HSE International ISSUE 112 | Page 52

EMERGENCY EVACUATION: EVAC+CHAIR ENSURING SAFE EVACUATION FOR ALL DURING A SECURITY THREAT A s the current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is severe, Gerard Wallace from Evac+Chair says, “now every business owner nationwide, should ensure they have comprehensive and up-to-date evacuation procedures in place”. Although similar, emergency evacuation procedures caused by security threats are tailored differently to fire evacuation procedures; if evacuating a building to a nearby car park or clearly marked evacuation point in a public area isn’t sensible, for example. Neither is evacuating to a location within 500m of a building. Emergency evacuation therefore requires the implementation of adapted procedures suitable for this growing threat. A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, known as a ‘PEEP’, must also be in place to ensure the needs of all employees and visitors are adhered to. This is particularly important for those who are mobility-impaired and require additional help when evacuating. Safe evacuation - An employer’s responsibility As stated in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is no longer the responsibility of the fire service to facilitate evacuation of non-domestic premises - it’s an employer’s. The order emphasises the need for risk reduction and fire prevention - key considerations for any pre-planning. 52 HSE INTERNATIONAL As a result, company owners must ensure their buildings are well-prepared for evacuating all – employees, visitors, students or the mobility-impaired – safely and efficiently. Alongside coherent and wide-ranging evacuation procedures, trained team members who have undergone practical training in the operation of any evacuation equipment must be in place. In addition to fire evacuation procedures, regular drills for the provision of security threats should be held to ensure all staff are familiar with procedures. PRE-PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL During a security threat, no matter what the circumstance, it can be difficult to stay calm and collected, which is why pre-planning is essential in order to anticipate, identify and mitigate any problems with evacuation; especially for those who are mobility-impaired. The government gives specific recommendations during a terror threat - run, hide, tell. However, not all people can escape from danger quickly, so it is the responsibility of the business owner – also referred to as the responsible person – to ensure safe, fast and easy evacuation for all. 