Hi,  Is it acceptable for a physically disabled person to be allowed to descend a staircase on their bottom (sitting position).  The person is a wheelchair user and her mind is very good and understands everything she is told, physically able above her thighs.  A wheelchair tennis player.

This is a building where she may be accommodated in student accommodation she sees as the best choice for her to study for BSc in her chosen subject, if not allowed she will have to look elsewhere for a UNI that has the right subjects for her.

Thanks.

I would like to hope that a modern Uni would offer such a person accommodation on the Ground Floor.

Fully understand that for perhaps concerns about security this person MIGHT wish to have a room upstairs, at which point the PEEP needs to consider all the circumstances.

....and of course it might not be modern student accommodation and possibly none of the bedrooms are on the Ground Floor.

But was the PEEP written by the Uni compiled after discussions with the young women concerned? This document below was written a while ago. It meantions the DDA throughout which of course has been replaced by the Equality Act.  But this document still available as HMG evacuation guidance. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ec5401ee90e0754d1dedf20/9446_Means_of_Escape_v2_.pdf

Have a look from page 18, but most importantly, for the second paragraph on P19 where it specifically mentions "moving downstairs on their bottom" (slightly more refined than your 'bumming' verb - which I thought meant something else!!!!) Please do use this document if the FRA get all jobsworthy.  My main anxieties - as I mentioned before - is protecting her skin and dignity when bumping down the stairs, and what happens to her at the foot of the staircase - how does she move from there I really hope it works out for her and if it doesnt, it fails for sound reasons

I'm getting somewhere with this now having spoke with the Accommodation team at the Uni and the Fire and Rescue service.

The officer from the FRS fire protection department (another fancy name), has called me this morning after I emailed yesterday.  He explained he was the person who advised the Uni and told me there were many contraventions but not quite enough for issue of a Prohibition notice but he will return in 2 weeks to ensure they have carried out the required work including Evacuation training, Evac. Chairs drills and a few other bits and pieces.

The premises has Refuges on every floor above ground, Fire Wardens, and I think a Stay Put policy for wheelchair users.  Also Porters to assist with disabled person evacuation.  The fire protection officer will return in the next two weeks to check what they have done.

The college H&S team have been in touch with us requesting a meeting by either either Teams or telephone but I prefer face to face.

To be continued:​​​​​​​

By the way I often recommend contacting the local  FRS safety department when there have been questions on here but the response to that has been rather negative as if to say contacting them may cause some trouble.  My recent experience as written above shows they are more than helpful when contacted and quite happy to advise.

Originally Posted by: firesafety101

 a Stay Put policy for wheelchair users.  Also Porters to assist with disabled person evacuation.  

That's interesting. I must admit, I have never heard of 'stay put' just for wheelchair users Do you mean a delayed evacuation - the person waits in the refuge for a few minutes whilst Porters arrive?

Or the person stays in the refuge until she hears otherwise? ​​​​​​​I am not saying its wrong, just unusual 

Ok, stupid question.....

....if she is scooting down the stairs, what about everyone else using those stairs at the same time? I am thinking real fire scenario when panic kicks in and they're not thinking about her just themselves? She could get her fingers trod on, accidentally kicked, knocked flying in the panic.....

Don't need a fiire for carnage to ensue https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-68678225

Refuges shoild have an area marked out where a wheelchair user can wait until the main traffic had subsided before evacuating.

I suggest a person who wishes to Bottom down stairs should do similarly before progressing.