Guidance for students who may need assisted evacuation

GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NEED AN EVACUATION PLAN

Most disabled students will be able to evacuate University buildings safely unaided or by making use of the standard General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP). A small minority of disabled students will need more specific help and will require a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).

GEEP ARRANGEMENTS

The key points are:

In advance of an emergency:

1. Download the SafeZone app to your phone and make sure you are registered as a University user.
2. Add the emergency contact number into your phone contacts:
Gilmorehill campus 0141 330 4444 and Garscube campus 0141 330 2222
3. Find the location of Refuge Areas close to your room in halls of residence, or teaching venues. Typically, these are found on fire-protected stair landings.
4. Training and familiarisation in the use of evacuation chairs will be arranged with Security.

In the event of a fire alarm or other emergency evacuation:

1. Make your way to the nearest Refuge Area
2. Contact Security by:

  • Pressing the Emergency button on the SafeZone app – this activates an alarm in the control centre, or
  • Using the two-way communication system, if available, or
  • Phoning 0141 330 4444 (Gilmorehill) or 0141 330 2222 (Garscube)

3. Wait in place for central and/or local response teams to assist.

Fire drills and false alarms

1. In the event of a fire drill, you must go to a Refuge Area and be ready for evacuation.

2. If you are a wheelchair user, you will not normally be required to fully evacuate the building during drills and known false alarms provided you are at a Refuge Area and prepared for evacuation. This is to minimise any discomfort and risk of injury associated with using an evacuation chair or other device when this is not essential for safety.

3. If you want to be fully evacuated from the building in a fire drill, to fully experience the use of an evacuation chair, you should discuss that with the evacuation team. You are entitled to be fully evacuated from the building if that is your preference.

Evacuation chairs

1. You need to be able to get yourself into the evacuation chair, with minimal assistance, to use an evacuation chair safely.

2. Training and familiarisation in the use of evacuation chairs can be arranged with Security.

Evacuation lifts

1. Remember that you WILL NOT be able to use passenger lifts in an emergency and may need to use the stairs to leave the building.

2. However, evacuation lifts are available in some buildings but are not self-operated. The evacuation team would advise.


The standards arrangement may not be suitable for everyone, and you will need an individual PEEP if:

  • You cannot hear the standard fire alarm.
  • You cannot move unaided to a Refuge Area
  • You use a wheelchair and would need to use an evacuation device to negotiate stairs e.g. evacuation chair.

To use the standard Assisted Evacuation Arrangements, you need to be able to move to a Refuge Area and after arrival of the evacuation team, to transfer yourself into an evacuation chair with minimal assistance. If you cannot do either of these.

STAYING IN HALLS OF RESIDENCE:

If you plan on living in University accommodation, you’ll be asked to include information about your disability on the application form. For example, if you need an accessible room, or if you need to use the Deaf Alerter system. You can also indicate if you think you’ll need special arrangements to help you evacuate the building.

Studying:

You can disclose a disability on your UCAS application, at the point of registering with the University or by registering with the Disability Service. If you think you’ll need an evacuation plan you should contact the Disability Service as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
Postgraduate research students should discuss the need for an evacuation plan with their supervisor.

COMPLETING AN ASSISTED EVACUATION PLAN:

Step 1 On contacting Disability Services you will be taken through the electronic form to establish the level of plan required. 

Step 2 If from the discussion the GEEP are sufficient the plan will be created and security notified of the details. You may meet with Security staff to discuss the practicalities of your plan and ensure that you are registered with the SafeZone app. In most cases, Security are responsible for aiding during any emergency evacuation.

Step 3 If, from discussions the GEEP is insufficient a more detailed plan will be agreed with the Fire Safety Advisers in SEPS, and a PEEP will be created. This plan will be sent to Security, and you will need to ensure that you are registered with the SafeZone app which will highlight your location once you activate the app should the fire alarm activate in the building you are in at the time.
Communication of the plans will be sent to the student, a member of the Academic school or accommodation staff.

Any staff that require an assisted evacuation procedure should consult with their line manager to contact and discuss their support with the SEPS Team.