Emergency Evacuation for Persons With Physical Disabilities

Building Evacuation Policy:

Florida International University policy on Emergency Evacuation requires that whenever the fire alarm is activated all building occupants leave and move away from any facility as promptly as possible, via the
nearest safe and available exit.

In facilities without alarm systems, all persons must leave whenever it becomes clear that an emergency exists which necessitates evacuation for the protection of safety and well being of the occupants.

No one is expected to endanger him/herself in order to control a hazard or to effect or assist with evacuation of others, but everyone has a duty to ensure that other occupants are aware of an emergency.

Similarly, it is expected that individuals will aid anyone who requires physical assistance to safely evacuate.

Arrangements for Evacuation:

Arrangements can be made to reasonably assure that assistance is provided to anyone who is known to require it. Employees are encouraged to contact/ advise their department head, the Department of
Environmental Health & Safety, Public Safety or the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Programs regarding the type of assistance required. Students should contact the Office of Disability Services.

Responsibility for Evacuation Assistance Arrangements:

Elevators cannot safely be used for emergency egress, and are typically programmed to cease operating when a fire alarm is activated.

At the time an emergency occurs assistance may not be readily available if no prior arrangements are made since persons with disabilities may not be readily identifiable to others. Therefore, persons with
disabilities who may require assistance must to request/arrange for assistance ahead of time.

Arrangements for assistance are usually best accomplished by establishing a personal relationship between the individual requiring assistance and one or more of his/her peers in the form of a “Buddy Plan”.

“Buddy Plans” that entail the use of an Evacu-trac device (Location List) should be coordinated with the department of Environmental Health & Safety for training purposes. Videotapes on the use of the
Evacu-trac device are available from the EH&S Free Video Library.

Redundant arrangements should be made to ensure that assistance would be available even when the designated “buddies” are unavailable.

Please note that University Public Safety Officers are trained in use of the Evacu-trac device and are able to provide evacuation assistance for persons with mobility impairments, at the time of an emergency.

 

 

 

 
Evacuation and Alternatives:

The emergency evacuation alarm systems in most University facilities include visual and audible signaling devices that alert the sight or hearing impaired persons to alarm conditions.

The stairway landings on each floor of most buildings on University premises are independently accessible by wheelchair users, and are large enough to accommodate at least one wheelchair occupant and still remain a viable means of emergency egress for others. While not all stairways fully qualify as "areas of safe refuge" as defined by code, they are usually substantially safer than any other areas of the building
and much preferable to remaining in an area where exposure to heat, smoke, and products of combustion are a hazard.

Public Safety or Fire Rescue personnel should be made aware of anyone needing assistance by other occupants who have evacuated – persons waiting in a stairwell should be sure to ask several persons to
notify Public Safety of their location. When making this request - give the name of the stairwell and the floor (for example PC North-west Stairs, 4th floor landing).

Areas of refuge in specific University buildings have the benefit of two-way communication devices located in close proximity to the protected area within the stairways. The communication devices connect to the Public Safety Department and allow the individual to advise the Public Safety dispatcher of their location.

Please contact the Department of Environmental Health & Safety & Risk Management Services (EH&S) if you or any one you know has special evacuation needs. EH&S
has a voluntary registration program for this purpose. You may register my calling 348-2621 or by email.
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