Feature


Health In The Workplace


Offering easy access to health and safety


By Julia Pons, director at Evaccess


All workers are entitled to work in environments where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. The primary responsibility for this is down to employers who have a duty to consult with their employees or their representatives, on health and safety matters. The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) looks at factors like race, gender,


disability, age and work patterns that may affect people’s health and safety in the workplace - sometimes health and safety is used as a false excuse to justify discriminating against certain groups of workers. The issue of access and egress in particular carries many safety and health issues. We need to ensure that people can enter a building, travel between


floors and have a safe and dignified means of escape. Unfortunately, some business owners suggest that if can’t get people out a building they won’t let them in. This, of course, is unacceptable. There are many means available such as ramps, Flex Steps, lifts and stair climbers, so there will be an option that suits your building and the individual’s needs.


People with reduced mobility and what to consider: Look at your evacuation plan: Staff may enter via one route but in an emergency, that route may not be available. Exits may also be hindered by lifts being out of action or restricted, so plan ahead.


The individual:What assistance do they require for a safe and dignified means of escape? If they are in a manual or powered wheelchair, provide a stair climber that enables them to remain in their chair and have mobility as others do. There are of course people who require assistance but you may not be able to identify their disability, so that may be missed when looking at Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). In such cases, one option available is an evacuation app that everyone can complete, which will highlight the needs of individuals and show the appropriate escape route or access route. This is also ideal for visitors.


Stairs and landings: Check the sizes and request information about the most appropriate piece of equipment. With new builds, make sure evacuation staircases have landings big enough for the largest equipment available.


Equipment and operators:Whatever equipment you are looking at, you need to ensure that you have volunteers who are willing and able to operate the equipment. This is not an issue with powered equipment but manual evacuation chairs may pose a problem.


‘We need to ensure that people can enter a building, travel between floors and have a safe and dignified means of escape’


Why would you expect your staff to take someone heavier than themselves


down stairs in an evacuation chair when they would not be expected to do this in a normal situation with the implications of manual handling? In a recent case study, a university employee, who was also a wheel chair


user, had been evaluated for access to work. It was then discovered that the manual evacuation chairs that they had purchased were unsuitable, as she would not have her wheelchair when evacuated for the building. It was also unsuitable because of her disability and the pain she would suffer using it. So, from an access point of view, she was cleared to enter and exit the building, but in an emergency or lift breakdown she had no means of escape. This is a very common scenario as some assessors assume wheelchair users are happy for their wheelchairs to be left behind, as at least they would be out of the building! A powered stairclimber, which only required one person, was supplied and she can now safely access and evacuate the university. Importantly, she also has her wheelchair.


44 CHAMBERLINK October 2017 This case study had a positive outcome; those with reduced mobility


could access and evacuate the building, while the equipment operators were not at risk of injuries due to their inability to use inappropriate equipment. Additionally, the business can promote itself as one that offers access and egress for all. When it comes to creating an evacuation plan, it should consider all the


above factors. Avoid simply ticking boxes as that could lead to a costly mistake, and take advantage of site surveys by companies that specialise in a full range of powered and manual evacuation equipment so you have a comprehensive choice and correct solutions. An informed initial decision making process will save time, money and, more importantly, consider the safety of the individual to access and egress the building with dignity.


For more information email julia@evaccess.uk


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