors, bomb threats, hostage situations, or active shooter scenarios.
Code Grey — a hospital emergency code for a threatening or aggressive person who is typically unarmed, handled by the organisation’s internal response team without requiring emergency services.
OVA (Occupational Violence and Aggression) — various forms of abuse, threats, and assaults that individuals may encounter while working that can result in physical or psychological harm. These acts can originate from external sources such as customers or the public, as well as internal sources like colleagues. Read more on OVA.
A.D.P. Framework — Resolution Education’s training framework comprising three modules: Awareness, De-escalation, and Protection, which are all key components of an effective OVA prevention and response strategy. Learn more.
De-escalation — the use of verbal and non-verbal techniques to reduce the intensity of a threatening or aggressive situation, with the goal of preventing physical intervention.
Post-incident review — a structured process conducted after a Code Black event to assess the team’s response, identify patterns, and determine updates needed to procedures or training.
Communicator role — the lead Code Black team member responsible for being the first and primary point of verbal communication with the aggressor during a Code Black response.
Controller role — the Code Black team member responsible for managing doors and other people or patients in the area during a Code Black incident.
Our Expert Perspective on Strengthening Code Black Procedures
“Organisations that manage Code Black situations most effectively approach their procedures as evolving systems — continuously refined through regular drills, structured debriefs, and ongoing investment in de-escalation training. This proactive approach not only builds team confidence, but also supports earlier intervention, helping to resolve situations before they escalate to physical responses.
With 28 years of experience delivering this training across Australia and New Zealand, we consistently see how organisations that embed these practices create safer environments for both staff and the people they support. The difference is clear — and it reflects a strong commitment to continuous improvement and safety.”
— Resolution Education Australia Training Team
What Our Clients Say About Resolution Education Training
“This was very beneficial. The trainer’s delivery, training and explanations were exceptional!”
— Renee Smith
Resolution Education delivers Code Black training and de-escalation training to healthcare organisations across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and throughout regional and remote Australia. Contact us today to discuss a training program tailored to your team’s specific needs.
Written by the training team at Resolution Education Australia — specialists in occupational violence and aggression (OVA) training, Code Black training, and workplace conflict resolution, with 28 years of experience in adult training and education delivering practical, hands-on training to healthcare organisations, aged care facilities, and community services providers across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can leaders make sure all staff understand the difference between Code Black and other emergency codes?Leaders can run short education sessions that clearly explain each colour code, using real examples from their own wards or departments so staff can connect the codes with specific situations they may encounter . Simple visual aids such as posters, lanyard cards and quick-reference flowcharts can then reinforce when to activate Code Black compared with other codes during day-to-day work .
How can leaders make sure the Code Black procedure for their organisation is effective?Leaders can ensure their Code Black procedure is effective by regularly reviewing and updating policies to reflect current risks, legislation, and best practice standards. Clear documentation should outline when to call a Code Black, who responds, individual team roles, communication protocols, and when to escalate to emergency services.
Effectiveness also depends on practical implementation. This includes conducting regular drills, providing structured de-escalation and physical safety training, running post-incident debriefs, and gathering staff feedback to identify gaps. Leaders should also ensure new staff receive induction training and that all team members understand both preventative strategies and emergency response responsibilities.
How can organisations reduce hesitation in calling a Code Black when a situation is escalating?Organisations can set clear behavioural thresholds and communicate that staff will be supported when they call a Code Black based on those guidelines, even if the situation later settles quickly . Regular debriefs that positively reinforce early, appropriate activation help build a culture where safety is prioritised over fear of “overreacting” or criticism .
What practical steps can improve communication between the Code Black team and the rest of the workplace during an incident?Allocating a dedicated Controller or communicator to liaise with nearby staff, reception and security ensures essential information—such as location, level of risk and any changes—is shared promptly and consistently . Organisations can also identify preferred communication tools (for example, phones, duress alarms or radios) and practise using them during drills so that everyone knows how updates will be delivered in real time.
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