Hi, I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on what arrangements self-service libraries (presume they are all ground floor) with no staff whatseover, would need to have in place for the evacuation of users with disabilities?

The current proposal is:

1. On receiving a Self-Service Opening registration form check to see if any of the disability / mobility boxes have been ticked. 
2. If so explain to the user that during SSO hours there will not be any staff in the building so you will need to show them what to be aware of – alarms, exit routes etc should an evacuation be necessary during SSO hours. 
3. There will be:

• Visual alarms for those with hearing disabilities – show where this is located
• Exit routes – for anyone with mobility / reduced physical capacity / co-ordination – show where the exits are and how to get to them

1. For anyone who uses the library with a carer discuss with both individuals how best to ensure the safety of the person requiring support during SSO. 
2. If anyone ticks the learning disabilities box then explain what the alarm will sound like and talk  to them about how to leave the building safely.

Would these arrangements be sufficient or would additional steps be required?

Not really my area of speciality either - that said, the measures proposed look sensible and proportionate. I note you have included those with a hearing impediment. Just one quick question - how are you going to advise those with vulnerbilities in advance when there is no staff on duty?

Bit flippant but do we have libraries any more? Every time you see the news some council or other is closing them down due to government budget constraints.

And given the sorry state of our society what organisation provides a facility where I am presuming the public in all its guises have open access - who monitors the various visitors for abuse of the facility and more importantly the other users (occupier duties)?

Or is this some FE establishment where the users access to the facility is by issued identity swipe card? Which if I remember from my eldests time at Uni there was a "how to use the library" at the start of each year after which the pass was enabled toallow "out of hours" access.

Originally Posted by: Alan Haynes

[Closest analogy, for me, is Waitrose Self Scan shopping, where you do everything, including the checkout system, and staff stand aound chatting, waiting for your 'seek assistance - help coming sign' to light up, so they can ignore it for 5 minutes]

Other supermarkets are available. Although the staff will behave in exactly the same way.

This may sound old fashioned & out of touch but my advice is to undertake a suitable and sufficient 'first-aid' risk assessment and other connected RA's as appropriate; especially fire

And U must ensure that a higher level manager signs off the RA especially so noting that if something bad happens higher level managers will always run and leave those lower down the scale to take the can. Thereafter put in the controls dependant on the findings

best of luck