Fire drill has left me in a lot of pain.

Errata

The drill was over and people were returning to the building just as I arrived at the assembly point.

I wanted to pick up on this. The drill is not over until everyone is at their assembly points. There is a time limit and those who breach it are considered to be trapped in the building and appropriate action is taken.
Bluntly, your company hasn't a clue.

dori2o

Torry_Quine wrote: »

You say you assumed they knew what they were doing but only you know how you would be affected by walking down all the stairs. Yes you were in pain and breathless but you did it albeit very slowly. The goods lift would not be used in a fire either.

I hope that you don't think I'm unduly harsh but I just can't understand why you woud go against what you know yourself.

Because my employer said I had to.

Thats the only reason. As I said I had brought this up before and was essentially told I had no choice in the matter.

After this experience I know exactly what I'm doing next time, 'regulations' or not.

Torry_Quine

dori2o wrote: »

Because my employer said I had to.

Thats the only reason. As I said I had brought this up before and was essentially told I had no choice in the matter.

After this experience I know exactly what I'm doing next time, 'regulations' or not.

It will be very interesting to see what they say and of course until everyone is out the building is not evacuated and the drill over.

Doom_and_Gloom

dori2o wrote: »

It's not the real evacuations I have a problem with. I personally don't see a reason why I have to evacuate at all during a drill.

When I was learning at an adult education centre they wanted to make sure everyone could be evacuated - this included wheelchair users, deaf people etc. If something doesn't work as it should they are supposed to make adjustments. Thankfully I was in a ground floor classroom that had a ramp to outside (I wouldn't have done the class otherwise).
They are correct that at least once a year you have to complete it but if they want you to they have to provide the way you would do so - otherwise don't do it!

dori2o wrote: »

I assume they did as it went to everyone who has an evac plan. (it was a group email)

I think I'm going to see the union tomorrow and see what their take is on it. Maybe see if I can speak to the person on the 2nd floor who uses a wheelchair.

You see I am very interested in how this person got to the evacuation point! Did they go against health and safety with them also? After all how is a wheelchair user supposed to go down stairs safely for a fire drill without an evacuation chair?

tanith

I just asked my husband and in his company when they have a fire drill, anyone in your situation will go with their buddy and wait at a safe place designated before hand. The fire warden is aware of where they are so in event of a real fire they can inform the fire brigade . He said that at no time would the disabled person be asked to actually vacate the building under their own steam. I think you are right to consult with your Union..

scottishminnie

Errata wrote: »

I wanted to pick up on this. The drill is not over until everyone is at their assembly points. There is a time limit and those who breach it are considered to be trapped in the building and appropriate action is taken.
Bluntly, your company hasn't a clue.

Absolutely correct. Under no circumstances should people be re-entering the building until everyone has been accounted for - and someone making their way painfully down 7 flights of stairs is not "accounted for". I think the fire brigade would take a very dim view of what has happened.

I have responsibities in the event on an evacuation and also have a colleague with an evacuation plan. The evac chair is not an option for him so the agreement is that his "buddy" is made aware that it is a drill only and they stay in a designated "fire safe" area until contacted to return to their desks. In the event of a "real" emergency- fire, bomb or whatever, one of the first things we do is inform the emergency services of the location of any colleague whose evacuation plan means they are in a designated spot. They then become a priority for the emergency services.

I'm not belittling your employers however I would press them for a meeting to discuss what happened and clear agreement for future events.

antonic

dori2o wrote: »

Due to my disability I have an evacuation plan at work.

Essentially in the event of a real fire I have to wait in the stair well when the fire alarm goes of, with a 'buddy', and wait for the fire brigade to come get me. They will either carry me down the stairs, or most likely take me down in the fire lift. (I'm on the top (7th) floor).

When it comes to a fire drill I am normally given a clear warning that the alarm is due to be sounded and I have to make my way to the ground floor and wait with the other people who have evacuation plans until the drill is completed. This is because the fire brigade is not called out to fire drills.

