Doc.

Title Fire Evacuation

Doc. Control # 104
Issuing Dept. EH&S

Issue Date 06/08/2021

Revision # 01

Means of Escape When a fire emergency occurs and people must evacuate a workplace, there must be
one or more escape routes available for them to use. This escape route is the ‘means of escape’. Local
regulations, codes of practice and standards vary in determining exactly what might be required in each
specific circumstance, but the following general principles can be applied:

• There should be a means of escape available to every person in a workplace, whether they are in an
office, workroom, plant room, basement, on the roof or on a scaffold of a construction site.

• The means of escape must take a person from wherever they are in the workplace to a place of total
safety outside the building where they are able to move away unrestricted.

• Two or more separate escape routes may have to be provided so that if one route is blocked, there is
another available. This is common in high-occupancy, multi-storey buildings.

• The means of escape must be properly signed and provided with emergency lighting (if necessary).

• Every workplace must have procedures to ensure the safe evacuation of people from buildings in the
event of fire.

• These procedures will require nominated staff to carry out certain duties, such as to act as ‘fire
marshals’ (or ‘fire wardens’). These nominated staff should be trained in their specific role.

• Information on fire evacuation procedures should be provided to others as appropriate.

• Fire drills allow staff to practise their emergency response and allow management to monitor the
effectiveness of emergency arrangements.

• Special procedures may be required to ensure the safe evacuation of the infirm or disabled.

• Means of escape should be shown on the plans of a building.

• The escape route should be clearly signed, and appropriately lit. Emergency lighting should be provided
where necessary (in case the mains power supply fails).

• The route that a person has to take should be unimpeded by obstructions, such as stored material or
inappropriate doors

• The means of escape is the route that a person will take from wherever they happen to be in a building
to a safe place outdoors.

• There are many factors that influence the means of escape such as: travel distances, number of
available escape routes, escape route width, design of any doors in the escape route and provision of
suitable assembly points.

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 Doc. Title Fire Evacuation
Doc. Control # 104
Issuing Dept. EH&S

Issue Date 06/08/2021

Revision # 01

Emergency (Escape) Lighting Escape routes must be adequately lit. Normal workplace lighting will
routinely achieve this, but there should be arrangements to cover non-routine situations, such as power
failures. This is especially the case when night-time working is taking place or when the work area is
internal to the building or has no external windows (i.e., no natural light). Emergency escape lighting is
necessary where power failure will result in a blackout. In very simple workplaces this may be a
rechargeable torch, but in most workplaces emergency lighting units are required. Emergency escape
lighting should:

• Illuminate the escape route.

• Illuminate fire signs and equipment.

• Be maintained in safe working order.

• Be tested routinely. Routine testing usually takes the form of a monthly function test (to check that the
light illuminates) and an annual discharge test. Records of maintenance and tests should be kept. Exit and
Directional Signs The escape route should be easy to follow. Signs should be provided so that people can
see their available escape routes quickly and easily, leading all the way to the final exit, also signed. These
signs should meet the requirements of local legislation.

Assembly point is a place where workers congregate once they have evacuated a building. This allows for
a roll call to be taken and identification of any missing persons. Assembly points should be in a place of
total safety and:

• A safe distance from the building (it may be on fire).

• At a safe location (not in a high-hazard area).

• At a location where people can move further away if needed.

• Out of the way of fire-fighters.

• Clearly signed. In some cases, a temporary assembly point or ‘refuge’ may be provided inside a building.
This might be used as a location where a person with impaired mobility temporarily waits for assistance
to evacuate the building.