FIRE SAFETY & DISASTER RECOVERY SAFETY: NOT AN UNTICKED BOX
There is no one single solution for all evacuation and access problems so companies who supply the equipment must do more to ensure the buyer is well informed, says Evaccess.
In light of recent tragedy, a plethora of new legislation has been bought in to ensure all people of all levels of mobility have a safe and reliable passage of evacuation out of any building of work, leisure or housing. This is a huge step towards equality for persons of reduced mobility but unfortunately, the fear of heavy fines or legal action has caused this issue to be viewed as a box ticking exercise by some companies.
In short, some buildings have been equipped with the evacuation equipment that is most cost efficient but fails to take into consideration the dignity, safety and welfare of the user and the person operating the equipment.
In different buildings, the needs are different; some are used by the public and therefore need equipment that is versatile, some are used by one workplace or residence for one user so could be tailored for their needs, some are used in buildings in place of life breakdowns so therefore need solutions which can travel up and down the stairs.
Overall, it is clear that there is no one single solution for all evacuation and access problems so companies who
supply the equipment must do more to ensure the buyer is well informed before sales.
Users The primary focus when purchasing evacuation solutions must be the user. Buildings which are open to a large number of people, whether that is the public or a large group of building users, may need to be less specific but for those who are buying equipment specifically for a small number of users must do so with them at the forefront of the discussions. It is essential that the user feels dignified and safe. One of the most important questions to ask is whether they transfer from their chair to the equipment in an emergency? This is an issue that is often overlooked which could prove to be disastrous.
Operators Although the user is the primary focus of all access and egress solutions, the person operating the equipment must feel safe and confident to operate it in an emergency. In the current market, the basic skid chairs which most buildings have to ensure compliance within the law are often not suitable for the operators. With a skid chair, the operator relies much more on their own strength which can lead to too big a weight difference causing safety issues. If the operator does not feel safe and confident, there is a huge risk for the user during an evacuation.
Buildings Within a building, there can be different needs and situations which may need to be considered before deciding on a chair. The type of stairs plays a huge part in the type of equipment that can be used. For example, the standard skid chairs will not work. Also, buildings which may need to use their equipment to get both up and down stairs will need to invest in equipment with the capability of doing so.
Training As well as the correct equipment, it is essential that operators have the correct training. For smaller companies or buildings, we would advocate for standard operator training but those with higher staff turnover or more operators may fare better with ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions so the rest can be done in house.
At Evaccess, we ensure that all factors are taken into consideration before recommending the safest and most dignified approach to personal evacuation that will leave all parties feeling safe, confident and dignified.
Remember, safety is not just a box to tick.
www.evaccess.uk
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