Fire Safety & Security
Managing fire safety: Regular training saves lives
T
he educational calendar brings a constant influx of new occupants to a school or college building year on year. As a result, emergency evacuation planning has to be frequently reviewed, revisited and communicated.
Comment by Paul Colder, Head of Marketing, Evac+Chair International
Taking responsibility for avoiding fatalities and injuries in the event of a fire or emergency therefore requires close management, and regular training is at the heart of this. The Equality Act 2010 reiterates key elements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 by stating that business managers and heads of organisations have a legal duty for ensuring that all people, including those with mobility problems, can evacuate a building safely in the event of a fire. It is no longer the responsibility of the fire service.
Headteachers and principals must therefore take the lead in ensuring that elected fire marshalls regularly implement and refresh training, not only in evacuating a building, but also in how to use specialist equipment, such as evacuation chairs which can help mobility impaired individuals descend staircases safely in the event of an emergency. Aids to evacuation simply become redundant if there isn’t widespread knowledge of how to use or operate them. It’s also important to appreciate that personalised evacuation planning doesn’t just apply to those with permanent disabilities; pregnant women and those with sports injuries are just two examples of individuals who may require additional assistance and specialist aids
should the need arise to vacate a building in an emergency. Furthermore, for all occupants, familiarity with the relevant procedures can help alleviate common fears that lead to panic. Regular training and drills should be supported by robust Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for those with mobility problems. Identifying relevant escape routes and refuge areas (where the mobility impaired can await assistance from elected individuals) are essential components of these plans. However, PEEPs become meaningless if the individuals concerned are not regularly consulted, in order to ensure the procedures laid out become second nature and changes in their circumstances can be reviewed and accounted for. To better enable this, we facilitate training for ‘key trainers’ on Evac+Chair emergency evacuation chairs - these ‘key trainers’ can then train other staff and pupils, thereby creating a robust network of knowledge and support.
Decision makers in the education sector must firstly recognise the likelihood of an emergency becoming reality and they can then use their influence to co-ordinate staff to implement regular fire drills and training. Practice and familiarity are the foundations of a successful evacuation procedure but without adopting a hands-on approach to this well before an emergency, lives will inevitably be put in danger.
uFor more information about Evac+Chair visit
www.evac-chair.co.uk
The Evac+Chair model 300H Mk4 32
www.education-today.co.uk
An Evac+Chair being operated during a drill February 2012
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