Plan. Know. Follow!
What is a Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan?
A fire emergency evacuation plan is a legal requirement and normally takes the form of a written document, which includes the actions to be taken by all staff and nominated persons in the event of a fire and arrangements for calling the fire brigade.
For small premises this could take the form of a simple fire action sign posted in the locations were staff and relevant persons can read it and become familiar with its contents.
High risk or large premises will need a more detailed emergency evacuation plan which takes account of the findings in the fire risk assessment e.g. staff at significant risk and their location. In addition, notices giving clear and concise instructions of the routine to be followed in case of fire should be prominently displayed.
Who is responsible for fire evacuation?
The responsibility clearly lies with the building management or service providers to ensure there is a suitable procedure in place to evacuate everyone. The ‘responsible person’ must nominate a sufficient number of ‘competent persons’ to implement procedures in the event of an emergency evacuation from the premises. This calls for a fire emergency evacuation plan to be in place.
