Abstract: Actuation assemblies for emergency devices (e.g., inflatable life rafts carried on-board an aircraft) are provided with enhanced (preferably multiple) levels of security to preclude inadvertent unlatching and/or deployment but also allow access to an on-board emergency device removably positioned within a device bay of the vehicle which is normally covered by an access panel. The actuation assembly may be provided with a rotatable actuation shaft, a manually operated actuation lever fixed to the actuation shaft so as to rotate the actuation shaft in response to movement of the actuation lever between stowed and deployed conditions thereof, and a safety locking system operably connected to the rotatable shaft and having a locked condition which prevents operation of the actuation lever to thereby maintain the actuation assembly in a safe mode during normal vehicle operation, and an armed mode which allows the actuation lever to be moved into the deployed condition thereof.