Expert Guide: Your new fire safety risk assessment requires evacuation chairs & sledges: Where do you start?

Expert Guide: Your new fire safety risk assessment requires evacuation chairs & sledges: Where do you start?

So, you’ve just received the results of a fire safety risk assessment for your premises, and among the recommendations is a new directive: the implementation of evacuation chairs or sledges. For many Facilities and Health and Safety Managers and internal trainers, this can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. You might be asking yourself: Where do I even begin? What kind of equipment do we need? And how do we ensure our staff are confident and competent in using it?

First, take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and crucially, you’re not starting from scratch. At Chris Garland Training, we’re here to support you every step of the way, offering practical advice and solutions to make this process as smooth and effective as possible.

The Foundation: Understanding Personalised Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

Before even thinking about specific equipment, the cornerstone of effective evacuation for individuals with mobility challenges is the Personalised Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). A PEEP is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution; it’s a bespoke plan tailored to the specific needs of an individual, outlining how they will be safely evacuated in an emergency.

These customised escape plans are crucial for anyone who may not be able to reach safety unaided or within a sufficient amount of time during an emergency. This distinguishes them from General Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs), which are for everybody.

If you operate a publicly accessible premises, such as a supermarket, for example, the government guidance is that you should create a suite of generic PEEPs suitable for a range of mobility impaired people. You should then advertise that these PEEPs are available for them to choose from at reception or entrance points. Naturally, you wouldn’t create a PEEP for every visitor at a supermarket, so having this suite of PEEPs in place makes perfect sense. However staff training and knowledge of these PEEPs is critical.

How to develop a PEEP

1. The individual assessment: The first step in developing a PEEP is always the Individual Assessment. You should identify all staff/residents/service users, etc., (not forgetting site visitors) that may require assistance, including those with permanent or temporary impairments. These can include mobility, sight, hearing or cognitive impairments, short-term injuries or simply late-stage pregnancy. Collaboration with the individual or their support team at this point is obviously vital to agree on the appropriate evacuation method.

2. The Premises Assessment: We’d also recommend an assessment of your premises by a specialist who isn’t tied to a specific equipment manufacturer. They will be able to provide you with an objective assessment of what equipment is available in the marketplace that might be suitable for your needs. At Chris Garland Training, we can provide this for you, if you’d like our support.

3. Identifying Safe Routes: Next you need to determine the most appropriate and accessible evacuation routes from the individuals usual locations within the building. This will be guided by the buildings evacuation strategy (see your fire risk assessment) and will be impacted by the individuals needs; dementia for example.

4. Designating Responsibilities: Clearly outlining who will assist the individual and what their roles and responsibilities will be during an evacuation is a key task. Of particular importance is determining whether the role is a formally agreed (i.e. in an individuals employment contract) or simply an informal voluntary agreement.

5. Equipment Selection: This is where the correct choice of evacuation chairs or sledges comes in. The PEEP will help to guide which type of equipment is most suitable for the individual’s needs, while the premises assessment will narrow the choice down further. Exactly which model of equipment is selected will depend on a range of different factors. These include the evacuees skin condition, weight and body composition, height, paralysis or mobility abilities, cognitive impairment. We’ll look at this in more depth later on.

6. Communication & Practice: Ensuring the individual, their designated assistants, and all relevant staff are aware of the PEEP and that it is regularly reviewed and practiced through drills. The PEEP should be distributed to everyone involved and properly filed. This is particularly crucial given the legal and ethical obligations to support the safe evacuation of all individuals.

Choosing the Right Evacuation Equipment: Chairs vs. Sledges

The decision between an evacuation chair and an evacuation sledge often depends on a few key factors, and the market offers a comprehensive range of options designed to ensure safety and preparedness for various scenarios. Let’s look at this in more detail.

Individual Mobility and Comfort:

Evacuation chairs are generally designed for individuals who can transfer themselves (with some assistance if needed) into a seated position. They are excellent for navigating stairs and offer a more upright or reclined, supported position. Many models, including popular designs like the Evac+Chair 300H, are designed to be operated (“driven”) by a single person. While this makes them efficient and easy to use, we always assert (and train) that the operator needs an assistant.

The assistants’ role is vital in communicating with and reassuring the passenger, acting as a pair of eyes at the front of the chair and opening doors. They also offer essential help when larger passengers exceed the chairs inherent braking ability. Some evacuation chair models are also powered, reducing manual handling efforts, and solutions exist for both descent and ascent evacuations.

Evacuation Sledges are ideal for individuals who are unable to transfer themselves into a chair, are bedridden, or have conditions that make a seated position uncomfortable or impractical. Sledges are essentially reinforced sheets or mats, that allow an individual to be slid safely down stairs or across floors. There are several different designs available on the market, from standalone products that the passenger is laid/rolled on to, to those that are designed to be permanently located under the service users foam or airflow mattress.

In addition to evacuation chairs and sledges, are patient slings. Patient handling slings come in different designs with each being for a different purpose, such as short-term showering or toileting, to those that are designed to be under the person for longer periods of time; so-called in-situ slings. For times when a sling would be really helpful, but isn’t available, the ProMove sling is king.

Much the same as a patient handling sling, the ProMove Sling is placed under the passenger, but is equipped with handles. This enables a team of 2+ people to lift and relocate the passenger, whether into an evacuation chair or sledge, or simply to another area. At Chris Garland Training, we really like the ProMove Sling and have introduced it to our evacuation chair and sledge training courses. You can find more information about the ProMove Sling here; https://www.promove.uk.com/.

