australian network on disability, safer evacuations for all peeps and geeps

Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPsPresentation for

by Lee WilsonAdvocate for Universal Design and Accessible Egress

Wednesday, 24 February 2016®

An Important Message“The focus on access into premises to enable people with disability to fully use a building, needs to be matched with arrangements for their safe egress in the event of a fire”

Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson

(adapted from Scottish Government 2007 publication)®

Planning for Emergencies“History has shown that planning for emergency evacuation dramatically increases the chance for successful evacuation”

(Loy, Hirsh & Batiste 2006)

Safer Evacuations for All: PEEPs and GEEPs, by Lee Wilson®

Presentation Overview1. How I came to be here today2. The ‘gap’ in legislation3. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)4. Group (or Generic) Emergency Evacuation Plans

(GEEPs)


Presentation Overview continued

5. Enhanced measures for safe evacuation6. Enhanced wayfinding concepts7. Occupant warning system considerations8. Conclusions & Recommendations


How I Came To Be Here Today• Studying Masters degree• Completed 8,000 word thesis• Continued writing over 40,000 words• Released evacuation guidebook:

Evacuation of People with Disability & Emergent Limitations


The ‘Gap’ in LegislationAustralian Legal Framework

• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992

• Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011

• State / Territory based Work Health and Safety laws

• National Construction Code (adopted into building legislation)


What are PEEPs• PEEP considers individual needs• Assesses characteristics of specific building• Essential document for each employee who

may be delayed in their ability to respond, react or evacuate


• A generic type plan will not address everyone’s unique needs

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What are GEEPs• Generic arrangements that cater for EVERYONE• It’s more complex to manage public buildings

People in unfamiliar environments Not aware of evacuation arrangements Don’t follow cues or instructions

• Ignoring members of public or visitors = significant risk


Enhanced Measures for Safe Evacuation• Accessible evacuation routes (or accessible means of egress)• Emergency Evacuation Lifts• Larger fire stairs with refuge areas, & with communication• Emergency information in tactile, audible & visual formats• Evacuation chairs and other devices


Enhanced Wayfinding Concepts• Accessible exit signs:

Refuge Area Evacuation lifts Evacuation chairs

• Increased contrast of exit route features• Photo-luminescent markers around features• Tactile evacuation diagrams• Accessible exits routes on evacuation diagrams


Occupant Warning Considerations• Accessible ‘break glass’ alarms• Refuge communication systems• Visual warnings / alarms• Vibrating pads and pillows• Exit point sounders• Mass notification systems (mobile phones & pagers)• New technology (smart phone apps, computer notifications)


Conclusions & Recommendations• We need more industry guidance

• Changes in social and attitudinal factors

• Changes to legislation and AS 3745

• Adopt an ‘accessible means of egress’ concept

• Better and more intuitive wayfinding systems

• Everyone needs to work together to develop plans


Get the FREE Guidebook

www.accessibleexitsigns.com/evacuation-guide/


“Evacuation planning is a critical component of life safety, including evacuation for persons with disabilities”United States Access Board

®

Questions?For further information please

contact Lee Wilson:

• Mobile: 0438 580 729

• Email: [email protected]

• Web: www.leewilson.com.au


Anyquestions?

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Thank you for your time

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.leewilson.com.au/