When planning fire evacuations, businesses often focus on their regular staff. However, fire safety must account for everyone in the building, including visitors or contractors who may have mobility challenges. These individuals may not be familiar with the premises or evacuation procedures, yet their safety is just as critical.

Whether it’s someone using a wheelchair, a person with limited mobility, or a visitor who temporarily requires assistance, fire safety plans must be inclusive and prepared for all scenarios. This post explains how to plan effectively for individuals with mobility challenges, ensuring your fire evacuation strategy is compliant and comprehensive.

Why Mobility Challenges Must Be Considered

A fire evacuation plan that overlooks mobility challenges puts lives at risk and fails to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires a comprehensive fire risk assessment and provision for safe evacuation for all occupants.

Key Considerations:

1. Mobility-Challenged Individuals May Not Be Obvious: Just because no staff member is a wheelchair user or has mobility issues doesn’t mean they won’t exist. Visitors, contractors, or even someone recovering from an injury may need assistance.
2. Temporary Needs: Mobility challenges can arise unexpectedly—think of someone on crutches or a parent with a stroller.
3. Legal and Ethical Responsibility: Businesses have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all occupants, not just employees.

Planning for Individuals with Mobility Challenges

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment

A fire risk assessment is the foundation of fire safety planning. Ensure it includes:

• Identification of all potential barriers for individuals with mobility challenges, such as stairs, narrow hallways, or inaccessible exits.
• Assessment of high-risk areas like basements or upper floors where evacuation may be more complex.

2. Install and Maintain Accessible Safety Features

To ensure the building is equipped for safe evacuation:

• Evacuation Chairs: Provide evacuation chairs at stairwells for safely transporting individuals down multiple floors.
• Lifts for Evacuation: Install evacuation lifts where feasible, designed to operate during emergencies.
• Wide Doors and Corridors: Ensure exits are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility aids.

3. Develop Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is a tailored plan for individuals who may need assistance in an evacuation. While these are often associated with employees, businesses should be prepared to extend similar planning to visitors.

How to Implement PEEPs:

• Pre-Identify Needs: For regular building users, identify who may require assistance and create a plan in advance.
• Visitor Plans: Provide temporary or “ad hoc” PEEPs for visitors. For instance, reception staff can be trained to ask if assistance is needed upon arrival.
• Flexibility: Plans should account for different scenarios, such as mobility challenges on various floors or in different zones of the building.

4. Equip and Train Fire Wardens

Fire wardens are critical for assisting individuals with mobility challenges during an emergency:

• Training: Train fire wardens in the use of evacuation chairs, lifts, and other emergency equipment.
• Assignment: Assign wardens to high-risk areas, such as upper floors or places with more visitors.

5. Create Clear Communication Plans

Ensure all occupants, including those with mobility challenges, can easily understand and follow evacuation procedures:

• Signage: Use clear, accessible signage that directs occupants to evacuation routes, including locations of evacuation chairs or accessible exits.
• Drills: Conduct regular fire drills that simulate evacuations for individuals with mobility challenges to identify gaps in planning.

Special Considerations for Visitors

Visitors often lack familiarity with the building, making their evacuation more challenging. Here’s how to account for their safety:

Reception and Check-In

• Train reception staff to identify visitors with mobility challenges and explain evacuation procedures upon arrival.
• Provide a simple method for visitors to indicate they may need assistance (e.g., a checkbox on a digital sign-in form).

Visitor Assembly Points

• Designate clear assembly points for visitors, ensuring they are accessible and safe.
• Provide wardens or other staff to guide visitors to these points.

Elevator or Stairwell Considerations

• Clearly mark areas where evacuation chairs or lifts are located.
• Ensure staff are trained to assist individuals requiring these tools.

Beyond Compliance: Creating an Inclusive Culture of Safety

While legal compliance is essential, taking steps to include individuals with mobility challenges in fire safety plans also demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and care.

Key Steps to Foster Inclusivity:

1. Proactive Preparation: Don’t wait until an incident occurs to consider mobility challenges—plan for them from the outset.
2. Empowerment: Allow individuals with mobility challenges to be part of the planning process where possible, ensuring their specific needs are addressed.
3. Visibility: Make evacuation equipment and accessible routes highly visible to reassure individuals that their safety is prioritised.

Technology and Innovations

Modern technology can also enhance evacuation planning for individuals with mobility challenges:

• IoT-Enabled Alarms: Smart fire alarms that provide visual alerts alongside auditory signals.
• Tracking Systems: Digital tracking systems that help account for all occupants, including those needing assistance.
• App Integration: Emergency apps that notify wardens of the location of individuals needing evacuation help.

Final Thoughts

Fire safety is about protecting everyone in the building, staff, visitors, and contractors alike. Mobility challenges should never be an afterthought in evacuation planning. By addressing these needs through thoughtful risk assessments, accessible equipment, and robust training, businesses can ensure that their fire safety strategies are inclusive and effective.

Remember: The goal isn’t just compliance; it’s creating a culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and prepared. Start planning today to ensure your fire evacuation strategy truly works for everyone.