Discussing evacuation and emergency procedures with new starters should be part of every induction process. If you are working with someone with disability, it's a good idea to talk to them about what support they may require from you, if any, in the event of an emergency. If you are a fire or safety warden in your office, this fact sheet will be particularly useful.
Procedures for fire and other emergencies should always include provisions for the evacuation of people with disability. If you or your co-workers have any questions or concerns about the emergency and evacuation procedures within your organisation, you should raise these with your employer.
You may wish to draw the following fact sheet to you employer's attention:
An evacuation and emergency checklist has been developed to help you plan ahead for emergencies:
Essential steps for evacuation procedures
Review your organisation's evacuation procedures to make sure that the following steps are incorporated. If they are not, you should discuss these with your employer.
- nominate a fire warden for each work area, that is per floor in an office building, or a section of a warehouse or factory
- during an emergency, the fire warden should assign an appropriate person (a ‘buddy’) to assist each employee with a mobility impairment
- identify a refuge area for employees with reduced mobility (for example, fire isolated stairwells)
- the fire warden advises emergency personnel (for example, fire fighters and police) of the location of employees with reduced mobility in refuge areas
- conduct evacuation drills regularly, including practice for evacuating employees with disability
- clearly identify and show emergency exits by using illuminated exit signs
- clearly display emergency and evacuation procedures on appropriate signage.
Employees with disability
Fire wardens should be aware of any employees with mobility impairments in their work area.
A mobility impairment is a physical, psychological, intellectual or sensory impairment, either temporary or permanent, which results in a person requiring assistance during an emergency evacuation.
Suggestions on how to modify evacuation procedures so that they include employees with a range of mobility impairments are provided below. However, it is always best to discuss evaluation procedures with employees with disability as they will be the experts in any assistance, equipment and adjustments they will require.
Wheelchair users
- An evacuation strategy should be developed in consultation with the wheelchair user to take individual issues into account.
- It may be appropriate to advise local emergency personnel that there are wheelchair users in the workplace, particularly if they are located in high rise buildings.
- It is not recommended to lift a person out of their wheelchair and carry them.
- There should be adequate space within fire isolated stairwells for a wheelchair user to turn around. Fire isolated stairwells are protected from fire and smoke for up to two hours and can be a safe refuge area.
- Specialist evacuation chairs and other equipment are available for installation in business premises. For information see our Workplace Adjustment Tool:
People who are deaf or have hearing loss
- A flashing light alarm should be installed in work areas, including bathrooms.
- If no flashing alarm is installed, a co-worker should be assigned to assist a worker who is deaf or have hearing loss.
People who have vision impairment
- Tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) can be installed on the approach to fire stairs to indicate a change in terrain for people who are blind or vision impaired (only five per cent of people with vision impairment have no sight at all).
- Brightly coloured step edges aid people with vision impairment and are recommended for use in fire stairwells.
Anxiety disorders or other mental illness
- Emergency situations can be particularly stressful for people with anxiety disorders or other mental illnesses.
- For people with disclosed anxiety disorders or mental illnesses, a ‘buddy’ should be assigned to assist them in the evacuation process.