COVER STORY
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005) requires the ‘responsible person’, for any non-domestic building or premises, to complete regular fire risk assessments.
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) should be created for any individual who is known to need additional assistance in the event of an emergency, such as members of staff with mobility impairments. A PEEP should be specifically tailored to the individual it is created for and should include:
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Information about the person needing the PEEP – location, position, etc.
• Details of the allocated escape route.
• The person(s) responsible for helping the individual to evacuate safely.
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Information about any emergency equipment required to assist the evacuation.
For retail shopping centres or other buildings used by the general public, it is also necessary to prepare a General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) for any visitor who may be in the premises during an evacuation who will require additional assistance. A GEEP will help those individuals to become familiar with the building’s layout, relevant evacuation procedures and emergency equipment. Instead of being tailored to a specific individual, a GEEP should account for every eventuality to ensure every person within your building is able to evacuate safely should an emergency occur.
It is also important to regularly audit your evacuation procedures to ensure they remain fit for purpose. Frequent evacuation drills will help you to identify any issues with your current evacuation plans, giving you the information you need to make sure your processes are as effective as possible.
3. Train your teams
Regular training for those persons responsible is vital to safeguard your centre’s evacuation procedures. Training should include education on your evacuation procedures and where emergency equipment can be found and how it should be used safely.
Evac+Chair offers a ‘Train the Trainer’ course, which provides key team members with the knowledge they need to train other members of staff in the safe and effective use of your emergency evacuation equipment. This will help to ensure that every member of staff within your building is equipped to assist those with mobility impairments in an emergency situation.
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Case study – Kingsgate Shopping Centre, Dunfermline
Kingsgate Shopping has ensured it is equipped in preparation for safe and effective emergency evacuation by taking part in Evac+Chair’s ‘Train the Trainer’ course. The course forms part of the centre’s commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing for all its visitors and staff.
The multi-retail shopping centre in Dunfermline, North of Edinburgh in Scotland, has around 70 units, spread across two trading levels, and three levels of car parking, covering over 380,000 sq. ft. in total.
“Health and safety and ensuring our visitors and team feel safe is always a priority for us,” explains Neil Mackie, Centre Manager, Kingsgate Shopping Centre.
“This year, we took part in Evac+Chair’s ‘Train the Trainer’ session to enable those responsible to train all 23 members of staff on site – regardless of their roles – on how to use the emergency equipment safely and effectively.
“The whole team now feels completely confident in using these chairs to ensure the safety of other team members and visitors in an emergency.
“I would definitely recommend Evac+Chair to others looking to improve the safety of their premises. We’re extremely happy with both the products and the ongoing service we’ve received.”
www.evacchair.co.uk 13
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