Free Evacuation Chair Inspection Checklist​

Telephone: O330 3775372                              ​ Email: [email protected]  
Evacuation chairs should be kept accessible, properly maintained and ready for use in an emergency. Our free evacuation chair inspection checklist provides organisations with a practical way to record routine visual and functional checks of their equipment.
The checklist covers common inspection points for tracked evacuation chairs and four-wheel transit chairs, including the chair’s storage, frame, seat, restraints, wheels, brakes, tracks, handles and locking mechanisms.
Important
This checklist is provided as general guidance for routine visual and functional checks. It is not a substitute for:
  • the chair manufacturer’s instructions;
  • an organisation-specific risk assessment;
  • competent maintenance or repair;
  • manufacturer-required servicing;
  • professional advice relating to a particular chair or evacuation arrangement.
Evacuation chair makes and models vary. Only complete checks that can be performed safely and that are appropriate to the particular equipment.
PDF format – free to download and print.
evacuation_chair_inspection_checklist.pdf
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Telephone on O330 377 5372 or Email [email protected] ​

Why evacuation chairs should be inspected

An evacuation chair may remain unused for long periods, but it must still be capable of operating correctly when required. Damage, deterioration, missing components, obstructed storage, corrosion or faults in moving and locking mechanisms may not become apparent unless the chair is checked regularly.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998—usually known as PUWER—require work equipment to be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Where equipment is exposed to conditions that could cause deterioration and create a dangerous situation, inspections must take place at suitable intervals so that defects can be identified and addressed.
A documented checklist can help an organisation demonstrate that checks have been completed and that any faults have been reported and acted upon.

How often should an evacuation chair be inspected?​

UK health and safety legislation does not set one universal inspection interval for every evacuation chair.
The appropriate frequency should be based on:
  • the chair manufacturer’s instructions;
  • the organisation’s risk assessment;
  • how frequently the chair is used or moved;
  • its age and condition;
  • the environment in which it is stored;
  • the consequences of a defect;
  • previous inspection findings.
Many organisations adopt a quarterly documented check as a practical routine. More frequent checks may be appropriate in busy, public, damp, dusty or demanding environments.
The chair should also be checked:
  • after it has been used;
  • after a practice evacuation or demonstration;
  • after being moved or relocated;
  • following impact, damage or interference;
  • where a component appears loose or damaged;
  • whenever there is reason to doubt its condition.
HSE guidance makes clear that inspection frequency should be determined through risk assessment and should take account of manufacturer recommendations and the conditions that could cause deterioration.

Who should complete the inspection of an evacuation chair?

​The person completing the check should have enough knowledge and instruction to:
  • identify the correct chair and its main components;
  • understand how it should deploy;
  • recognise obvious damage or deterioration;
  • know which checks can safely be completed;
  • know how to report a defect;
  • understand when the chair must be removed from service;
  • recognise when specialist advice, maintenance or servicing is required.
Routine visual checks may often be completed internally by a suitably instructed member of staff. Technical maintenance and repairs should only be undertaken by someone competent to perform that work. HSE states that maintenance should be carried out by people with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience, taking account of the equipment’s complexity and the manufacturer’s instructions. 

What should happen if a defect with an evacuation chair is identified?

Do not continue to make an evacuation chair available for use where a defect may affect its safe operation.
The organisation should:
  1. clearly identify the chair as unavailable;
  2. prevent it from being used;
  3. record the defect;
  4. notify the responsible manager or equipment coordinator;
  5. arrange competent assessment, repair or replacement;
  6. consider whether alternative evacuation arrangements are required;
  7. record when the defect has been resolved;
  8. return the chair to service only when it is appropriate to do so.
A defective chair should not simply be left in its usual position, where staff may reasonably assume that it is available during an emergency.

​Is an inspection the same as servicing an evacuation chair?

No.
A routine visual and functional inspection is intended to identify obvious damage, missing parts, deterioration and operational problems. It does not necessarily involve dismantling the chair, replacing components or conducting all of the technical checks required by its manufacturer.
Servicing may require:
  • specialist technical knowledge;
  • manufacturer-approved procedures;
  • replacement of worn or age-limited components;
  • adjustments;
  • more detailed examination;
  • authorised parts.
Always consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the particular make and model of chair.

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