EMERGENCY EVACUATION : EVAC + CHAIR
The ‘ responsible person ’ will need to consider :
• Fire detection and warning systems
• Emergency routes and exits
• Fire-fighting equipment
• The removal or safe storage of dangerous substances
• An emergency fire evacuation plan
• The needs of vulnerable people
• Providing information to employees and other people on the premises
• Staff fire safety training
• Emergency evacuation equipment
This also includes the identification of people at risk such as those with mobility issues or disabilities , and the provision of specific training to help these people in any type of emergency evacuation .
A general emergency evacuation plan - known as a ‘ GEEP ’ - for the evacuation in a terror threat must state all the actions needed to be carried out , including provisions for the calling of emergency services . This is also to be completed by the ‘ responsible person ’.
Steps to carrying out the GEEP assessment include :
• Identify any potential hazards
• Identify the people at risk
• Evaluate , remove or reduce the risks
• Record your findings , prepare an emergency plan and provide training
• Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly
Under the legislation , the responsible person must develop a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan , known as a ‘ PEEP ’. The aim of this is to provide people who cannot get themselves out of a building unaided during an emergency with the necessary information to be able to manage their escape from the building .
PEEPs are not just for people with physical disabilities . PEEPs are for those who might need help during an evacuation or for conditions which might hinder escape ; including those with children , the elderly and those not able to move quickly .
Well thought out and thorough PEEPs are important in making workplaces safe for everybody and demonstrate commitment to improving accessibility . During the preplanning stage , difficult questions need to be answered to ensure everyone can evacuate a building safely during an emergency .
Your responsible person must adhere to the following questions in pre-planning :
• Do we have an emergency evacuation plan ?
• Have we considered everyone in our PEEP ?
• Do we have the correct evacuation equipment which can ensure everyone ’ s safety ?
• Do we have a trained , incident response team ?
• Do we have regular evacuation drills to check our procedures ?
Gary Hicks , Emergency Management Consultant and Manager of the Evac + Chair DMCC branch , UAE at Evac + Chair International , hosted a workshop focused on evacuation during security threats or terrorism at The Health & Safety Event 2017 , Birmingham NEC .
“ Over the past two decades , security incidents on the western world ’ s tall buildings have been well-documented . During that time , many considerations and processes have been implemented to reduce the risks associated with these events happening in the future .
“ It ’ s the responsibility of an employer to ensure everyone is evacuated to safety . They must ensure their emergency response and management teams are specially trained to deal with an incident until the emergency services arrive at the scene and take control .
“ Now more than ever , evacuation plans need to be considered , well-documented and taken seriously , so that we do everything possible to ensure building user safety .”
ASSISTED EQUIPMENT - Ensuring the vulnerable are safe during evacuation
It ’ s a legal requirement for business owners to provide a means of escape for everybody using their buildings . All evacuation aids must be in a designated refuge point .
Undoubtedly , evacuation chairs have proved to be the most efficient and user-friendly as they enable the operator and passenger to safely exit the building quickly and efficiently .
It was during one of the most devastating terrorist incidents of the 21st century that an Evac + Chair carried John Abruzzo - a C 5-6 quadriplegic who relies on an electric wheelchair for mobility - from the 69th floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center on 11th September 2001 , to safety .
In addition to evacuation chairs , many types of evacuation products may be required , such as slide sheets , rescue mats and stretchers , to meet varying requirements .
By providing correct information and all the right equipment , Evac + Chair International continues to emphasise the importance of emergency evacuation training to ensure all workplaces are prepared for a terror threat .
For more information or for a free site evaluation to assess your evacuation needs , visit : www . evacchair . co . uk
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HSE INTERNATIONAL