Employers and workers have duties and responsibilities in respect to fire safety and evacuation. Workplaces should have written policies and procedures for fire and other emergencies, which should always include provisions for the evacuation of people with disability. Policies and procedures should be reviewed in consultation with workers and their needs.
Employers have a responsibility to make sure all employees are aware of the evacuation and emergency procedures in the workplace. They can provide training and perform fire drills or exercises in line with their safety plan and fire risk management strategy.
Chief fire wardens, deputy fire wardens and floor fire wardens should be nominated in each area. Fire wardens should be aware of additional requirements for persons with disability and a buddy should be nominated to assist them in the event of a fire or emergency. Personal emergency evacuation plans may be customised to identify the specific needs of a person with a disability in the event of an emergency.
Fire and emergency risk assessments should be performed by employers on a regular basis. All safety equipment should meet safety compliance and reviewed on a regular basis.
For information on your rights and responsibilities regarding occupational health and safety, including evacuation and emergency procedures, visit:
For a checklist on evacuation and emergency:
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
Evacuation procedures should be adapted in the case of an emergency to include provisions for people with disability. For example:
- people with reduced mobility may have difficulty negotiating steps and take longer to evacuate, evacuation mobility aids may need to be provided or the identification of safe places for short rest breaks during evacuation may need to be considered
- lifts are not likely to be accessible in the event of an emergency and persons who use a wheelchair may have difficulty exiting from a building, evacuation chairs or pods may assist with safely transporting persons down stairs
- some people may prefer locating a safe place in the stair well and waiting for their buddy to instruct fire persons or emergency crews of their whereabouts
- for people with a vision impairment, emergency tactile maps should be developed and emergency routes should be kept clear of obstacles and tactile surface indicators could be installed on evacuation steps
- for people who have hearing impairments, flashing lights can be connected to the emergency alarm system and paging devices may also assist in the event of an emergency.
Specific products for evacuations for persons with disability include:
References:
State Government of Victoria Department of Human Services 2008, Capital Development Guideline: Fire risk management policy and procedures, State Government of Victoria Department of Human Services, Melbourne, viewed 27 March 2012,http://www.capital.dhs.vic.gov.au/Assets/Files/7.1%20FRM%20Policy%20and%20Procedures.pdf.
Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (no date specified), Emergency evacuation procedures for people with disability, Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Launceston, viewed 27 March 2012, http://www.adcet.edu.au/View.aspx?id=4356.
Links to specific products for evacuations for persons with disability:
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