Specialist emergency evacuation

Diamond is committed to facilitating the safe use of its beamlines for all Users, including persons with health conditions or impairments that may require assistance in the case of an emergency.

Summary Instructions

Where a Diamond user requires assistance (see below checklist) in the case of an emergency.

• complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)
• email the completed PEEP to the Diamond Local Contact and Diamond User Office ([email protected])

Responsibilities

Users coming to Diamond that require emergency evacuation assistance* shall:

• inform the principal investigator (PI) of their requirements
• complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) in liaison with their PI and send it to Diamond User Office and their Diamond local contact
• cooperate with the PI and Diamond to implement suitable arrangements to meet their requirements

Principle Investigators (PIs) shall ensure the following for every user in their team requiring emergency evacuation assistance:

• adequate information is provided at the earliest opportunity to Diamond (User Office and local contact) on the PEEP form to facilitate safe evacuation arrangements (see below checklist*)
• coordination with Diamond (User Office and local contact) to meet the user’s requirements.
• adequate resourcing of beamtime to achieve the same level of support for the user as is achieved in their normal workplace (such as buddy support)

Diamond User Office shall coordinate Diamond internal arrangements to achieve the personal evacuation requirements of individual users.

*Personal evacuation and assistance checklist

If any of the following statements (or similar) apply to you, provide this information on a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).

• I need personal assistance to understand emergency procedures.
• There is a risk I may accidentally take incorrect action in the case of emergency.
• An audible fire alarm may trigger an adverse medical reaction (such as epilepsy).
• I cannot always adequately detect audible fire alarms.
• I need assistance visibly identifying emergency routes and exits.
• I may not be able to adequately navigate around small obstructions (such as tight doorways).
• I may not be able to raise the alarm if I discover a fire.
• I may not be able evacuate at a reasonable speed in the event of an emergency.
• Without access to a passenger lift (which are inactive during fire emergency) I cannot get downstairs.
• I have dexterity issues that may make door opening difficult in an emergency.
• I have visual impairment that may hamper evacuation.
• I require specialist evacuation aids.
• I have variation (day-to-day) in my abilities to evacuate.
• I find stairs difficult to use.
• I am a wheelchair user (permanent or temporary).
• I normally have assistance in detecting emergency alarms (detail the assistance you normally receive).
• I normally have assistance to get out of my place(s) of work in an emergency (detail the assistance you normally receive).
• I normally have specialist equipment to assist me evacuating in an emergency (detail the equipment).
• I normally have specialist equipment to assist me in detecting audible alarms (detail the equipment).
• I require a buddy to aid with evacuation (detail any specific instructions for buddy).
• I require locating on the ground floor.
• I am unable to achieve a four-minute evacuation time (over ~20-30m, through three to four doorways).
• I require special clearways.

Diamond Evacuation Assistance Information

• Lifts at Diamond cannot be used in an emergency evacuation.
• Where required, Diamond can accommodate users requiring evacuation assistance exclusively on the ground floor. This is the preferred option due to elimination of risk to the person. Accessible toilets are located at regular intervals on the ground floor of the synchrotron building and refreshments can be provided directly to ground floor locations. A ground floor kitchen area is also located within Diamond House. Please note that kitchen areas within the synchrotron building are not accessible as they are located on the first floor.
• Users located on the first floor who require evacuation assistance will be evacuated to an adjoining building (via link bridge) where possible.
• Diamond has the following specialist equipment to assist with specialist evacuation from first and second floor locations: 

• It might be necessary to restrict the times an individual can be on site, due to Diamond operational constraints.
• It is expected that users with issues that might impair safe evacuation, will have a ‘buddy’ within their user team that can assist them. The ‘buddy’ will help the individual to exit the building.