Building Layout and Staircases:

What configuration do your staircases have; are they straight, or do they have landings, turns, or narrow sections? Some evacuation chairs are more agile than others for tighter spaces, with models specifically designed for versatile use or with slimline profiles.

It’s worth noting that most evacuation chairs really don’t like going down curved staircases. Generally being equipped with a pair of “skis”, evacuation chairs prefer to go in straight lines.

Evacuation sledges are generally very flexible and can navigate most staircases, including spiral stairs, although door widths have a significant bearing on their use especially when designed to carry the passengers mattress, such as those found on profiling beds.

Number of Floors and physical effort

For multi-story buildings, the efficiency and ease of use of the equipment on stairs become paramount. Whether you’re using an evacuation chair or sledge, operator strength is a key consideration. The physical effort required to safely operate an evacuation chair or sledge is substantial. For those who are physically fit and able-bodied, this shouldn’t be too taxing for descents less than 5 stories. Those who are shorter in stature, lower or higher in body mass or have physical ailments (hernias, back or joint issues) may really struggle to operate evacuation chairs or sledges at all, let alone beyond 1-2 stories.

This can have a significant bearing on night time staffing rotas, especially as we shouldn’t expect people to go back into danger areas once they have left. This in turn also has a bearing on the number of chairs or sledges required as you can’t simply turf the passenger out when you get outside the premises. They will probably need to stay in the evacuation chair (or sledge) as this is now their means of mobility.

How many evacuation chairs or sledges should you have?

The answer to this can be difficult to determine. If you have residents in your care setting, or employees in your workplace whose PEEP recommends the use of evacuation chairs or sledges, you should have one allocated specifically for their use. This could mean that you end up having dozens.

If you operate a hotel setting, for example, the official guidance is that you should locate evacuation equipment around the premises as you probably won’t be able to say exactly how many people may need to use an evacuation chair or sledge on any given day. As such it’s generally accepted that you should install an evacuation chair within the stairwell on every other floor.

The government guidance on Means of Escape for Disabled People is essential reading; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/422202/9446_Means_of_Escape_v2_.pdf

Storage, Accessibility and Maintenance

Where will the equipment be stored, and how quickly and easily can it be accessed in an emergency? It’s crucial to explore different models and, if possible, have demonstrations to see which equipment best fits your specific premises and the range of needs of your residents/users. Remember that all evacuation chairs and sledges are classified as being “Class 1 medical devices” under European legislation and therefore also under post-Brexit assimilated law. (This also applied to wheelchairs, crutches, hospital beds, etc.). As such, evacuation chairs and sledges need to be maintained regularly, with servicing generally recommended to be every 12 months to ensure compliance and reliability.

Beyond the Equipment: Comprehensive Staff Training

Having the right equipment is only half the battle. Your staff are your frontline responders, and their confidence and competence in using evacuation chairs or sledges are absolutely vital. Chris Garland Training offer specialised courses to meet this need. Leading equipment providers also emphasise that training courses are vital for equipping individuals with the confidence and competence needed for faster, safer, and smoother evacuations.

Effective training, such as our Evacuation Chair Operator & Assistant course, should cover:

• Understanding the “Why”: Why is this equipment necessary? What are the risks of not having it or not knowing how to use it? Under current legislation, the responsible person or duty holder for fire and safety has a legal obligation to comply with fire safety, health and safety, and equal opportunity requirements.
• PEEP Principles: Educating staff on the importance of PEEPs and how to interpret and follow them.
• Hands-on Equipment Training: This is paramount. Staff must physically practice using the evacuation chairs or sledges. This includes:
  • Safe assembly and deployment.
  • Correct loading and securing of the passenger.
  • Navigating stairs and obstacles safely and efficiently.
  • Proper communication techniques with the individual being evacuated and other staff members. Where possible, we recommend using your own evacuation equipment during on-site courses as this provides greater staff confidence in the equipment.
  • Scenario-Based Practice: Running realistic drills and scenarios to build confidence and refine procedures.
• Maintenance and Inspection: How to check the equipment for readiness and report any issues. Regular maintenance contracts are available from manufacturers to ensure the chairs remain reliable and ready for use, complying with regulations.
• Refresher Training: Regular refreshers are essential to maintain skills and ensure new staff are adequately trained.

For those looking to build in-house expertise, Chris Garland Training also offer “Train the Trainer” courses for both evacuation chairs and sledges. These equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to run internal training sessions, covering legislation, government guidance, physical considerations, and hands-on practice with various models of chair and or sledge.

Your Partner in Safety: Chris Garland Training

We understand that implementing new fire safety measures can feel daunting. That’s why Chris Garland Training is here to be your partner. We can provide:

• Expert Consultation: Guiding you through the process of selecting the most appropriate evacuation equipment based on your specific premises and resident/user needs.
• Bespoke Training Programs: Developing and delivering comprehensive, hands-on training for your staff, tailored to the equipment you choose and your operational procedures. We ensure your team feels empowered and prepared to act effectively in an emergency. Our courses can be run at your premises nationwide.

Don’t let the new fire safety recommendations overwhelm you. With the right approach to PEEPs, careful equipment selection, and robust staff training, you can ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in your premises. Reach out to Chris Garland Training today to discuss how we can support you in achieving your fire safety goals.

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