Fires are a common occurrence, with fire and rescue authorities in the UK attending 149,779 fires between June 2020 and June 2021. While many of these fires are small and easy to control, some can be devastating and lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal duty on those who are responsible for a premises, such as an employer or building owner, to carry out a fire risk assessment and take steps to reduce the risks associated with fire. It also requires them to provide adequate means for escape in the event of fire for all occupants, including those who require assistance to do so safely.
In this article, we will answer several frequently asked questions about PEEPs, including what they are and who needs one.
PEEP stands for Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan.
A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) is an individual plan created for those who require assistance or special arrangements in order to safely evacuate a building in an emergency, such as a fire.
They are typically created for staff members or frequent users of a building, such as university students or hospital patients.
A PEEP is used to help ensure that those who need assistance get the specific help they need, and that those around them are aware of what they need to do to help during an evacuation. For example, a specific fire marshal may be responsible for laying emergency mobility ramps to help a wheelchair user get down a small set of stairs.
Anyone who requires assistance to evacuate in an emergency situation should have a PEEP. This may include:
Some people may require a temporary PEEP, such as pregnant people or those with temporary physical injuries.
A PEEP is specific to a person and their workplace, and will vary significantly as a result of this. However, most PEEPs will typically include information about:
Some example measures that may be detailed in a PEEP include:
At Commodious, we offer several health and safety courses, including two on fire safety awareness. These online courses are a simple and effective way to ensure that your employees understand good fire safety practice and how to act in an emergency situation. For more information on these training courses, use the links shown below: