Preparedness begins with proper planning
Emergencies are unpredictable and can strike at any time; understanding your legal obligations and being prepared to evacuate everyone requires a robust plan. Evac+Chair are the global leader in emergency evacuation chairs for the mobility impaired, saving and protecting lives since 1982. Nathaniel Thomas-Hall, Head of Export & Innovation shares insights into fire safety compliance, addressing training gaps and the importance of regular maintenance.
What are the key pieces of legislation governing fire safety and maintenance and why are they so important?
In the UK, there are several pieces of legislation that govern fire safety:
1 – The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, which requires every employer “to protect all workers from the risk of injury or harm at work, so far as is reasonably practicable”.
2 – The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, this requires employers to make effective arrangements for safely evacuating all employees in an emergency.
3 – The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), amended by The Fire Safety Act in 2021; which details that the responsible person i.e. Managing Director, Landlord, Building Owner, must ensure the appropriate provisions to evacuate are in place, the premises meet the required standards coupled with relevant fire safety training.
In addition, compliance with fire safety regulations in commercial settings require the responsible person to devise a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) or a Generic Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP).
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is tailormade to secure the safety of a specific person in the event of an emergency evacuation and must be drawn up with the individual, so that the method of evacuation can be agreed.
A Generic Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) is a more catch-all evacuation plan for buildings used by the public or places of work, with a transient workforce. These are focused on visitors to a building who may face access barriers and may not be able to evacuate a building unaided.
An Evac+Chair must be maintained on an annual basis to ensure its safe operation, in line with the PUWER Regulation (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations – UK only).
What is the role of the responsible person and what are the implications if the regulation is not adhered to?
The responsible person is required to ensure the place of work is safe and the relevant fire safety equipment is installed and maintained. A fire risk assessment identifies the hazards that exist and details the necessary preventive measures that are required, to mitigate and reduce any risk. Failure to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is a criminal offence and can result in substantial fines or prosecution.
There is no justification for not preventing the loss of human life, having a robust evacuation plan that is regularly reviewed, updated and tested is crucial to ensuring everyone can be safely evacuated. In addition, the responsible person must ensure that all employees are aware of the evacuation plan and any training that is required is completed and skills are refreshed on a regular basis.
Why is regular training critical for operators of Evac+Chairs and how do you address this need?
Whilst an Evac+Chair is straightforward to deploy and use, it is essential that any operator undergoes thorough hands-on practical training. This will ensure they develop the skills to correctly operate an Evac+Chair, critical in an emergency when speed is of the essence.
Evac+Chair offer two training courses which are both deigned to ensure delegates are not only confident but also competent in the safe operation of an Evac+Chair. With a dedicated team of UK Training Consultants, Evac+Chair pride themselves on delivering comprehensive, interactive and engaging training courses. Leaving organisations with skilled operators who can be relied upon in an emergency, to use the Evac+Chair to safely evacuate mobility impaired individuals.
Evac+Chair strongly recommend that all operators practise regularly to ensure they maintain their skills, so their knowledge doesn’t fade over time. It is also recommended that a visual inspection is carried out on an Evac+Chair on a quarterly basis, to ensure it remains fully operational.
Why is regular maintenance important for an Evac+Chair?
Regular servicing of an Evac+Chair will ensure it remains fully operational throughout its lifetime. Given the nature of the device, it is not typically used daily, however it is vital that it is maintained to ensure that when disaster strikes, it is in full working order.
Evac+Chair offer 1-, 3- or 5-year maintenance contracts which help organisations remain compliant with the PUWER Regulation. With a team of dedicated Maintenance Technicians based throughout the UK, an Evac+Chair annual service provides complete peace of mind that your Evac+Chair is fit for purpose and ready should the need arise.
Based on your experience, what are some common failures organisations encounter when planning or preparing for an evacuation?
The largest issue is the lack of legislation, providing clarity on what is required when it comes to evacuation equipment and preparedness. Without clarity, organisations adopt a culture of non-compliance. An independent study ‘Risky Business’ conducted by Evac+Chair in 2023, highlighted that there is a clear link between a lack of awareness and a lack of preparedness. With almost a quarter (24%) of respondents that did not have evacuation equipment stated this due to it not being a legal requirement. In addition, 22% of decision makers interviewed had some understanding of their obligations when it comes to safe evacuation, whilst 7% had very little understanding.
Any number of unprepared businesses is too many – this is putting businesses at risk and lives in danger. More needs to be done to provide organisations with a concise set of parameters, clearly outlining their responsibilities and the implications of not adhering to them. In addition, it should detail the recommended evacuation equipment that should be installed.
Another pitfall that organisations fall into, is focusing only on permanent mobility impairments and thinking they only require an Evac+Chair should they have an employee with physical disabilities. Temporary and invisible impairments are just as relevant and can also lead to the need for assistance when evacuating. In addition, visitors may also need assistance should they need to be evacuated and therefore organisations must be holistic in their approach to fire safety and evacuation planning.
Evac+Chair are dedicated to creating a safer, more inclusive world and recognise that without clarity, organisations can find the purchase of an Evac+Chair daunting. To help support organisations Evac+Chair provides complimentary evacuation assessments, conducted by their team of nationwide experienced and dedicated specialists. It evaluates the needs of any employees who have a PEEP including their weight, height and medical condition, as well as assessing safety and usability; particularly concerning training. The assessment considers the type of evacuation; ascent, descent or a combination, stair configuration and evacuation route(s), potential obstacles, refuge and assembly points. Additionally, it is imperative that the Evac+Chair is fitted with the correct belts, to ensure the evacuation chair operates correctly. The type of belts required is dependent on the staircase nosing material, also identified during the assessment.
Protecting and saving lives must be taken more seriously, this requires a greater focus and commitment from all employers and the government to create robust plans. Without clarity and legislation governing the landscape, we will continue to have organisations failing to comply with fire safety regulations and putting lives at risk.