Social Distancing in Emergencies

Social Distancing in Emergencies

The UK Government’s guidance for working safely during Covid-19 states that “in an emergency, for example an accident or fire, people do not have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe”.

Covid-19 secure guidelines have the potential to change the fire risk profile of an organisation and the potential issues of workplace configurations during the pandemic will need to be taken into account from a fire safety perspective.

As there is a potential for change to the fire risk profile, organisations will need to review the fire risk assessment to ensure it identifies such changes and analyse the risk from the changes.

Social Distancing in Emergencies. Examples of such changes are:

• reconfiguration of traffic routes and access/egress points to a one-way system
• changes in staffing levels and limited “competent persons” to support fire evacuations
• partial closure of parts of premises that may impact on means of escape
• fire doors being secured in an open position to prevent handles being touched and increase air ventilation
• repurposing of premises with occupiers who may be unfamiliar with premises.

The Fire Emergency Plan for the premises will need to be reviewed as part of the fire risk assessment review. Key issues in relation to social distancing are evacuation through means of escape that prevent social distancing, the evacuation of those who require assistance and the assembly point.

It is recognised that social distancing may not be possible during an evacuation due to the configuration of the means of escape. Organisations should not introduce any measures to mitigate this that make evacuation unsafe, for example by delaying evacuation.

A particular challenge may be social distancing where assistance is provided to those who require support to evacuate safely. Any Personal Emergency Egress Plan/s (PEEP) will need to be reviewed. In doing so, the organisation should take into account current official fire safety guidance and the UK Government Covid-19 secure guidelines in relation to those with “protected characteristics”.

Where close contact is necessary, immediate hygiene measures should be adopted for all those involved following the evacuation.

Assembly points

Assembly points assist in the control of occupants who have evacuated as well as enabling on-going communication and roll-call procedures, for example. The organisation should review the use of the assembly point and determine if social distancing can be maintained or whether alternative measures are required.

This could include the use of additional assembly points, marking the ground for social distancing, controlling dispersal, etc.

If you would like to have your fire risk assessment reviewed or have a new one created please contact us.

Stay Safe!