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In a recent article we looked at the subject of fire safety in commercial buildings, and the corresponding obligations for owners and employers.

We discussed how the obligations are the duty of the Responsible Person, and that they include a number of tasks including undertaking a site-specific fire risk assessment; putting in place an emergency strategy and evacuation plan, and implementing suitable equipment as identified by the risk assessment.

The fire risk assessment is, amongst other things, designed to identify any assistance that may be required for specific persons in the event of an emergency evacuation. Where such assistance is required, a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) must then be developed. This will determine whether an evacuation chair is required and, if it is, the type and design that is most appropriate.

Why are Evacuation Chairs Important?

Evacuation chairs are used to transport people who don't have the ability to exit a building by themselves in the event of a fire or any other type of emergency that calls for swift evacuation. Mostly the chairs are used for people who are disabled, temporarily incapacitated or heavily pregnant.

Evacuation chairs are therefore incredibly important, however, they will never fulfil their purpose unless there is someone on the premises who is trained to use them.

Evacuation chairs are often purchased as a result of a risk assessment identifying them as a necessity, but worryingly, in too many situations, no thought is given to training anyone in their use. This makes the evacuation chair nothing more than a costly wall decoration.

The Importance of Evacuation Chair Operator Training

Fire safety compliance should never be about ticking boxes. On the contrary, it should be focused on taking proactive steps to ensure processes are in place to deal with the unexpected. In terms of evacuation strategies, simply having evacuation chairs ready to use is not enough: there MUST be a sufficiently trained chair operator on the premises ready to put the chair to use should the situation arise.

It is important that the right evacuation chair training is provided to operators and that skills are kept up to date. The right training means courses that incorporate practical elements and that cover the particular brand of evacuation chair that has been purchased for the building. There are many different makes of chair and the way they are operated varies quite significantly, making generic training meaningless.

Evacuation chair operators should also keep their skills up to date and their knowledge refreshed. It is rare to actually have to put these skills into action which means they could easily diminish over time. However, there is always a possibility that a fire incident could arise, so it is imperative that there is a competent and confident evacuation chair operator on the premises at all times, which means back-up cover for holiday and other leave is vital by way of more than one operator.

Whilst resources and time pressures may make it challenging for businesses to provide such training, it is incredibly important. In-house trainers make sense and it is possible to send personnel on ‘train the trainer' courses so that they can offer training to colleagues.

Whatever you do, if your fire risk assessment identifies the need for evacuation chairs, don't overlook the vital importance of backing up your purchase with evacuation chair operator training. Without it, you could seriously fall short if an incident arises where disabled or incapacitated people need to be safely evacuated from your premises.