Concern over survey findings

One in two companies is under
prepared for evacuations in the
workplace and wheelchair users and
the mobility-impaired are most at
risk from being unable to
make a safe escape,
according to a survey by
evacuation specialists,
Evac+Chair International.

The survey of 100 HR
directors and managers,
who are responsible for the
safety of their employees,
reported that 35% said that
wheel-chair users or
mobility-impaired
employees within their
company did not have a Personal
Emergency Evacuation Plan,
required in accordance with fire
safety legislation.
Some 51% of companies possess
the necessary equipment to assist
disabled and mobility-impaired
employees in an evacuation, and
fewer than 15% of
the companies with
equipment use it
during emergency
evacuation drills.

Mark Wallace,
MD of Evac+Chair
International, said:
“This survey shows
that many
employers in the
UK still make
inadequate
provision for disabled staff and this
needs to be urgently addressed.”