How to Create Emergency Evacuation Plan

An Emergency evacuation plan plays an integral part to save the asset of a business or a commercial building. In case any fire breaks out, clearly, all people should follow the steps which are mentioned in emergency evacuation plans. Let’s start to learn how to create emergency evacuation plan.

 

This may include duties for employees to check areas that are free of fire, close doors to prevent exposure and assist others to escape the fire. An emergency evacuation plan describes the procedures to follow in order to prevent potential dangers. For that, proper training should give to workers, so that it would be helpful to mitigate the possible perils during the fire.

 

Importance of an emergency evacuation plan in workplaces

 

The best way to prepare for a fire attack is to have a detailed and rehearsed emergency evacuation plan in workplaces. A high-quality fire escape plan will not only protect your business from fires, but also from other natural disaster or active shooter. By providing proper evacuation training, workers will be able to leave the premises quickly in case of any emergency. 

 

Fire risk assessment involves observing your workplaces, identifying the risks, determining who may be harmed’ and implementing new safety measures to overcome it. 

 

A fire evacuation strategy should be planned so that employees and fire wardens need to be aware of what actions they should take if they discover a fire.

 

The Health and safety of the people in the fire area comes in the first priority. The plan must include a way to inform employees, to evacuate, or take other necessary actions including disabled workers. The alarm should be activated as quickly as possible in case of fire. It helps to alert people that a fire has occurred on the premises.

 

The escape routes is another important aspect that should be included in an escape plan. A clear explanation about a building structure, clear signage, and visual representations will instruct people on how to exit the building safely. An escape route chart should be attached where ever necessary in a building premise.

 

Signages should be made of self luminating materials so that they could be seen properly in low lighting or dark conditions. Self luminescent signages will help the rescuant in escaping if a power failure happens. Emergency doors on the escape route must be easy to open so that evacuant can easily open the door and exit the fire. Fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers should be attached everywhere in premises in easy-to-access locations. 

 

Emergency lighting should be installed in case of power failures where ever appropriate, such as in windowless stairwells or doors. Fire commonly arises from electrical short circuits in this situation electrical switch gears or safety gears in electrical substation will be tripped resulting in a power failure. In this situation, emergency lightings will help an evacuant in identifying the escape route and thus reducing risks of accidents in panic situations.  If a fire event happens each and everyone in the building should gather in an Assembly point. The location of the assembly point must be informed in an escape root chart.

 

Procedures to create evacuation plan

 

Procedures for roll call is important in a situation where everyone is gathered at the assembly point, you must have a system for determining who all are present and who may still be in the building which helps in rescuing them also. Implementing all of these escaping plans will ensure that people exit the building as quickly as possible and safely. 

 

Steps to create an evacuation plan

 

• clearly marked escape routes which lead to a safe location,

 

• unobstructed passageways to all escape routes such as doors and  staircases should not be blocked by any obstacles

 

• created enough exits and exit routes

 

• Having enough emergency fire fighting equipment and emergency doors that are easy to use

 

• creating a safe meeting point for everyone away from the premises

 

• training all employees to prepare for a fire attack

 

• designating someone who has the knowledge of fire prevention to provide instructions

 

• having a signage system which helps in power failure conditions

 

Outlook

 

An evacuation procedure is only effective when the workers should guide with proper practices. So by conducting a mock drill we can ensure that it is effective and everyone is fully familiar with it. Hope you understand how to create emergency evacuation plan.