Latest News

Personal Emergency Egress Plans (PEEPs)

Posted: 22/04/2013 16:46

Consult with employee first
Discuss nature and location of work, needs, problems and feasible solutions
Involve line managers, fire wardens, and any potential helpers
Agree procedures, escape routes and other relevant details
Draw up a written PEEP document, including plan drawing if necessary
Practice agreed procedure during a Fire Drill

A Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP) should be drawn up in collaboration with any employee who has a relevant disability or need - temporary or permanent. First, an assessment must be undertaken (by Health and Safety Manager, Fire Safety Manager or other member of staff with appropriate knowledge and skills), consulting closely with the person in question to determine the level of disability and how this might affect safe evacuation.

Discussion should include the nature of their work and the location(s) where it is carried out, the particular needs and problems...

It could be YOU

Posted: 19/04/2013 12:59

Mobility impairment - temporary or permanent
Loss of hearing or sight
Learning disabilities
Heart, breathing or other medical condition
Advanced state of pregnancy

There must be arrangements in place for the safety of anyone with a disability or other individual need, either working in or resorting to your place of work.

This will include people with a range of requirements, and not only those who might be considered 'disabled'. Wheelchair users and others with walking difficulties; anyone with a visual or hearing impairment, learning disability, heart or breathing problem; or someone with a temporary condition such as a sprained ankle or advanced state of pregnancy, may need assistance to leave the building.

Whatever the arrangements, make sure that they are understood by the people who will be affected by them, and practised as part of the regular fire drills carried...

People with Individual Needs

Posted: 19/03/2013 14:37

It could be YOU
Personal Emergency Egress Plans (PEEPs)
Refuges
Evacuation Lifts
Other Possibilities

There has been for some years a growing trend, supported by powerful and far-reaching legislation, to ensure people with disabilities have full access to places of work, shops, educational and other public buildings. This clearly implies a requirement to include the same people in any planning for escape from fire. Their needs should be reflected in the findings of any Fire Risk Assessment, in the fire precautions installed and the fire and evacuation procedures adopted.

It is important that Fire Wardens (or others with specific responsibilities relating to fire) know about people in their area who may need help in the event of an evacuation, and that this information is passed to the relevant management or security staff who can make special arrangements if necessary.

People...

Signage (ii)

Posted: 18/02/2013 11:12

'Fire Action Notice'
'Fire Point'
'Hose Reel'
'Fire Alarm Call Point'
'Fire Assembly Point'
'Disabled Refuge'

Escape routes should not incorporate any obstacle to their use, so instruction signs such as 'Push to Open', 'Break Glass to Open' or 'Press Switch to Open' must be provided where necessary.

Some signage is only required where the layout of the premises makes identification difficult; signs indicating the position of call points, extinguishers (often combined to make a 'Fire Point') are examples of this. Signs describing the type and correct use of extinguishers at a particular location are not obligatory, though many employees find these a useful and reassuring 'aide-memoire'.

However it is advisable to signpost assembly points (as well as describing them in the Fire Action Notice) and disabled refuge areas.

This list is by...

Signage (i)

Posted: 18/02/2013 10:51

'Running man' exit signage (with directional arrows as required)
'Fire Exit Keep Clear'
'Fire Door Keep Shut'
'Keep Locked Shut'
'Automatic Fire Door - Keep Clear'
'Push to Open'
'Break Glass to Open'

The most important signs are those indicating the means of escape, usually consisting of Fire Exit signs (with the 'running man' symbol) on or above designated final exits, and similar signs (with directional arrows if necessary) indicating the route to the final exit. These should be of an appropriate size to be readily seen, and may be internally illuminated as part of the emergency lighting system - this is often a requirement in areas used by members of the public.

Fire Exit signs must comply with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. There are a number...

Showing page 5 of 8

< prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next >