The much awaited revised Australian Standard AS 3745—2009 Planning for Emergencies in Facilities (available here) has been released. This revised standard requires the development of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for all individuals with a disability.

Equal Access is developing a supportive framework to assist organisations, building managers and owners to develop Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS). Our framework will meet the requirements of AS3745 and will be available in the second hald of 2011.

Why do we need an Evacuation Plan?

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans | PEEP | Disability Escape | Disabled Egress | Emergency Evacuation Chairs | AS 3745 | AS3745

Emergency Evacuation is a high priority for ALL people. With the ever increasing likelihood of accidents, fires, flooding and terrorism. Emergency evacuation plans need to incorporate all levels of staff abilities.

What happens with a staff member that has a disability in an emergency?
How do you assist people of differing needs to ESCAPE?
Who is responsible for assisting staff in an emergency evacuation including visiting individuals?

Equal Access consults throughout Australia strategically supporting organisations to plan for the emergency evacuation of staff members with disability, mobility impairment and various health conditions. We assist in the development of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).

PEEPs are customised documentations that provide a framework for the planning and provision of emergency evacuation of people with a disability.

The most important component to emergency evacuation is - to get everyone out safely.

The only “SAFE PLACE” is outside the building

Is it reasonable, equitable, or dignified to expect a fireman to evacuate someone from a wheelchair down 10, 20 or even 50 floors? Could this cause further injuries, place fireman’s health and safety at risk?

What about staff members that are vision impaired, blind, or deaf. Who will assist them in the panic, if set procedures are not in place?

These evacuation procedures must be developed and practised. It is no longer acceptable to say during an evacuation drill that people with a disability, pregnant or obese do not have to participate.