Evacuation Chair Training in Eastleigh and Hampshire
Evacuation Chair Training is essential if you have an Evacuation Chair in your building, as you will need to have staff who are appropriately trained to use it.
If your building has a lift that allows access to floors above or below ground level and the lift is not a fire-rated lift, meaning it must not be used in the event of a fire, you will require a suitable evacuation aid to assist people with disabilities, which may include mobility issues. One of the most effective evacuation aids to support the safe movement of such individuals is an Evacuation Chair.
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Evacuation Chairs are available in different forms, including models designed to descend stairs and climber chairs that can be used to ascend stairs. Both types of evacuation chair may also form part of a business continuity plan in the event of a lift failure. A typical example would be a care home with a single lift that has failed, where residents still need to move between floors but may have mobility difficulties that prevent safe use of stairs without assistance.
When Is Evacuation Chair Training Required?
Evacuation chairs are commonly installed in buildings where access is required to floors above or below ground level and where lifts cannot be used during a fire emergency. In these situations, they provide a safe and controlled method of assisting people with mobility difficulties down stairways.
Typical premises where Evacuation Chair Training is required include:
- Office buildings with upper floors
- Care homes and supported living environments
- Educational facilities
- Public sector buildings
- Commercial premises with disabled access provisions
This training forms an important part of evacuation planning and should align with your Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan and any Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans in place.
Course Structure and Delivery:
The course is delivered on-site and combines both theory and practical instruction. Training takes place within your own building, so staff learn how to operate the evacuation chair in the environment they would actually use it.
- Theory and practical-based training
- We require a room for the theory element
- A designated staircase is required for the practical element
- Course duration is approximately 2 hours
- Competency is valid for 2 years, with consideration given to skill fade
- A maximum of 8 candidates per course to maintain safety on the stairs
- Consecutive courses can be run on the same day if more staff require training
To ensure familiarity and confidence, we ask that your evacuation chair is available on the day so staff are trained on the specific model used within your premises. We also bring our own evacuation chair in case a client’s equipment is faulty or unavailable.
What The Training Covers:
Our training focuses on safe operation, correct handling techniques, and reducing the risk of injury to both operators and passengers.
Couse content includes:
- Ergonomics of the spine for evacuation chair operators
- Basic spine anatomy and potential injuries to avoid
- Manual handling risks associated with evacuation chairs
- Pushing and pulling techniques
- Moving and handling individuals into and out of the chair
- Chair transfers using a transfer board, where applicable
- Safe chair handling and controlled descending techniques on stairs
This practical approach helps staff understand not just how to use the chair, but why specific techniques are required to maintain safety under pressure.
Why Practical, On-Site Evacuation Chair Training Matters
Evacuation chairs are rarely used during day-to-day operations. Without practical training, staff may lack confidence or make errors during a real emergency.
On-site Evacuation Chair Training allows staff to:
- Practice using the chair on the actual staircases within the building
- Understand space limitations and layout challenges
- Build confidence in a controlled environment
- Reduce the risk of injury caused by incorrect handling
Training delivered within your premises ensures learning is relevant, memorable, and directly applicable.
Evacuation Chair Training F.A.Q's
No. This training needs to be provided face-to-face to enable staff to get hands-on with the Evacuation Chair on your premises. Staff need to ensure and demonstrate confidence in using the chair as part of this training service. We can deliver this hands-on training in Kent, East Sussex, London, West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Dorset, and West Country.
This training is a requirement set out by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If disabled people are on your premises, the responsible person must ensure arrangements are put in place to take account of all people on the premises when considering fire.
This training is valid for 2 years.
There are no pre-requisites for this training.
Yes, but you will need to establish if the Evacuation Chair training was on a chair relevant to their previous workplace and if you have the same chair type. Always ensure they also have an in-date training certificate.
Yes, you can. There are other devices available such as mats and sledges, but you should consider which evacuation aid is most suitable for your environment.
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Book Evacuation Chair Training in Hampshire
If your organisation has evacuation chairs installed, professional training is essential to ensure staff safety and effective evacuation procedures.
Contact Benfield Fire Safety today to arrange Evacuation Chair Training in Eastleigh and surrounding areas, or to discuss your specific requirements.
Please contact us for bespoke pricing details.
Call: 0300 303 3277
