How Often Should Staff Practise Using an Evacuation Chair?
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One of the questions we're asked most often is:
"Our staff have completed evacuation chair training. How often should they practise afterwards?"
The short answer is far more often than many organisations actually do.
Regular hands-on practice is one of the simplest ways to ensure your evacuation plan will work when it's needed most.
"Our staff have completed evacuation chair training. How often should they practise afterwards?"
The short answer is far more often than many organisations actually do.
Regular hands-on practice is one of the simplest ways to ensure your evacuation plan will work when it's needed most.
Why Regular Practice MattersSkills Fade Over TimeResearch into practical skills consistently shows that people lose confidence and accuracy when they don't practise. Even staff who passed their initial training with flying colours can forget important steps after many months without handling the chair.
A short refresher session every few months can make a significant difference.
Confidence is Just as Important as CompetenceMany operators tell us they understand the theory but worry about using the chair in a real emergency.
Regular practice removes that uncertainty. Staff become familiar with unfolding the chair, positioning the passenger, communicating with each other and controlling the descent of the stairs.
That confidence is invaluable if they ever need to evacuate someone under pressure.
Buildings and People ChangeYour evacuation procedures are unlikely to stay exactly the same.
New members of staff join the organisation. Experienced operators leave. Furniture gets moved. Escape routes change. People requiring assistance may also change over time.
Regular practice helps ensure that your evacuation arrangements continue to reflect the reality of your workplace rather than the way it looked several years ago.
Fire Drills Become More RealisticWhere appropriate and safe to do so, incorporating the evacuation chair into fire drills helps identify problems before a real emergency exposes them.
For example:
Is There a Legal Requirement?UK legislation does not specify an exact interval for evacuation chair practice or refresher training.
Instead, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person to ensure staff receive suitable instruction and training appropriate to their role. Exactly what is "suitable" will depend on your fire risk assessment, your premises, the people who may require assistance and the complexity of the evacuation arrangements.
What Do Manufacturers Recommend?Some evacuation chair manufacturers publish their own guidance for developing operator confidence.
For example, Evac+Chair has historically recommended a structured programme of frequent practice immediately after initial training, gradually reducing as operators become more experienced:
Our Practical RecommendationIn reality, many organisations will struggle to achieve weekly practice sessions, particularly where staffing pressures are high.
For most workplaces, we recommend the following as a sensible minimum:
Immediately after training
Making Practice Sessions EffectivePractice doesn't need to be lengthy to be valuable.
A well-planned session lasting 15–20 minutes can be enough to maintain familiarity and confidence.
To get the most from each session:
Regular practice helps maintain confidence, improves technique and allows organisations to identify weaknesses in their evacuation arrangements before they become serious problems.
At Castle Hill Training, our practical evacuation chair courses are designed not only to teach the correct techniques but also to give operators the confidence to use the equipment safely should a real emergency ever occur.
If you'd like advice on refresher training, operator training or developing a practical practice programme for your organisation, we'd be pleased to help. Telephone on 0330 377 5372 or Email [email protected]
A short refresher session every few months can make a significant difference.
Confidence is Just as Important as CompetenceMany operators tell us they understand the theory but worry about using the chair in a real emergency.
Regular practice removes that uncertainty. Staff become familiar with unfolding the chair, positioning the passenger, communicating with each other and controlling the descent of the stairs.
That confidence is invaluable if they ever need to evacuate someone under pressure.
Buildings and People ChangeYour evacuation procedures are unlikely to stay exactly the same.
New members of staff join the organisation. Experienced operators leave. Furniture gets moved. Escape routes change. People requiring assistance may also change over time.
Regular practice helps ensure that your evacuation arrangements continue to reflect the reality of your workplace rather than the way it looked several years ago.
Fire Drills Become More RealisticWhere appropriate and safe to do so, incorporating the evacuation chair into fire drills helps identify problems before a real emergency exposes them.
For example:
- Is the chair easily accessible?
- Can operators reach it quickly?
- Are escape routes clear?
- Are enough trained operators available?
- Does everyone understand their role?
Is There a Legal Requirement?UK legislation does not specify an exact interval for evacuation chair practice or refresher training.
Instead, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person to ensure staff receive suitable instruction and training appropriate to their role. Exactly what is "suitable" will depend on your fire risk assessment, your premises, the people who may require assistance and the complexity of the evacuation arrangements.
What Do Manufacturers Recommend?Some evacuation chair manufacturers publish their own guidance for developing operator confidence.
For example, Evac+Chair has historically recommended a structured programme of frequent practice immediately after initial training, gradually reducing as operators become more experienced:
- Weekly practice during the first six months
- Fortnightly practice during the following three months
- Monthly practice during the next three months
- Annual practice thereafter
Our Practical RecommendationIn reality, many organisations will struggle to achieve weekly practice sessions, particularly where staffing pressures are high.
For most workplaces, we recommend the following as a sensible minimum:
Immediately after training
- Encourage operators to handle the chair again within the first month to reinforce what they have learned.
- Carry out a short practical practice session using your own equipment.
- Include deploying the chair, preparing it for use, loading a volunteer where appropriate and practising communication between operators.
- Arrange formal refresher training with a qualified instructor.
- Review your evacuation procedures, PEEPs and any changes to the building or staffing.
Making Practice Sessions EffectivePractice doesn't need to be lengthy to be valuable.
A well-planned session lasting 15–20 minutes can be enough to maintain familiarity and confidence.
To get the most from each session:
- Use the actual evacuation chair installed in your building.
- Practise on the staircases that would be used during an emergency.
- Rotate operators so everyone gains experience.
- Include clear communication between team members.
- Check the chair before and after use.
- Record the practice as part of your fire safety records.
- Discuss anything that could be improved before the next session.
Regular practice helps maintain confidence, improves technique and allows organisations to identify weaknesses in their evacuation arrangements before they become serious problems.
At Castle Hill Training, our practical evacuation chair courses are designed not only to teach the correct techniques but also to give operators the confidence to use the equipment safely should a real emergency ever occur.
If you'd like advice on refresher training, operator training or developing a practical practice programme for your organisation, we'd be pleased to help. Telephone on 0330 377 5372 or Email [email protected]
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