What are the common types of Emergency Evacuation Processes?

In the event of emergencies, thorough evacuation procedures must be in place for the safety of employees and any visitors on site. In this article, we discuss some key examples of emergency evacuation processes which can be implemented in various workplace settings to minimize the safety risks.

Fire evacuation

Fire drills are a requirement within the workplace to ensure alarms are tested and employees are aware of how to respond in the event of a fire. By training employees on how to activate the fire alarm, locate their nearest emergency exit, and gather to the assigned assembly point, everyone can be best prepared for a real emergency and know how to evacuate in the most quick and efficient manner. Regular fire drills should be marked into the calendar, ideally in the quieter working hours to minimize disruption, and these drills should be taken seriously by everyone within the building. For larger businesses with big sites or a building with various floors, there should be different evacuation routes and assembly points for different areas, clearly communicated to employees and marked out through signage.

Manufacturing facility evacuation

In facilities which are home to heavy-duty machinery and equipment, the safety risks are heightened and additional evacuation processes are likely to be needed. With the machinery posing risk of malfunctions or structural issues, evacuations in areas which have complex layouts or blockages can be more challenging so specialist training will be required. Through training workers on how to respond to various scenarios by shutting down equipment using emergency stop buttons, securing any hazardous materials using the necessary protective wear, and evacuating to designated assembly points, the risk of injury and further damage to the facility is minimized.

High-rise building evacuation

In workplaces located in high-rise buildings, often in city environments, there are added emergency evacuation challenges presented due to the vast number of people in a singular building. There should be additional fire safety features installed before a building is able to become usable, such as fire doors, emergency exit lighting, and fireproof stairwells. To allow for safe evacuation from higher floors, evacuation drills should be frequently carried out to trial efficient evacuation. Each area of the building should be assigned an exit staircase to use to avoid congestion, and the lifts should always be avoided in the event of an emergency.

Violence threat evacuation

Whether it be an active shooter, a violent outbreak, or a terrorist threat, there should always be an appropriate evacuation process in place to prepare employees for all scenarios. Although carrying out drills for the nature of these events can be distressing and provoke fear, it is a necessity to ensure people can respond quickly in stressful situations and make potentially life-saving decisions. The training carried out should cover processes such as barricading doors, locking down the building, and knowing when it is safe to evacuate the building.

Chemical hazard evacuation

For businesses such as laboratories and chemical plants who are working with hazardous materials, employees must be educated on the chemicals in use along with their hazards and the emergency protocols in place. Many businesses choose to appoint specific employees who are in charge of evacuation during a chemical spill or leak, carrying out thorough training so they can guide the response safely and quickly. Meanwhile, safety training should be carried out to inform all employees on how to correctly use the chemicals, the personal protective equipment that must be worn, and how to correctly dispose of any waste.