ADVERTORIAL Fire evacuation – know your PEEPS
members who have been trained to use vital emergency evacuation equipment, such as evacuation chairs, to aid the mobility-impaired.”
The PEEP guide is available to download from the Evac+Chair website:
www.evacchair.co.uk/news/peep-guide
Using the necessary equipment to evacuate buildings safely When installing evacuation equipment, such as Evac+Chairs, it is vital the requirements of the building and its personnel are considered. Under the Equality Act 2010, a ‘disabled person’ is defined as someone with a physical or mental impairment which has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long- term’ effect on their ability to do normal daily activities such as descending stairs unaided. There are also times when individuals have temporary mobility impairments, such as a sporting injury or pregnancy. A mobility impairment will affect an individuals ability to evacuate themselves and therefore the 'responsible person' must provide a safe and quick means of escape for them. Evacuation chairs have proven to be most
B
eing prepared for an emergency situation is important for any organisation, as this
will ensure everyone can be safely evacuated. Additional measures need to be considered and implemented to accommodate those who have a temporary or permanent mobility-impairment and having such measures documented, in a PEEP or GEEP will ensure the safety of everyone. Accessibility for everyone is essential for any
business. The objective of an evacuation plan is to ensure that anyone with mobility impairments can be safely evacuated in an emergency. Gerard Wallace, Managing Director at Evac+Chair International, explains the legal backdrop and best practice.
What does the law say? It is no longer the responsibility of the Fire Service to facilitate the evacuation of non-domestic premises, which is outlined in the Regulatory Form Order for Fire Safety 2005. It is the designated ‘responsible person’ (the person having control of the building, or a degree of control, like landlords and business owners) who must ensure that everyone is evacuated quickly and safely in an emergency. Evacuation procedures should have designated
and trained staff, to support those in need during the evacuation process. These employees must undertake practical training in the use and operation of any evacuation equipment that may need to be deployed during an evacuation. Under the Management of Health and Safety
at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a duty to assess any risks that affect the health and safety of employees and put in place appropriate procedures to be followed ‘in the event of serious and imminent danger’. Put simply, it is not enough to ensure that your building is accessible – you also have to ensure it
can be exited safely by all building occupants in an emergency.
Importance of a PEEP To comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, as an employer it is your legal responsibility to ensure all staff and visitors in the workplace can evacuate safely in an emergency, this includes able bodied people as well as the mobility impaired. Failure to do so could result in a fine or, in the event of a fatality, the 'responsible person' could be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter. A PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) is
used for employees who require additional help when evacuating a building. It forms part of a legal requirement for an employer to provide a safe and effective means of escape for all persons, requiring assistance in the event of a lift being inoperative, a fire or other emergency. It should be completed in collaboration with the line manager and/or the human resources department and the individual. Once a PEEP is complete, it is important to
discuss any issues of concern relating to emergency evacuation with all key stakeholders, including the individual involved. A PEEP questionnaire will enable individuals who are specially trained in an emergency evacuation, to know what to do should the need arise. Available to download today, Evac+Chair has
created a PEEP guide to help ensure businesses nationwide have access to emergency procedure plans in case of a safety breach including, fire, smoke hazards or even acts of terrorism. Gerard Wallace, managing director at
Evac+Chair International, says: “Evac+Chair understands the importance of emergency situations and fire assessments. “It is essential that businesses have emergency evacuation plans in place alongside selected team
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September 2021
efficient and user-friendly, enabling the operator and passenger to safely exit the building. Due to the possibility of more than one person needing assistance, other types of evacuation products may be required such as slide sheets, rescue mats, evacuation chairs or stretchers. All evacuation aids need to be in a designated refuge point which is specified in the buildings’ fire strategy. Each fire exit has to accommodate the able-bodied and mobility-impaired therefore all equipment has to be readily available and accessible at the refuge point. Evac+Chairs offer a simple and effective
solution to ensure a safe exit from work for an increasingly diverse workforce. Even though many assume that their office’s fire alarm is unlikely to ever go off – unless it is an evacuation drill. Therefore, it is essential that these precautions are taken into account when installing safety escape routes in the workplace for those who are disabled. Safe evacuation isn’t just the purchase of an
evacuation chair. Evac+Chair offer UK Nationwide coverage for customer support, training and maintenance, providing complete peace of mind. Evac+Chair offer FREE evacuation assessments and recommend that you have one of these prior to the purchase of an evacuation chair.
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