Course Overview
The Evacuation Planning Training course is a practical three-hour training programme designed to help learners understand how effective emergency evacuation arrangements are developed, implemented and maintained within the workplace.
A successful evacuation depends on more than simply directing people towards the nearest exit. Organisations need clear procedures, appropriate escape arrangements and people who understand their responsibilities before an emergency occurs.
Throughout the course, learners explore the factors that should be considered when developing evacuation arrangements and how those arrangements can be communicated, tested and improved.
What You’ll Learn
- The principles of emergency evacuation planning
- Understanding workplace fire and emergency procedures
- Identifying suitable escape routes and exits
- Means of escape and maintaining clear evacuation routes
- Emergency exit signage and lighting
- Assembly points and places of safety
- Roles and responsibilities during an evacuation
- Fire wardens and marshals
- Accounting for employees and visitors
- Contractors and other people unfamiliar with the premises
- Supporting people who may require assistance Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) General Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs), where appropriate
- Communication during an emergency
- Developing clear evacuation procedures
- Planning and conducting fire drills
- Observing and evaluating evacuation exercises Identifying lessons following drills or incidents
- Recording actions and improving emergency arrangements
Evacuation Planning
Effective evacuation arrangements need to work in the real world, not simply exist within a written procedure.
Our Evacuation Planning training encourages learners to consider how people actually behave during emergencies and how factors such as unfamiliar visitors, contractors, mobility requirements, multiple floors, alternative exits and changing workplace conditions can affect an evacuation.
Learners work through practical examples and consider how evacuation arrangements could be applied within their own organisation.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
The course is suitable for people involved in developing, implementing or reviewing workplace evacuation arrangements, including:
- Managers and supervisors
- Health and safety professionals
- Facilities and premises teams
- Fire wardens and marshals
- People responsible for emergency planning
- Those involved in organising or reviewing fire drills
No previous specialist fire safety knowledge is required.
Planning for People Who May Need Assistance
Emergency arrangements should consider people who may not be able to evacuate a building independently or who could require additional assistance.
The course introduces learners to the principles of planning for people who may require support during an evacuation and considers how arrangements such as Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) can form part of wider emergency planning.
Importantly, evacuation arrangements should reflect the individual, the premises and the circumstances, rather than relying on assumptions about a person’s capabilities.
Effective Evacuation Planning Training helps those responsible for workplace emergency arrangements understand the factors that need to be considered when developing and reviewing an evacuation plan.
Our Evacuation Planning Training explores escape routes, emergency procedures, responsibilities, assembly arrangements, people who may require assistance and how fire drills can be used to test whether arrangements work in practice.
By completing Evacuation Planning Training, learners can develop greater confidence in reviewing evacuation arrangements and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Fire Drills – Test, Learn and Improve
A fire drill provides an opportunity to test whether evacuation arrangements work effectively before they are needed during a real emergency.
Learners consider how drills can be planned, communicated, observed and reviewed to identify areas for improvement.
Rather than treating a fire drill simply as a measure of how quickly people leave a building, the course encourages organisations to examine what actually happened, including behaviours, communication, escape-route use, assembly arrangements and any difficulties encountered.
The findings can then be used to strengthen future emergency arrangements.
Effective workplace evacuation planning
Further guidance on fire safety and evacuation plans is available from GOV.UK.
Classroom or Virtual Training
The Evacuation Planning course can be delivered in person or through a live virtual classroom using Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
Both formats are trainer-led and interactive, allowing learners to discuss their own workplaces and consider how evacuation principles apply to different buildings and working environments.
CERTIFICATION
Acumen Approved Certification
This course is delivered as an Acumen Approved Course.
The content is designed around recognised Fire Warden / Marshal duties
Following successful completion of the course, learners receive an Acumen Safety Solutions certificate of completion.
This course can have an additional fire extinguisher practical session included where applicable.
Course Details
Duration: 3 Hours
Delivery: Classroom training
Location: At your workplace or an arranged training venue
Assessment: Knowledge checks, practical discussion scenarios during the course
Certification: Acumen Approved Course
Previous experience: None required
