Can anyone be trained to use an Evacuation Chair?
Telephone: O330 3775372 Email: [email protected]
One of the questions we're frequently asked is whether anyone can become an evacuation chair operator.
The answer is almost anyone can be trained, but not everyone will necessarily be suitable to operate an evacuation chair safely.
Using an evacuation chair involves practical manual handling, good judgement and the ability to remain calm under pressure. A good training course will assess each student's ability throughout the day and provide honest feedback where appropriate.
The answer is almost anyone can be trained, but not everyone will necessarily be suitable to operate an evacuation chair safely.
Using an evacuation chair involves practical manual handling, good judgement and the ability to remain calm under pressure. A good training course will assess each student's ability throughout the day and provide honest feedback where appropriate.
Previous Experience Isn't Necessary
No previous experience is required.
Many of our students have never even seen an evacuation chair before attending the course.
Our training starts with the basics, covering the equipment, safety features and operating principles before progressing to practical exercises under close supervision.
A Reasonable Level of Fitness and Strength is Required
Although modern evacuation chairs are designed to reduce the effort required when descending stairs, they are not effortless to operate.
Operators need sufficient strength to:
For these reasons, evacuation chair operators should be capable of carrying out moderate manual handling safely and confidently.
Height and Body Weight
People often ask whether there is a minimum height or weight requirement.
There is no universal legal requirement or industry standard that specifies minimum measurements.
However, from our experience of training many hundreds of operators, some smaller or lightweight individuals may find it more difficult to control some evacuation chair models, particularly when evacuating heavier passengers.
Likewise, operators at the extreme ends of the height range may find certain chairs less comfortable to use.
This is one reason why practical training is so important—it allows each individual to demonstrate that they can operate the equipment safely.
Existing Injuries or Medical Conditions
Evacuation chair training involves practical manual handling and, during the course, students will also experience being transported in the chair.
Although modern evacuation chairs are designed to provide a controlled descent, the journey can feel quite bumpy, particularly for first-time users.
If someone has a hernia, a back injury, neck problems, recent surgery or another condition that could be aggravated by manual handling or by travelling in the chair, they should discuss this with the training provider before attending.
In many cases, reasonable adjustments can be made, but occasionally it may be more appropriate for another member of staff to undertake the practical operator role.
Maturity Matters
We recommend that students are adults and capable of taking the responsibility seriously.
Practical evacuation chair training has an excellent safety record, but like any practical course involving manual handling, it relies on students behaving responsibly and following instructions at all times.
Horseplay, rushing or attempting to show off has no place on an evacuation chair course.
We Want Every Student to Succeed
Our aim isn't to exclude people from training—it's to ensure that anyone who may need to operate an evacuation chair in a real emergency can do so safely and confidently.
If you're unsure whether a member of staff would be suitable for operator training, we'd be happy to discuss their circumstances before booking the course.
In many cases we can make reasonable adjustments to help students participate, while ensuring that safety remains the overriding priority.
.Telephone on 0330 377 5372 or Email [email protected]
No previous experience is required.
Many of our students have never even seen an evacuation chair before attending the course.
Our training starts with the basics, covering the equipment, safety features and operating principles before progressing to practical exercises under close supervision.
A Reasonable Level of Fitness and Strength is Required
Although modern evacuation chairs are designed to reduce the effort required when descending stairs, they are not effortless to operate.
Operators need sufficient strength to:
- tip an occupied chair backwards into its operating position;
- manoeuvre the chair around landings and through doorways;
- control the chair throughout the stair descent; and
- move the passenger safely once the evacuation is complete.
For these reasons, evacuation chair operators should be capable of carrying out moderate manual handling safely and confidently.
Height and Body Weight
People often ask whether there is a minimum height or weight requirement.
There is no universal legal requirement or industry standard that specifies minimum measurements.
However, from our experience of training many hundreds of operators, some smaller or lightweight individuals may find it more difficult to control some evacuation chair models, particularly when evacuating heavier passengers.
Likewise, operators at the extreme ends of the height range may find certain chairs less comfortable to use.
This is one reason why practical training is so important—it allows each individual to demonstrate that they can operate the equipment safely.
Existing Injuries or Medical Conditions
Evacuation chair training involves practical manual handling and, during the course, students will also experience being transported in the chair.
Although modern evacuation chairs are designed to provide a controlled descent, the journey can feel quite bumpy, particularly for first-time users.
If someone has a hernia, a back injury, neck problems, recent surgery or another condition that could be aggravated by manual handling or by travelling in the chair, they should discuss this with the training provider before attending.
In many cases, reasonable adjustments can be made, but occasionally it may be more appropriate for another member of staff to undertake the practical operator role.
Maturity Matters
We recommend that students are adults and capable of taking the responsibility seriously.
Practical evacuation chair training has an excellent safety record, but like any practical course involving manual handling, it relies on students behaving responsibly and following instructions at all times.
Horseplay, rushing or attempting to show off has no place on an evacuation chair course.
We Want Every Student to Succeed
Our aim isn't to exclude people from training—it's to ensure that anyone who may need to operate an evacuation chair in a real emergency can do so safely and confidently.
If you're unsure whether a member of staff would be suitable for operator training, we'd be happy to discuss their circumstances before booking the course.
In many cases we can make reasonable adjustments to help students participate, while ensuring that safety remains the overriding priority.
.Telephone on 0330 377 5372 or Email [email protected]
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