3. Safe Evacuation of People with Disabilities
User and Designer Perspectives
Shane Hogan – September 2015

4. The National Disability Authority is
the independent state body providing expert advice on disability policy and practice to the Minister, and promoting Universal Design in Ireland.

5. Agenda Legislation Impacts of disability, age, size User perspectives
Design principles
Equipment
Evacuation chairs

6. Context

7. Legislation Fire Services Act (1981)
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act
Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007
Equal Status Acts
Building Control Act (1990) , Building Regulations
Disability Act 2005
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act
No exclusions for people with disabilities
Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007
“employer shall ensure that places of work, where necessary, are organised to take account of persons at work with disabilities, in particular as regards doors, passageways, staircases…”
Fire Services Act (1981)
“to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire”
Equal Status Acts
Building Control Act (1990) and Building Regulations
Part B, Part M
Disability Act 2005
Makes Part M 2000 apply retrospectively by 2015, and Part M 2012 by 2022

8. User Perspectives 1
Don’t worry about the fire drill, we’ll never make the 2 minute target if you take part
safety officer to employee who uses crutches

9. Recognising the emergency
Hearing loss
Might not hear alarm bell, siren, fire or explosion
Sight loss
Unable to see alarm strobe, fire, smoke or others evacuating
Age
Sleeping children less likely to wake

10. Responding to emergency
Hearing loss
Might not be able to use sign language or lip read in poor lighting
Age, sight loss, physical disability
May take longer to get dressed
‘Break glass’ call point difficult to use
Intellectual disability, mental health
May be confused, stressed

11. Moving to a safe place Mobility disability
May be slow, unsteady, affected by crowds or fire doors
Maybe unable to move down or up levels if lifts have been recalled
Heart conditions, asthma, pregnancy
May have difficulties moving up or down levels in tall buildings

12. How NOT to evacuate
Video Clip
The Office, BBC, Series 2, Episode 2

13. User Perspectives - 2
I’m on minimum wage, there is no way I’m going to stay here while you all run out
personal assistant of employee with disabilities at refuge area

14. General design principles
Universal Design approach – to be used by everybody, regardless of age, size, ability or disability
Independent, equitable and dignified evacuation for all
Lifetime cost effectiveness
Up-front investment can save operating costs
Phased evacuation (healthcare)

15. Procedures Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
PEEP
General Emergency Evacuation Plan
GEEP
Discriminatory?

16. Equipment and facilities
Vibrating alerts
Good management systems essential
Consider smart-phone options
Handrails
Provide support and navigation
‘Break glass’ call points
Locate away from corners at proper height
Consider power required to break

17. Lighting Position visual strobe alarms carefully
2-4 Hz flash frequency
LED signs can improve legibility and conspicuity in smoke
Photo-luminescent signs at floor level can be helpful in smoke
Don’t rely solely on colour to convey information

18. User Perspectives 3
If I have to leave my chair behind, it would be like losing my legs all over again
University lecturer, powered wheelchair user, asked to transfer to evacuation chair, leaving own chair behind

19. Lifts Evacuation lifts Standard (non-evacuation) lift
Provide independent and dignified evacuation
Avoids fire wardens going back into building
No refusals to use evacuation chair
No wheelchair or other equipment left behind
Standard (non-evacuation) lift
May be least risky option – risk assessment with professional fire engineering advice

20. Evacuation chairs Manual – downstairs only Battery powered
Up or down stairs
May allow user to stay in own chair
All require ongoing training and practice
Consider dignity of user

21. User Perspectives 4
I hate those evac chairs. It feels like I’m being pushed off the edge of a cliff. But worse than that is having staff who report to me responsible for lifting me out of my wheelchair into the evac chair. You don’t really want to be explaining your colostomy bag to someone who reports to you.
Wheelchair user, public sector manager

22. Chairs – assisted use

23. Chairs – independent use

24. Key Points Universal Design at all stages
Don’t over-rely on manual evac chairs
Speak to fire service about refuge areas
Lifts may be least risky option
“Safe Evacuation For All”