Hi I’m reviewing our recent fire risk assessment. The only major issue is the provision of a suitable evacuation chair. We have 28 staff on the first and second floor of a building. Access is via narrow stairs or a very old lift. The work is biological lab, and office work, the risk of serious injury is very unlikely. Currently we do not have any staff who would need to use an evacuation chair. Occasionally staff have mobility issues but they are able to use the stairs with help. Our policy is that visitors who cannot escape via the stairs are to be met elsewhere. If we were to employ someone who needed an evacuation chair we will introduce such a system. But I don’t see the need to provide a chair and to go to the effort of training and refreshing three or four people for something that we will not use in the foreseeable future. I think this is a very reasonable position to take, but does anyone have another (reasonable) view? Thanks as ever Graham

I agree, in fact I'd go further and say I think it's the only reasonable view!

Also dont forget there are various other techiniques for assiting disabled persons down stairs during an evac without the use of an evac chair. Check out the HSEs means of escape for disabled people guidance document if you havent already its very good.