Course Intended Audience

 

Evacuation chair training is for people responsible for assisting others to safely evacuate a building using stair evacuation chairs during emergencies.

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Typical learners include:

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• Fire wardens / marshals

• Facilities and building managers

• Health and safety officers

• Office staff in multi-storey buildings

• Care home and hospital staff

• University and school site staff

• Security staff and reception teams

• Workplace first aiders involved in evacuation procedures

• Maintenance and estates teams

• Hospitality staff in hotels and venues with upper floors

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It is especially relevant in buildings where:

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• lifts cannot be used during emergencies

• disabled or mobility-impaired individuals may need assistance evacuating

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Course Aims

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The main aims are to ensure learners can safely and effectively use an evacuation chair to assist people down stairs during an emergency evacuation

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Course Duration

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Course Validation

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In the UK, there is no fixed legal interval that says evacuation chair training must be done every X years. However, it is guided by fire safety law and risk assessment requirements under the UK Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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🪑 Recommended frequency (best practice)

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Most UK training providers and fire safety policies recommend:

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• Initial training when staff are assigned evacuation duties

• Refresher training every 12 months (common industry standard)

• More frequent refreshers (6 months) in higher-risk environments such as:

  • Care homes

  • Hospitals

  • Large public venues

  • High staff turnover settings

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🔁 Training should also be repeated:

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• When new evacuation chairs are introduced

• After changes to building layout or evacuation procedures

• If staff have not used the equipment for a long period

• After incident reviews or fire drills highlighting issues

• When staff take on new fire marshal or evacuation roles

• If confidence or competence declines

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🧠 Key principle

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Under UK fire safety law, employers must ensure staff are:

“adequately trained and competent” to carry out evacuation duties safely.

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So frequency is based on employers risk assessment:

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• risk level

• staff turnover

• building complexity

• organisational policy

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rather than a strict legal timeline.

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Course Content

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• Understand legal responsibilities under UK manual handling regulations

• Reduce risk of injury to staff and service users

• Promote safe working practices in care environments

• Identify hazards and assess risks before moving a person

• Use correct moving and handling techniques

• Maintain dignity, comfort, and safety of the individual being moved

• Use equipment safely (e.g. hoists, slide sheets, transfer boards)

• Prevent musculoskeletal injuries (especially back injuries)

• Work effectively as part of a team when required

• Understand emergency evacuation procedures

• Identify when and how to use an evacuation chair safely

• Safely deploy and operate evacuation equipment

• Assist mobility-impaired individuals during evacuation

• Work as part of a team during emergency situations

• Maintain control and safety on stairways during descent

• Reduce risk of injury to both evacuee and operator

• Increase confidence in emergency response situations

• Understand legal and organisational responsibilities under fire safety procedures

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