Sam Crudgington

The fire alarm has just sounded in your premises. On your way out, you pass a man in a wheelchair. He needs help. Would you know what to do? Preparation is key when it comes to your risk assessment. 

There are many things that should be considered as part of your fire risk assessment, including:

  • Do the public have access to your building? If yes, will they be escorted out of the building or will there be measures in place that mean they can evacuate themselves?  
  • Have you checked with your staff if any of them need assistance in the event of an emergency?
  • Most people plan for those they know will not have an issue. But you also need to plan for:
  • Staff or visitors that you know have a disability
  • People in your business that clearly have a disability or would need extra assistance (in a wheelchair, a broken leg etc)
  • People without an obvious/visible disability (damaged eyesight, hearing problems etc).
  • Disability covers a large range of conditions, not all of which are obvious, so it is important that you consider them all.

What should you do if one of your employees has a disability?

If one of your employees declares that they have a disability, you must make a plan to assist in their evacuation. You do not need to know the exact condition; you just need to know the general problem i.e. mobility issue/can’t hear the fire alarm/damaged eye sight etc. These plans are known as PEEP (personal emergency evacuation plan). Fire Risk Assessment Total Safe UK Essex and South East

During building evacuations, you must complete a sweep to ensure that everyone is out. This included the disabled refuge points on each floor. The evacuation plan must include a process of notification or someone in on of these refuge point, whether it be though two-way comms or the designated Fire Marshalls sweeping through each point on every floor.

There are many more points to consider when completing your Fire Risk Assessment. The responsibility of carrying out this task can be daunting for many as it is such a huge responsibility to ensure people’s safety. This is where Total Safe can help; we take away this pressure and will conduct your assessment meticulously and ensure the safety of all those involved.

Contact our team today on 01375 265950 to book your Fire Risk Assessment. In addition to your assessment, our team can also complete your PAT testing, provide Health & Safety Signage to ensure you comply with Health and Safety Regulations, perform Fire Hydrant testing and Dry Riser maintenance.