Is your business prepared for an emergency evacuation?

15 Sep Is your business prepared for an emergency evacuation?

Are you prepared for an emergency evacuation?

In business, we often think we are prepared for an emergency evacuation. However, in the event of an emergency, this is not aways the case.

If you have a member of staff or a visitor with a mobility issue. Provision must be provided to ensure their potential escape alongside the people who are able-bodied.

In a building with upper levels, often businesses instruct their employees not to use the lifts in the event of a fire. Therefore the route they are expected to use for means of escape is the staircase. For those less mobile, the case is they may have to wait for assistance for their rescue.

Emergency Evacuations – UK Legislation

Under the current UK legislation, provision must be made for any mobility impaired person within the organisation.

The two acts are the Equality Act 2010 and The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety ) Order 2005.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. States, that employer and organisations must take responsibility to ensure that everyone including disabled people, can leave the building safely in the event of a fire. This is no longer a responsibility for the Fire Service.

People who may require help and assistance

People that may require help are not necessarily those in a wheelchair. Please be aware that people with medical conditions, pregnancy, and injuries or the elderly may also require assistance.

Reasons you may need to evacuate your building

In this modern age, there are many reasons a building may need to be evacuated. Although the most practiced reason in many buildings is fire or a room filling with smoke. There are other reasons we may need to evacuate the building such as terrorist threats, danger from a bomb or bullets. For some companies, this is just as important as planning for a fire.

Planning for these types of events

With any building, a comprehensive risk analysis should be carried out to determine who is at risk and what the risks are within your building. How many floors they are and exits on each floor, what means of escape they are for both people with mobility issues and the able bodied.

The right fire protection equipment should be installed on each floor within your building. Assessment should be made for who is able to operate this equipment and ensuring they have the right training. Regardless of the equipment regular training should be carried out for Fire Marshalls and staff.  Furthermore, the training will help build confidence in using the equipment and carrying out the correct procedures in the event of emergency evacuation.

Contact us for a Fire Risk Assessment

Finally,  for a Fire Risk Assessment of your building call us on 0191 378 1153