Evacuation Duties: Who's Responsible for Assisting Disabled Occupants in Serviced Offices?

In today's modern workspaces, inclusivity and accessibility take center stage. But as serviced offices continue to proliferate, an urgent question emerges: when alarms blare and evacuation becomes imperative, who shoulders the duty of ensuring safe exit for disabled occupants?

The Importance of Defined Roles
The complex layout of serviced offices, boasting shared amenities, communal spaces, and a variety of businesses under one roof, underscores the need for clear evacuation procedures. Especially crucial is the clarity on disabled refuge points—a haven where disabled occupants can await assistance during evacuations.

Landlord, Tenant, or Both?
The legal landscape can be murky. Building owners might assume that individual tenants are responsible, given they know their employees best. Conversely, tenants might believe building management should have procedures in place.

However, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the UK, states that the "responsible person" should account for all individuals, including the disabled. In a serviced office setting, both the landlord and tenant may share this designation, necessitating collaboration on evacuation plans.

The Role of Serviced Office Providers
Operators like WeWork or Regus often function as intermediaries, offering not just space but also safety procedures. These providers can facilitate drills, install assistive technologies, and ensure staff training, making them pivotal in the evacuation chain of responsibility.

Empowering Individual Responsibility
While official duties must be delineated, fostering a culture of safety means everyone plays a part. From non-disabled employees understanding the refuge areas to disabled employees having individual evacuation plans, shared responsibility can be the difference between chaos and a coordinated exit.

A Call for Collaboration
Navigating the responsibilities surrounding evacuation can be intricate, but one thing is abundantly clear: collaboration saves lives. Serviced offices must bridge the landlord-tenant divide, integrate with office providers, and nurture an environment where everyone is informed, prepared, and ready to act.

Conclusion
As the dynamics of our workspaces evolve, so should our approach to safety. Understanding and defining evacuation duties isn't just a legal requirement—it's a moral imperative. Let's commit to clarity, collaboration, and, above all, the safety of every occupant in our bustling serviced offices.