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Don’t underestimate evacuation needs of mobility impaired

Don’t underestimate evacuation needs of mobility impaired

01/01/2009 | Channel: New Products & Services, Health & Safety

Stairways are an approved route to safety for most occupants of buildings – but for the disabled and those with walking difficulties stairs can be an insurmountable problem

Since the Year of the Disabled in 1981, society has exerted tremendous pressure to provide access to all buildings for all persons. But the real barrier to access is egress – especially important when access for the mobility impaired is provided. In order to give the mobility impaired equal opportunities in the workplace they must be given an equal chance of surviving emergencies.

Design of the Decade Award
There are a few products that meet the criteria of being a stairway evacuation device. The Evac+Chair, manufactured by Evac+Chair International, offers the best means of fast CHAIRand efficient escape without hindering other stairway users. It has won the Industrial Designers of America – Design of the Decade Award and has been manufactured in the UK since 1985. The Evac+Chair requires only one person to evacuate a colleague and considerably improves the security for all in any building above one storey.

Preparing for the RRO
The provision of the correct equipment will assist management in providing adequate means of escape for all mobility impaired persons. The strategic placing of Evac+Chairs throughout the building, together with required escape drills, will help organisations meet the requirements of the UK Health & Safety Law, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), the Equality in the Workplace Law and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO).

Universal solution
The Evac+Chair is a universal solution and is widely accepted as an ingenious device for stairway descent. The secret behind the smooth operation of the Evac+Chair is the interface of specially modified V-Belts continuously working to slow the descent over the stair nosings in proportion to the weight of the passenger. No heavy lifting is necessary and no-one need be left behind after their able-bodied colleagues have left the building. It is a one-time investment that can:
  • Greatly help with legislation compliance
  • Answer everyone’s fears concerning emergency evacuation
  • Save personnel from unnecessary injury
Servicing and training
The Evac+Chair is not just a safety product that an employer can buy to show compliance with legislation. It is both a tool and a service. Evac+Chair International has an annual maintenance contract, known as Servicare. The company will visit the client’s establishment once a year to give their chairs a complete and thorough service; it currently services over 6000 chairs a year

However, the Evac+Chair only fulfils its potential if people know how to use it correctly, safely, and feel confident in its use. Evac+Chair International therefore offers competency training, confirming that individuals are capable of using the chair in an emergency situation. There is a two-hour basic level training and a higher level of training for ‘Key Trainers’, which qualifies people to train other employees in turn; useful for larger organisations.

PUWER
Evacuation chairs, being devices installed in the work place, fall under the mantle of ‘The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation 1998 (PUWER)’. Once installed employers have a responsibility to provide training.

Evac+Chair International Ltd can assist with that training so that in an emergency, such as a fire or similar, designated staff will be competent to implement a building evacuation using the equipment provided.

Disability discrimination
The rights of the disabled have finally been established by providing access and egress to buildings which were previously denied. Employers must now review their new responsibilities, duty of care and impartiality, and include safe evacuation for all in their risk assessments as is now required under British and European Law.

After all, the ultimate form of discrimination is to be left behind, waiting to be rescued; whilst one’s able-bodied colleagues leave the building unaided.

For further information, please contact:
Evac+Chair International Ltd
Tel: 0121 706 6744
Email: info@evacchair.co.uk
Web: www.evacchair.co.uk