What is a PEEP?
A personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) is a bespoke emergency evacuation plan developed to assist individuals who may require additional support during an emergency building evacuation. Residential Services staff provide support with PEEPs in halls of residence. Development of the plan may also require advice from the Fire Safety team, Occupational Health and/or the Disability Advisor.
For further guidance or advice, please speak to your Faculty Safety Advisor in the first instance, they will seek additional guidance from the Fire Safety team, if required.
Who requires a PEEP?
A PEEP is required by an individual, member of staff, student, contractor or visitor who may require support during the emergency evacuation of a building. This includes individuals with:
- Mobility impairment - including temporary illness or injury
- Visual or hearing impairment - whether temporary or permanent
- A dexterity or strength debilitating illness
- Neurodivergence
- Any other health condition or circumstances that may affect a person’s ability to safely evacuate a building.
Who is responsible for completing a PEEP?
Once the need for a PEEP has been identified, the person responsible for ensuring the PEEP’s holder safety must initiate the completion of a PEEP form; this would typically be the line manager or tutor of the person requiring the PEEP. If you need support completing the PEEP, Faculty/Divisional safety personnel are always the first point of contact to provide support. They will reach out to other sections of the university if they think this is required.
Download the PEEP Form
What happens once the PEEP form is completed?
Once the PEEP form is completed, this is then submitted to the Fire Safety Team for review and approval. They will inform additional stakeholders who need to know about the arrangements agreed as part of the tailored emergency evacuation plan.
FAQs
- If I need a PEEP, who should I inform to start the process?
- Who is responsible for completing a PEEP?
- Who should be involved in completing a PEEP?
- How often should a PEEP be updated, and who is responsible?
- What to do if a PEEP is no longer needed?
- If an individual who requires assistance is taken to a refuge point and it is confirmed that evacuation must occur, what happens next?
Initially, the individual that needs the PEEP should inform their line manager/supervisor or halls of residence supervisor. It should be noted that all line managers should make arrangements to have a PEEP in place when they are aware that their employee requires one.
The line manager and the person that requires the PEEP are responsible for its completion. In Halls of Residences, the Accommodation services and Resident team are responsible, along with the individual requiring a PEEP.
Initially, the PEEP should be completed by the individual requiring the PEEP and their line manager/supervisor or Halls of residence supervisor. It may be necessary to consult with specialists within the university, i.e. Safety Advisors, Disability Advisory Service, Occupational Health, EDIC, Building Management, Security and the Fire Safety team. If a designated assistant is required for the PEEP, those persons should also be consulted.
A PEEP should be reviewed and updated annually or when circumstances have changed. For example, if the individual’s condition worsens or improves, this may alter the arrangements needed.
If a PEEP is no longer needed, please inform the Fire Safety Team.
The PEEP must include a ‘final evacuation’ as part of the arrangements, i.e., how that person will be fully evacuated from a refuge point to a place of ultimate safety. PEEPs cannot state that the university’s Security team or the Fire and Rescue Service will undertake this.