UK-based manufacturer, Evac+Chair recently exhibited its evacuation chairs at Safety & Health Expo 2019 at ExCel, London.

At this year’s event, Evac+Chair was on hand to share best practice emergency procedures and advise on how you can identify and mitigate your building’s evacuation risks.

Footfall at the event was strong, with a large proportion of international visitors. The variety of high-calibre speakers amongst the seminar programme also meant sessions were often over-flowing due to high interest.

There was a steady flow of visitors to the Evac+Chair stand with many volunteers wanting to try out the different models on show. The team was very busy performing a lot of on-stand demonstrations, showcasing how easy they are to use alongside the smooth and simple stairway descent. After experiencing the Evac+Chair, visitors’ understanding of the equipment and the essential role it plays in an emergency evacuation became clear.

Evac+Chair also completed a mini survey at this year’s event to understand which individuals are perceived to be ‘responsible’ to ensure safe evacuation in the event of an emergency. This prompted some useful insight into the topic which will help to guide ongoing research into ensuring better support for people with disabilities in multi-storey buildings.

Since the Equalities Act 2010, the emphasis has been on ensuring access for disabled people, but their needs in an emergency are often overlooked. Evac+Chair says events like the Safety & Health Expo are an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of why this needs to change.

www.evacchair.co.uk