Rank: Forum user 
|
Hi,
Beenr eading the Fire Safety Order, and alittle confused. Scenario is, my company share a building with another Company. The landlord of the building informed us that it is the Companies using the building duty to have a Evacuation Chair for disabled workers (there are none currently present). Now as i am new to the company, i agree that one should be available for potential new employees who may need assistance getting down the stairs etc. Question is, under relevant regulations, is this the Companies renting the building responbility to order the Evacuation Chairs, or is it the responsiblity of the Landlord
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
I would advise to simply focus on the Duties of the Employer under the H&S Act. That's where your answer is.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Hi emmet, I think Gunner's advice is incomplete here. The RR(FS)O talks about 'relevant persons' and the duties are a bit wider in scope than they are in the H&S at Work Act; in particular it doesn't really matter whether people are your employees, customers or whatever, you have a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure their safety.
On the question of Evac chairs, I'd say that they're quite hard to use, they have to be serviced, and you will need to train people in their use. We installed evac chairs for people with disabilities, and found that we couldn't get enough people trained, so we have stopped using them. We use ski-sheets instead; these also require training but they're much easier to use and the training is therefore simpler and can easily be delivered in-house.
What I'd say is that it isn't up to the Landlord to insist that you use an evac chair. The Landlord may (depending on the lease and who does the risk assessment) be able to require you to make provision for disabled people, but what that provision is is up to you. It's down to your risk assessment at the end of the day, at least for the areas under your control,
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Thanks for the replies. My company carries out their own Fire Risk Assessment, and after reading through it, it has stated there is no proper procedure to ensure the safe egress of a disabled person (wheelchair user). Not sure the Ski-sheet would be best used here, as think the chairs are easier to store...i have looked at training and will sort something out. We had a gas leak and everyone was evacuated the other day and landlord mentioned to us that we should have Evac Chairs. Even though we dont have anyone who would require one, that doesn't mean a fire could break out whilst a person with mobility problems maybe visiting the premises for a meeting etc, so going to go ahead and order the Chairs. Much appreciated for both your advice and replies on the matter
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Ski sheets fold up and fit on the wall; they don't take up much room. They do entail getting somebody down to ground level, and that is M&H issue, but that can be delivered in-house as well,
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Don’t make the assumption that a disabled person is a wheel chair user.
We have had a set of evac-chairs for 10 years plus on our site (900 people) and none of the mobility impaired people who have ever worked here have ever wanted to use them. Most preferred to get down the stairs under their own steam. All they require is a bit of support. How this is provided is the basis of a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Yeah understand that, should have made it clearer about it being for persons in wheelchairs. I am meeting with the H&S Coordinator shortly and will bring up the issue of persons with mobility problems, helping them down the stairs if there not comfortable using the Evac Chairs. But will look into developing PEEP, thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.