Evacuation procedures
were told evacuation sheets have been placed under every mattress, only to find upon inspection that they are not present. Sometimes, where evacuation sheets are present, the mattress off the bed would not fit through the bedroom door, or could not be manoeuvred down narrow staircases with half landings. If this is the case, other solutions – such as evacuation mats, sledges, or chairs – should be put in place. In some cases, a mixture of two products may be required to support horizontal and vertical evacuation. We have seen transit chairs in use where the managers thought they were evacuation chairs – they did not understand Progressive Horizonal Evacuation (PHE) procedures. Even with a PHE process in place, evacuation downstairs may also be required. Some managers still thought the Fire Service was responsible for evacuation.
Key points for managers Even if CQC or the Fire Service have visited, now is time for change. Care home providers and home Managers must be satisfied that they: 1. Understand their building specific fire strategy.
2. Have a current building specific fire risk assessment produced by an experienced competent person, emergency procedures, a process in place for PEEPs (for residents and staff) and Generic Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs – for visitors).
3. Are satisfied a suitable and sufficient number of tried and tested evacuation aids are provided in the building.
4. Have a suitable number of trained staff present 24/7 to implement emergency procedures.
5. They could evacuate all users of their building 24/7 without depending on the Fire Service.
It is important to remember that even when an external fire risk assessor is appointed, this does not absolve the care home provider and manager of ownership and responsibility.
Summary guide to compliance In summary, in order to both demonstrate compliance and ensure peace of mind, care homes should note the following: A. Have an evacuation specific audit carried out by a competent experienced person to look at what provisions you have in place and provide any recommendations,
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if required.
B. An audit should include an inspection of your premises that also includes external escape routes, what provisions you have in place, confirmation that you have the necessary supporting documentation, a discussion with staff at random to confirm their understanding of the action to be taken in the event of an emergency, and – most importantly – that the home manager is satisfied they could evacuate every person in the building to a place of safety without depending on the Fire Service.
C. If you know that you have a need for evacuation equipment, have a survey carried out by a competent person that also includes a demonstration of any equipment recommended to ensure it is fit for purpose and you know exactly what you are getting.
D. When choosing a supplier, question their experience in the care home sector to ensure they understand current requirements and can provide a complete support service that includes a survey, demonstration, supply, installation, commissioning, training, maintenance, and advice.
E. Once relevant stakeholders have approved what is required, ensure all necessary supporting documentation is updated accordingly, an appropriate number of staff are trained, evacuation drills are carried out to test that your emergency procedures are effective, and maintenance and refresher training is carried out at least annually or a deemed appropriate by the Responsible Person.
It is often assumed that provisions are in place when they are not. As such, much more must be done to assist employers and service providers, who should ensure that
Darren Franks
Darren has over 35 years of experience in the fire safety and evacuation sectors and vast experience working in a variety of care homes. He is currently the lead for the Fire Safety Working Group for NASHICS (National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services) and his company GLOBEX assist clients and provide solutions to ensure they can demonstrate compliance with current requirements and provide assurance that everyone can be evacuated safely.
Fire safety, Health and Safety, and Equality requirements are met. Evacuation of mobility impaired persons cannot be left to chance.
References 1
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/ media/5121/report-on-auditing-of-care- homes-by-london-fire-brigade.pdf
2
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/ news/2019-news/february/fire-safety- failures-in-over-half-of-care-homes- audited-in-new-brigade-report/
3
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/ emergency-evacuation-measures-risking- lives-of-disabled-workforce-
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com July 2024
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