The purpose of fire drills and roll call

Fire drills are not only preparation for fires. They train employees in a number of potentially life-saving skills, including:

• knowing what to do in an emergency
• how to leave the area quickly in any emergency or life-safety situation
• how to find escape routes and where to go after leaving the premises
• what to expect once emergency responders arrive
• the features of the building alarm system and how to activate it
• identifying any gaps in emergency resources before a real emergency happens
• practising the safe and orderly evacuation of people through the nearest exit
• a chance to make sure all warning and safety devices work properly
• meeting what may be required by insurers and legal bodies

There are several things you can do to get the most from a fire drill.

• Time it. Record how long it takes to evacuate the building and for everyone to gather at the assembly points. If it takes too long, look for ways to speed it up without encouraging rushing.
• Make observations. Fire drills happen rarely, so use the chance to note anything important about how well the procedure works. Fire safety checks can be made during the drill:
  • Can the fire alarm be heard in every area of the workplace?
  • Did fire marshals know their responsibilities?
  • Can the escape routes cope with the number of people?
  • How do people react?
  • Does anyone need special assistance?
  • Did everyone get out within the expected time?
  • Is any extra training needed?
• Record the drill. Keep records of all fire drills and the people involved as part of the fire safety regime. The organisation may be asked by enforcement authorities to show evidence of fire drills.

Roll call checks people against available attendance information and identifies anyone unaccounted for. It does not prove that a missing person remains inside or locate them. Give relevant details and last known location to the incident controller or fire service; colleagues must not re-enter to search.

Provision for people with disabilities

If disabled people will be in the premises, a safe means must be provided for them to leave if there is a fire. Remember that disabled people may not react, or may react differently, to a fire warning or a small fire. Give similar consideration to others with special needs, such as parents with young children and the elderly.

A wide range of possible disabilities may need to be considered, including people who have less mobility simply because of age.

Where a building is designed and managed inclusively to give access to all users, the facilities provided should, where appropriate, also be used to improve the escape arrangements.

Other requirements may include audio-visual alarms, and placing disabled people on the ground floor where possible and near escape routes.

Arrangements for assistance are usually best made by setting up a personal relationship between the person needing help and one or more of their peers, in the form of a buddy plan. Back-up arrangements should be made so that help would still be available when the designated buddies are not.

Summary notes for Element 10 · Cheat sheet · Glossary. A study aid, not published or endorsed by NEBOSH.