Effective Fire Evacuation Plans: Why Emergency Preparedness and Response Matter

Like pulling off a complex dance routine, fire drills and fire evacuation plans may seem hard to execute at first. The two P’s (practice and preparedness) are the secret to knowing the right moves when it matters. Discover emergency preparedness measures that will strengthen your fire risk management.

Why Emergency Preparedness Matters for Every Workplace

In South Africa, there are over 35 000 workplace fires reported every year. It is thus critical to hold frequent workplace fire drills and put in place fire marshals and safety teams.

What are the risks of not having a fire evacuation plan?

• Disorganised evacuations or fire emergency response
• Increased risk of injury to site visitors or staff
• Increased risk of damage to property due to incorrect protocols being followed

Aside from the above, there is also the risk of heightened liability due to insufficient fire emergency preparedness and planning.

Precautionary fire risk management saves lives and protects assets. Take this fire preparedness case study, for example, where a woman in supported living accommodation died due to a catalogue of failures. Not having bespoke fire-related policies or not holding fire safety audits often enough may have deadly consequences.

ERF Group helps businesses create fire evacuation plans and policies tailored to their spaces. Contact us to schedule a fire safety audit and ensure better safety.

Creating a Fire Evacuation Plan: Fail-Safe Building Blocks

Solid fire evacuation plans consist of multi-layered safety measures. These include:

• Ensuring clear evacuation routes that are not blocked or cluttered so as to impede evacuation
• Designated assembly points that ensure responsible crowd control
• Functional and audible communications systems that empower clear instruction in the event of fires and other emergencies
• Clear accountability: designated roles such as fire marshals and safety teams to ensure there are not conflicting or confusing instructions that could create chaos

It is critical that the components of your fire evacuation plan, such as signage and comms systems, comply with SANS (South African National Standards) regulations. SANS-approved fire protection systems are built to withstand emergency conditions and will ensure maximum protection.

Fire Marshals and Safety Teams: Marshals’ and Employees’ Key
Responsibilities

Fire marshals and safety teams as well as other employees play critical roles in keeping evacuees safe during an emergency. A fire marshal’s roles include:

• Assist: In the event of a fire, fire marshals operate extinguishers and direct firefighters to key equipment. They must therefore know where equipment is stored
• Evacuate: Directing building occupants to safety
  Take accountability: Fire marshals must also ensure that all occupants, staff or visitors are accounted for and are out of harm’s way

Employees’ Roles During Fire Drills and Evacuations

Employees also fulfil important responsibilities during fire drills and evacuations.

Employees must:

• Leave their work area as soon as a fire alarm is activated
• Only return to work when the all-clear is given
• Follow fire safety rules and directives
• Keep fire exits clear
• Use equipment safely and responsibly

ERF Group provides training services for fire marshals and staff which will help you ensure fail-safe fire evacuation plans.

Conducting Fire Drills: Practice Makes Perfect

Regular, well-structured fire drills are crucial for maintaining emergency preparedness. The Occupational Health and Safety Act No 85 of 1993 (OHASA) lays out several requirements for fire drills. These include frequency requirements (drills must be carried out twice a year at minimum).
To conduct a successful fire drill:

• Develop and document fire drill procedures to ensure that vital checks and tests do not slip through the cracks.
• Communicate about an upcoming drill well in advance so that employees know how to proceed. Surprise drills are also important for simulating real emergencies.
• Assign clear roles and responsibilities so that there is no confusion during the drill. These include fire marshals or wardens, deputy fire marshals, and fire and life searchers who ensure that everyone at risk is evacuated and nobody is left behind.
• Imagine and test different unusual scenarios. For example, how should a fire safety team respond if an emergency stairwell is blocked due to fire damage? Testing hypothetical scenarios and surprises will ensure even greater emergency preparedness.

Remember that regular fire drills will train employees how to respond and minimise risks to life and property in the event of a real emergency. Let ERF help you plan and assist with executing drills by auditing safety equipment, signage, and other critical components of fire drills and real evacuation situations.

Partner with ERF for Fire Evacuation Plans and Peace of Mind

Detailed fire evacuation plans ensure preparedness and clear roles so that real fire emergencies hold the lowest possible risk. An evacuation plan that is as well-coordinated as a gold-winning dance squad’s routine will protect life and assets, giving you peace of mind.
Contact ERF today to schedule a fire safety audit or book fire safety training.