DON’T JUST THINK FIRE ‐ THINK ABOUT ACCESS EGRESS AND LIFT BREAKDOWNS
We need to get people into a building but also have a duty of care to safely and with dignity move people up and down stairs once in a building.
One university and we are sure they are not alone, expect the FRS to rescue disabled people from Refuge Areas and as you will see this is not acceptable. We put this to Elspeth Grant whose reply was “I’ve had a look down your comments to the university and you are correct in that their evacuation policy does not meet the RRO. If the FRS is agreeing to this you are also correct in that the most important thing for them is to get this confirmation in writing (signed by an identifiable officer) that their approach meets the RRO and that in the event of a death on their premises that there would not be a risk of prosecution if they follow the FRS advice. I would also advise them to copy their letter to the relevant Chief Fire Officer.”
Building regulations recognise the need to have buildings that are accessible and user‐friendly to all who may use them, including disabled people. The Equality Act ensures equality and access to buildings for disabled people within reason. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) makes the responsible person take account of the evacuation plans of everyone in a building, including disabled people.
Under current fire safety legislation it is the responsibility of the person(s) having responsibility for the building to provide a fire safety risk assessment that includes an emergency evacuation plan for all people likely to be in the premises, including disabled people, and how that plan will be implemented. Such an evacuation plan should not rely upon the intervention of the FRS to make it work. In the case of multi‐occupancy buildings, responsibility may rest with a number of persons for each occupying organisation and with the owners of the building. It is important that they co‐ operate and co‐ordinate evacuation plans with each
other. This could present a particular problem in multi‐ occupancy buildings when the different escape plans and strategies need to be co‐ordinated from a central point.
Where an employer or a service provider does not make provision for the safe evacuation of disabled people from its premises, this may be viewed as discrimination. It may also constitute a failure to comply with the requirements of the fire safety legislation mentioned above.’
WHAT IF THE FIRE SERVICE IS CALLED ELSEWHERE AND CAN’T ATTEND QUICKLY, WOULD YOU WAIT?
Swallow EMP offer the largest range of powered and manual models to cover different stairs, landings and people’s needs. We are not all the same!
Consider fairly the means of escape for disabled people, don’t base it on cost.
In the West Midlands there are increasing incidents where vehicles are blocking fire stations. So act responsibly by providing the correct and most suitable solutions so that disabled people are being evacuated and not left for the FRS.
More organisations are outsourcing but the problem here is that a preferred supplier may not be authorised to service chairs and the therefore invalidating the warranties. Also no choice of models. Costly cost cutting!
Contact SwallowEMP who offer a range of products so that you are being given a choice not directed to one design. Here to supply, service and train.
SWALLOW EVACUATION & MOBILITY PRODUCTS LTD
info@swallowemp.com |
www.swallowemp.com TELEPHONE: 0121 444 3690
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