Assisting Others to Evacuate
Many employers designate individuals as evacuation wardens to help move employees from danger to safe areas during an emergency. Generally, one evacuation warden for every 20 employees should be adequate, and the appropriate number of wardens should be available at all times during working hours.
Evacuation wardens may be responsible for checking offices, bathrooms, and other spaces before being the last person to exit an area. They might also be tasked with ensuring that fire doors are closed when exiting.
Employees designated to assist in emergency evacuation procedures should:
- be trained in the complete workplace layout and various alternative escape routes if the primary evacuation route becomes blocked, and
- be made aware of employees with special needs (who may require extra assistance during an evacuation), how to use the buddy system, and any hazardous areas to avoid during an emergency evacuation.
Visitors also should be accounted for following an evacuation and may need additional assistance when exiting. Some employers have all visitors and contractors sign in when entering the workplace and use this list when accounting for all persons in the assembly area. The hosts and/or area wardens, if established, are often tasked with helping these individuals safely evacuate.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-6. Generally, how many available evacuation wardens is considered adequate during work hours?
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