Rank: Forum user 
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Hello all
Apologies if this has been asked before - I have done a search and found a few useful discussions but not quite what I'm after.
We have a two storey office block as part of our site and I need some advice on PEEPs if possible.
We do not currently have any need for evacuating anyone in a wheelchair or with a physical disability preventing them from using the stairs so I think that it has just been down to chance that we've not needed any plan to date! However, we recently had an employee having to use crutches - and the fire alarm went off.
I have a representative from our local fire service indicating that we should leave all evacuations of less-abled bodied persons to them (the fire brigade) in the event of an evacuation. However I disagree with this and think that I need to consider implementing a PEEP, training, appropriate equipment, etc.
Does anyone have a reference to the requirements or an example of a simple PEEP that I could read?
Many thanks
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Hi KP, a PEEP must be developed in conjunction with the individual for whom it is designed. Thus a deaf employee would require a very different approach to someone who is immobile and a special needs person's PEEP would be totally different again.
The employee using crutches may well have been capable of negotiating a set of stairs but in a high volume evacuation may become either a blockage on the route or a casualty from being knocked over.
I think you are correct in wanting to develop your own plan for evacuating an individual who needs a special approach (and I think the fire service person has probably given poor advice), but this must be a Personal plan, developed and reviewed regularly with the individual to ensure that it continues to meet their needs.
A generic PEEP is probably a useless piece of paper.
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Rank: Super forum user
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K Pickard wrote:
I have a representative from our local fire service indicating that we should leave all evacuations of less-abled bodied persons to them (the fire brigade) in the event of an evacuation. However I disagree with this and think that I need to consider implementing a PEEP, training, appropriate equipment, etc.
I note you refer to the origin of this advice as a 'representative' of the local fire service. This advice is so wrong, I guess this advice was provided by the station cat! You are quite right, the Responsible Person must make provision, where necessary, to evacuate all relevant persons. OK, the fire service may assist if they arrive and the person is still being assisted, but the RP must not rely on the fire service as part of the emergency plan. Its awful that any fire service rep is giving this advice. To put me out of my misery, were they fire station operational personnel or fire safety staff?? Have a look here at the Gov guide: https://www.gov.uk/gover...fsra-escape-disabled.pdf
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Rank: Super forum user
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David Bannister wrote:
A generic PEEP is probably a useless piece of paper.
Of course, a PEEP is a Personalized/bespoke evacuation plan, so by definition it cannot be generic. However, where the public are likely to be in the building, the RP should have a generic plan in place to assist mobility impaired and other disabled persons
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Rank: Super forum user
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quote=K Pickard]
I have a representative from our local fire service indicating that we should leave all evacuations of less-able bodied persons to them (the fire brigade) in the event of an evacuation.
Ask for this is writing. Generally you can write a short term temporary PEEP for a person who uses crutches (medium dependant) this will probably state that another member of staff will help them to use the stairs, or an evac chair to evacuate out of the building in the event of an emergency.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks so much everyone.
Your advice is really useful and gets me back to my initial instinct! We've had the same arguement with rescue from work at height which I strongly opposed too!
I didn't know whether a generic PEEP/plan was needed in the event of visitors, etc. Somewhere else I have seen a document that included a list of options for persons depending on their needs but this seems a bit unnecessary.
When I realised that we had someone with reduced mobility (crutches) I did a risk assessment which included evacuation assistance. We don't have evac chairs and at the moment we don't feel that we need them (in this building at least).
We do have some other building with the public using so I will look at a generic plan for these areas if not already in place.
Many thanks for you help.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We have nominated people (2 in case of holiday/sickness) and refuge areas if required. I sit and talk to the PEEP holder regarding their condition and capabilities etc then take if from there. We have a lady with a condition that can flare up especially when its very cold or very hot- when shes having a good day she won't need assistance, but I don't want to chance having to get her out on a bad day with no plan in place.
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Rank: Forum user
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Just a quick question to follow on....
Would it be wise to have some staff specifically trained in assisting a high dependent person? I'm just thinking of a potential scenario of a wheelchair using visitor in our staff cafe on the first floor and the fire alarm activating.
Many thanks
Kathleen
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Rank: Super forum user 
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If do not have a Refuge than you should have people trained to assist disabled persons in an emergency.
Even if you do have a refuge there should be someone designate to assist into and inside the refuge.
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