Could a disabled person escape from your premises in the event of a fire?

This is the question Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is asking all Norfolk businesses after working closely with local disabled people and groups.

Every business has a statutory duty to ensure that everyone who visits, stays or works in their premises can get out quickly and safely in the event of a fire.  

This means having a fire evacuation plan and crucially ensuring every member of staff understands the plan, including the role they will play in getting everyone out quickly and safely in a fire.  

Richard Herrell, Group Manager (Community Fire Protection) at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "In discussions, disabled people have told us about their concerns and fears about fire evacuation procedures which do not take their needs into account. Because of this, in some cases, they avoid premises where they do not feel safe.  

"People with hearing impairments worry that because they would not hear an alarm or announcement they could be left in a building unaware of the danger they were in. People with visual impairments worry that they would be unable to find and negotiate the emergency exits quickly and safely.

"Also people with restricted mobility and wheelchair users worry that they would be unable to negotiate their way to an emergency exit in a crush of people and overturned stock or furniture.  Once at the exit, if there were stairs or steps they would either not be able to get down at all or would slow down the evacuation of others without assistance."

Mr Herrell said the key message for all businesses was the need to plan effectively, train staff, practice fire evacuation plans and communicate them to people who work and visit a premises. 

He said: "Critically examine your premises and existing plans and ask yourself how easy is it for people with a wide range of impairments to leave the building.  Then put in reasonable adjustments - which can range from flashing or vibrating alarms for Deaf visitors at hotels to ensuring all your staff understand how to help people leave the building safely.  This could include conducting a sweep of the premise to ensure everyone is aware of the need to leave and can find the nearest safe exit.  Where there are physical barriers such as stairs or heavy doors ensure that equipment and trained staff are in place to help people leave the building "Putting the plans into practice in regular drills is a vital part of fire safety and should include developing scenarios that test arrangements for people with disabilities.

"For people staying overnight in  Hotels or boarding houses  etc  it is important that you discuss the arrangements that can be put in place to ensure they are notified of a need in leave the building and are able to do so safely."

Mark Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People, said: " The key is to ensure access for all citizens.  Concerns about fire safety must not be an excuse to exclude disabled people from accessing areas of buildings.  It is the duty of businesses and public bodies to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure all disabled people can be safe in all buildings.  This approach also makes sound business sense"

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service says that a vital part of this is ensuring that the needs of people with a wide range of impairments - mobility, visual, hearing, speech and cognitive - must be  included in the Fire Risk Assessment with appropriate plans put in place to assure their safety in the event of fire.

To put this into context in Norfolk, 22% of the population has a disability or long term illness.  There are seven children with at least one disabled parent in an average classroom of 25 children and there are an estimated 5,500 disabled children and young people in Norfolk.

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