Posted By J Knight
OK, well, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations disappear in a puff of smoke (:-)) the minute there's a real fire, but:

you will probably fall down the stairs the minute you try this

when you do everybody else will fall on top of you and you will all die

your 'load' may well complain vociferously

you might start well, but are you really going to go the whole distance with a person slung across your shoulders?

In other words, I can't see that planning to carry people is an effective evacuation strategy, certainly not for most employers,

John

Posted By stevehaigh
I think you misunderstood the question!

Posted By Stephen D. Clarke
Might be an issue getting wheelchair users and buddys and lift attendants into a lift if there is smoke swirling around and staff in a state of mild panic, I certainly wouldn't want to go in a lift. Would flames be at your heals if your in a safe refuge, hopefully not. Also is there only one staircase and one lift or are there fireman's lifts at each end of the buliding, will wheelchair users always be close enough to the lift. We have had accidents with Evac chairs despite all the training and wheelchair users can and do refuse to use them. An alternative that we are exploring is the stairmate a caterpillar device that fits to all wheelchairs and then the wheelchair can be easily taken down stairs. Cost £5000 but accepted by wheelchair users after trials - on balance its my preferred option. I'd be interested in anyone else's experience of this device.

Posted By Alison WR
Our fire officer is content for us to use the fire-fighting lifts [we have two], so long as we hand it over when the brigade arrive.

However, I still haven't managed to get a training course on the safe operation of fire-fighting lifts during an alarm - anyone know of a course?

Alison

Posted By Ken Taylor
If this is a properly maintained fire-fighting lift, you may certainly use it if safe to do so on a risk-assessed basis and under management control. This is one of the methods referred to in the British Standard. You should, of course, discuss this with the fire authority and be ready to relinquish control upon the attendance of the FRS.

Posted By Ken Taylor
PS. Have you also seen: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1506318

Firefighting lifts are also referred to there and other ways of evacuating disabled persons are included.

Posted By Tabs
Grumpy, the simple answer is yes you can use the lift.

It is not owned by the rescue services, and is not needed by them in all cases, and even if it is, the most overriding priority for its use is life safety (you are potentially saving a person's life - their use cannot be any higher priority than that, can it).

Be sure to have a spare basic fold-able wheelchair at the bottom of the building - there may come the day that someone in an electric chair is visiting and those chairs don't always fit into the smaller lifts.

As with all passenger lifts, ensure that it is properly maintained and inspected throughout the year - and encourage the occasional use by guards etc., so that problems can be spotted (lamps blowing, buttons sticking, etc.,) and to get them used to where the lift is and how to get to it quickly from wherever they are.

The lift itself is designed to be robust and useful - you need not treat it as a no-go area.