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Posted By Dav
Hello all
I currently work on the third floor of a building which is served by non-fire safe lifts and two emergency escape stairs. We have two heavily pregnant ladies working in the office who have indicated that they would not be able to walk down the stairs in an emergency.
I am aware that there are chairs that can be purchased to aid wheelchair users to get down stairs in an emergency, but i work in part of the world where even if i can find a supplier of these things it will take a month for them to get delivered anyway, and by then, both employees will be on maternity leave. Any ideas what i can do in the meantime? It would seem to me that the risk of asking them to try and evacuate down the stairs is just as high as the risk of them being trapped in a lift, if not higher. Any other ideas?
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Posted By Renny Thomson
If the escape stairs are a protected area, they should have enough time to descend at the back of eveyone else. I don't know where you are based, but a normal protected route is good for a nominal 30 minutes. If this is not the case can you relocate them to the ground floor? If not, maybe they need to go on Maternity leave a bit sooner?
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Posted By Seamus O Sullivan
Hi
Order the chairs, somebody else might need them in the future.
Seamus
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Posted By Sheila EJ Keogh
not as simple as just ordering chairs. Who's going to be trained to operate them? carrying staff in chairs down 3 flights of stairs is no small accomplishment!:)
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Posted By graeme12345
how did they get to work?
or get from their car?
of course they can use the stairs in an emergency, just ensure they have a "buddy" with them, there not invalids.
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Posted By Bill01
What do these people do at home, all live in bungalows, shouldn't be running down stairs anyway get a helpful colleague...job done.
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Posted By Mark Bywater
You don't say if the ground floor offices are available for them to work in. I guess the reason they work on the 3rd floor is due to location of your business, but it's worth asking the occupiers of the ground floor if the risk is perceived as that great...I doubt it is.
Personally, I agree with other posters who suggest that they could get down the stairs in an emergency.
Thanks,
Mark
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Posted By Aidan Toner
Occupants of evacuation chairs require a certain amount of steely nerves to cope with the 'sensation of down piste' which is part and parcel of this kit......yes,I appreciate it's only a perception of risk and not real risk!!!!
I would suggest that persons with limited ambient ability will choose...every time...to maximise their limited ability BEFORE opting for an evac chair.
A strong, confident assisting arm on each side will almost certainly be the preferred option by the pregnant ladies.
Oh.......-And best remind all staff why it is now even more important to keep the fire doors closed AT ALL TIMES.
PS-I am assuming you have checked they cannot do thier job at ground or lower level....A desk switch for a few months???
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Posted By jervis
As some one has already said the stair well should be protected for 30mins this is ample time to get down 3 flights of stairs or more.
Obvisouley they use the lift on a normal day to day basis.Is there any they could work on the lower floors for what sounds like a short time!
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Posted By CFT
I would have to be with Mark B on this one, it easily eliminates any risk, perceived or not.
On the basis you can't, I watched trained folks doing just this, a few weeks ago; the lady in question, ( obviously not a chap) decided after two steps to get off and walk down the stairs in both a timely and orderly manner using the bannister for support; she felt quite threatened by the evac-chair movements.
CFT
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Posted By stephen b jones
Pregnant women at work?
I thought the end of the factories act saw that off?
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Posted By Ron Hunter
I suggest you arrange a Fire Evacuation Drill!
It isn't a race, they can be last out, with assistance if required!
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Posted By Dav
Thanks to all who have replied, much appreciated.
We only occupy the 3rd floor and other companies occupy the others, so moving desks is out unfortunately.
I live in Dubai, and the people in question live in apartments so dont use stairs on a regular basis.
The stairway is protected, so i think that the only way to get them down the building is to designate a 'buddy', and then be helped down the escape stairs once the initial rush of everyone else evacuating has cleared.
Thanks again.
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