However. We have recently been informed that we have to treat 1 drill a year as a real fire, and so I will not be informed of this drill and will have to evacuate the building. However, the fire brigade will not attend so I will have to make my way down 19 flights of stairs to exit the building.

I have trouble walking more than a few meters, and never without being in very severe pain.

I've had the drill today, and I'm sat here now in bed and I can't move. My right knee which is affected by CRPS has swollen up like a football, my other knee which has been showing the same symptoms as the right one for the past 2 months is also very badly swollen. I'm unable to rest at all due to the pain. I've more than maxed out my pain pills for the day and I know this is only going to get worse before tomorrow.

What advice can anyone offer with regards to what i should be telling my employer tomorrow, assuming I can get there?

Go and see your PCS Rep and lodge a grievance and see what management do to try and evade their responsibilites.

Evilm

They should have made arrangements to evacuate you as if you were in a real situation. the person who told you to walk down the stairs needs to be slapped! As the warden for the floor they should be aware of anyone who needs assistance with evacuation and what to - and not to - do.

I'd see what the wheelchair user does. I know the wheelchair user I worked with was either carried down or they used the emergency chair - as they did with someone who had a broken leg during the drill time!

In a real fire the elevators - including the goods lift) are probably set up to go into emergency mode and only take their current passengers to the ground floor and let them out. (that's what I was always told at one government offices).

In a drill they could override that possibly?

If they will not arrange a more suitable method of evacuation (alternative chair?) then is it worth seeing if its possible to work on the ground floor all the time? Some departments its not workable to be away from the rest of the department but sometimes its possible. A colleague in my office had to do this when she broke her ankle.

I wouldn't like to be purely dependant on the fire department turning up in time to be able to get out! I'm not saying that they don't do a good job however, just that a fire is not predicable and waiting those few extra minutes could be a problem (especially if they were delayed!)

dickydonkin

Errata wrote: »

I wanted to pick up on this. The drill is not over until everyone is at their assembly points. There is a time limit and those who breach it are considered to be trapped in the building and appropriate action is taken.
Bluntly, your company hasn't a clue.

I have to agree.

I used to organise 2 fire drills annually (unannounced) and monitor the performance of the evacuation.

Following this, I would write up a report and highlight any issues or potential problems and ensure they were rectified as soon as possible.

I would deliberately lock some doors to see how people would respond - this was to replicate a situation where the 'nearest exit' would not be accessible.

As for the OP's situation, it is difficult to ascertain what would be right or wrong without seeing the workplace, however, there are obviously some serious issues.

'Waiting on the stairs with a buddy' in a fire awaiting the fire and rescue would seriously worry me as this is placing two people at risk.

OP, you really need to suggest to your employer to ask your local fire and rescue department for advice on this. They will provide them with excellent and practical information.

This is what happens when legislation places the onus on employers to assess their own fire risks. Gone are the days when the fire services had to issue a fire certificate before the premises could be used - now, all you have to do is carry out a fire risk assessment - usually completed by people who don't have a clue.

jazabelle

I had the exact same situation at my work - a disability charity, to make things worse. I use a wheelchair, but not in the workplace as I can usually manage with my stick. We were up six flights of stairs, and I was informed by my manager if there was a fire alarm/drill, I was not to use the lift.

I hadn't thought about it until that point, as my previous company had actually spent a lot of money fire proofing the lifts - and had separate motors in different rooms - so if one went, the other would still work, and even if they got trapped were able to withstand the heat for six hours - allowing for a rescue.

So I pointed out I would not make it down the stairs - I'd make it perhaps a flight and a half, slowly and in pain, but then my legs would lock up. No one would want that surely, as I'd be stopping the able-bodied people getting down as well!

I said as a reasonable adjustment could I be informed of drills so I could get myself downstairs beforehand, and in a real fire I'd just have to do my best.

They said absolutely not, I'd just have to manage and 'we'd deal with the concequences later'.

I have now left and have put in a grievence, as this was one small example of many, many issues I had there.