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Procedures for fire and other emergencies should always include provisions for the evacuation of people with disability.
As an employer, it is your responsibility to make sure all employees are aware of the evacuation procedures in the workplace. Essential Steps A “Fire Warden” should be nominated for each work area, i.e. per floor in an office building, or a section of a warehouse or factory, etc. During an emergency, the Fire Warden should assign an appropriate person (a “buddy”) to assist each person with a mobility impairment. - Identify a refuge area for people with reduced mobility (eg. fire isolated stairwells).
- Fire Warden to advise emergency personnel (ie. Fire Fighters and Police) of the location of people with reduced mobility in refuge areas.
- Evacuation drills should be conducted regularly, including practice for evacuating people with disability.
- Emergency exits should be clearly shown using illuminated exit signs.
- Emergency and evacuation procedures should be clearly displayed on appropriate signage.
Employees with disability Fire Wardens should be aware of any people with mobility impairments in their work area.
A mobility impairment is a physical, psychological, intellectual or sensory impairment, either temporary or permanent, which results in a person requiring assistance during an emergency evacuation.
Suggestions on how to modify evacuation procedures to include employees with a range of mobility impairments are provided below. However, it is always best to discuss evaluation procedures with your employees as they will be the experts in any equipment and adjustments that they will require.
Wheelchair users
Evacuation strategy should be developed with the wheelchair user to take individual issues into account.
It may be appropriate to advise local emergency personnel that there are wheelchair users in the workplace particularly if located in high rise buildings.
It is not recommended to lift the person out of their wheelchair and carry them.
There should be adequate space within fire isolated stairwells for a wheelchair user to turn around. Fire isolated stairwells are protected from fire and smoke for up to two hours and can be a safe refuge area. Specialist evacuation chairs and other equipment are available for installation in business premises: Evacuation Chairs Australia http://www.evacuationchairs.com.au/ Independent Living Centres http://www.ilcaustralia.org/home/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=44&MinC=50
People who are Deaf or hard of hearing
A flashing light alarm should be installed in work areas, including bathrooms.
If no flashing alarm is installed, a co-worker should be assigned to assist the Deaf or hearing impaired worker. People who have vision impairment Install tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) on the approach to fire stairs, which indicate a change in terrain for people who are blind or vision impaired (only 5% of people with a vision impairment have no sight at all).
Brightly coloured step edges aid people with vision impairment and are recommended for use in fire stairwells. Anxiety or other mental illness Emergency situations can be particularly stressful for people with anxiety or other mental illnesses.
For people with disclosed anxiety or mental illnesses, a “buddy” should be assigned to assist them in the evacuation process.
Emergency Procedures Checklist
Have the evaluation procedures been developed to consider the needs of all employees? Has a Fire Warden been assigned to each work area? Is the Fire Warden aware of any people with disability in their area? Are all employees familiar with the evacuation procedures? Are evacuation drills conducted regularly, including practice for evacuating people with disabilities Are smoke detectors and fire extinguishers installed and regularly tested? Are flashing light fire alarms installed? Are Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs) installed in stairwells? Has each employee with a mobility impairment been assigned a “buddy”? Are all emergency exits clear and unobstructed? Are the emergency procedures clearly displayed? Are the emergency procedures available in appropriate formats to meet the needs of all employees?
Related hyperlinks: Evacuation Chairs Australia http://www.evacuationchairs.com.au Independent Living Centres
http://www.ilcaustralia.org The National Occupational Health & Safety Commission
http://www.nohsc.gov.au |
