What is a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)?
If a fire were to break out in your building, a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan is set up to make sure that vulnerable people can evacuate safely along with everyone else.
Not everyone will need the same level of support during an emergency. Arrangements might need to be made to ensure that a person’s mental or physical facilities don’t stop them from leaving the building in a safe manner. That’s where a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan comes in.
Purpose of a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)
A PEEP is a documented procedure that explains how a person with limited mobility or other impairments is supported during their evacuation of a building. These individuals may have difficulty hearing the fire alarm or moving towards the exits.
A PEEP may also be created to outline the support of someone with other disability issues such as severe PTSD or other mental condition which could be triggered by the fire alarm.
Who needs a PEEP?
A PEEP document is for anyone with a disability that affects them responding to an emergency.
This includes people with a…
- Mobility impairment (such as those with a physical disability or people that are elderly, injured or pregnant).
- Hearing impairment
- Visual impairment
- Poor mental health
This includes all users of a building, not just residents
What should a PEEP contain?
The contents of a PEEP will depend on the needs of the individual and the building in which they are an occupant of. The main details to consider when creating a PEEP include:
- The Individual: Details about the person’s impairment, whether they need a permanent or temporary plan, and how they can be assisted.
- Escape Routes: How the individual will get to a place of safety, such as the building assembly point. Ensure they understand their escape routes and that all routes are cleared of potential hazards.
- Assistance Devices/Equipment: Identify any devices, equipment, or procedures needed to assist the individual in an emergency, such as an evac chair or wheelchair being made available.
- Self-Evacuation Ability: Determine if the person can evacuate by themselves or if assistance will be needed in an emergency.
- Agreement and Involvement: Confirm that the person agrees with the plan and has been involved in its creation.
- Communication: Ensure the plan has been properly communicated to all involved, including those who will assist in the evacuation procedures.
Who is responsible for completing a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan
In the UK the responsibility for creating a PEEP falls on the building owner, manager or nominated responsible person. This is especially relevant for multi occupied high rise residential buildings.
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Edited by Operations Manager, Max Cassin