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Posted By Steve Crookes
I work for a large organisation which has a couple of profoundly deaf employees. At a recent Health and Safety meeting, the question was raised concerning a recent fire drill. The question was how to ensure these employees recognise the fire alarm. Flashing lights was discussed along with vibrating pagers, but the first option would not be appropriate if the employee was out of sight, say in the toilet, and the second was ruled out because it would require the installation and maintanence of a phone line. We wish to maintain equal opportunity for these employees to recieve the information for themselves as a hearing person would. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Posted By Ashley Williams
You could contact your local Jobcentre and ask for their PACT Team. The PACT team deal with disabled workers and jobseekers they can offer advice to employers on suitable adaptations to the work place to help workers.
Ashley Williams
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Posted By Robert Woods
Have you contacted the RNID they have a web site rnid.org.uk
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Posted By Ken Taylor
The problems normally seem to be addressed by:
colleagues in the vicinity informing the deaf person of the alarm;
a strobe light where the deaf person works alone in a dedicated workroom;
fire marshals checking rooms in their designated areas before leaving the building; and, as an additional check,
roll call at the assembly point.
Whatever the agreed procedure, it is best discussed with the staff concerned and committed to writing.
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Posted By Frank Cooper
Steve,
Some deaf employees have "Hearing" dogs in much the same way as blind people. This can be a great help, particularly if the fire evacuation route is walked so that the dog (and handler) become familiar with it and that fire alarm tests are carried out regularly.
However, in other intances I have recommended that the individual has a "Buddy" or nominated person(s) to watch out for them during fire alarm situations, whether it be a drill or a real evacuation.
The vibrating pagers are useful as long as the individual remembers to bring them to work regularly - This happened in my case which led to the situation above.
The same applies for the bomb threat situation.
When the alarm situation is such that the building needs to be evacuated, the "Buddy" would take the arm of the deaf person and escort them out of the building.
You may have to consider more than one "Buddy" per person to allow for
holidays, sick leave etc
Hope this helps,
Frank Cooper
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Posted By Francis MSc MIOSH RSP
We "sorted" the problem by installing two things:-
1) a loop system with the vibrating pagers linked to it- the so-called Deaf-alert system.
2) Red strobes.
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Posted By Steve Crookes
Thanks to all for your helpful comments. The buddy system is in operation and of course the fire marshalls check their areas; we were trying to identify a method of allowing these employees the equal opportunity to recieve the information themselves. I have not yet contacted the RNID,or any other organisation as I thought I would throw it on the forum first and as usual sterling answers were supplied. I will investigate the loop system further.........Steve Crookes
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Posted By Richard
We use vibrating pagers with great success. We are an FE College with large numbers of students who may only be in College for an hour a week, and may be anywhere from a classroom to a project area, library, canteen etc.
Any College user who has hearing difficulties picks up a pager from from Reception. They are triggered by the fire alarm
Richard
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Posted By Francis MSc MIOSH RSP
The vibrating pagers which we use can be obtained from Scope on 01803864569 or web site www.scope-uk.com- they should be able to send you some literature at least
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Posted By Jim Walker
I've some very mixed feelings about all of the above responses.
First was what a load of patronising b*****.
On reflection in this PC age you may all of you be correct.
What about reasonably practicable. Do you all have H&S problems so well sewn up, this is a priority?
I have a motto - deaf not daft. I'm sorry but I think some of you have the two confused.
I've just done a risk assessment for a deaf fork lift truck driver, as the training company refused to train him without a "special asssessment". HSG6 says "some handicapped workers have developed skills to compensate for their disability". I suggest this is at least worthy of some consideration in any RA.
The "buddy system" will work even if it is not a formal one, it has done for me all my working life.
Someone mentioned deaf workers in rooms alone - this is acceptable for "normal people" then? Not in my company; lone working is seen as the major hazard it is.
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Posted By Jim Walker
Steve,
Did you ask the deaf employees what they thought?
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