Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Worked example 5 – Persons cannot
safely evacuate in the event of fi re
An employer (responsible person) whose
main operations involve the use of a four
storey offi ce facility has recently employed
two physically disabled persons. The hazard
that this presents is that the disabled persons
may take excessive time to escape to a
place of safety.
Specifi c persons at risk are clearly the disabled
persons themselves but also those who
may assist them to escape and potentially
anyone else whom they may obstruct during
the evacuation.
There are no existing controls such as arrangements
for assisting those with disabilities, particularly as
they are working on the second fl oor, access to which
is via a lift. There has, however, been discussion by the
management team for the provision of two ‘evac chairs’
to be provided in the staircase areas at either end of the
second fl oor.
The risk category with controls is likely to refl ect a
medium/high or high risk rating for those who may be
affected.
Additional controls will revolve around the production
of personal emergency evacuation plans for each
of the disabled persons (or a standard emergency
evacuation plan which may cover all disabled persons).
Controls are likely to include the use of an area within the
protected staircases either end (known as a refuge area),
the provision of methods for evacuation, e.g. evac chair,
trained competent members of staff who may assist
persons using the evac chair, the provision of information
to all staff in relation to the evacuation procedures for
those with disabilities, a review of the fi re safety policy
arrangements to include persons with disabilities. It may
also be possible to consider the upgrading of the existing
lift to that of an evacuation lift.
In terms of prioritisation an initial review as to the
potential for those with physical disabilities to work on
the ground fl oor (until such time as remedial actions can
be implemented) required the provision of evac chairs
and training with a Priority 3 rating, together with raising
staff awareness, plus the review of the policy with a
Priority rating of 3/4 and the provision of an evacuation
lift (Priority 5).
Reviewing and revising the fi re risk assessment
Having completed the fi re risk assessment it must be
kept under review to ensure that it remains valid. The fi re
Fire risk assessment
Figure 14.6 HMG Guide to Means of Escape for
Disabled People
or health and safety policy must refl ect this and establish
a programme to ensure that assessments are reviewed
as part of an organisation’s management system and
also to comply with the legal duties.
There are a number of circumstances that may
affect the validity of the fi re risk assessment which
include changes to the following.
The internal or external layout of the premises,
which may affect:
➤ Means of escape (numbers, time taken to reach,
accessibility, etc.)
➤ Compartmentation (changes to the lines of fi re
resistance)
➤ Emergency lighting layout (numbers of units, positioning,
illumination)
➤ Fire warning/detection systems (positioning, zoning,
staged system).
The people or groups of people who may be affected:
➤ Larger numbers may affect the ability of the escape
routes to cope in an emergency
➤ Ages of the persons who may resort to the premises
such as children or elderly persons who may require
additional assistance for evacuation
➤ Those with disabilities who may not be able to evacu -
ate on their own, hear the fi re alarm or otherwise
respond.
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