Evacuation Chair Training Course
Equip your staff with the practical skills to safely evacuate people with mobility impairments during emergencies. Hands-on training delivered on-site at your premises across Ireland or at our public courses in Longford. Half-day or full-day options available with 2-year certification.
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Course Overview
In an emergency, lifts cannot be used. For anyone with mobility difficulties, whether permanent or temporary, this creates a serious challenge: how do they evacuate safely via the stairs?
Evacuation chairs provide the solution, but only when staff know how to use them properly. Incorrect operation risks injury to both the operator and the person being evacuated. The Evacuation Chair Training Course teaches your team how to deploy, operate, and manoeuvre evacuation chairs safely and confidently.
Phoenix STS delivers stair evacuation training that employers in Ireland trust. Our practical, hands-on approach ensures participants do not just understand the theory; they can actually perform safe evacuations when it matters.
Exitmaster evacuation chair range. Phoenix STS is the only authorised provider of evacuation chair training in Ireland on Exitmaster equipment.
Why Choose This Course
The Evacuation Chair Training Course provides essential practical skills for safe emergency evacuation. Here is what sets this programme apart:
🏠 On-Site or Public
Flexible delivery: on-site training at your premises using your equipment, or public courses at our Longford training centre.
🎯 Hands-On Practice
Extensive practical training with evacuation chairs and professional rescue manikins builds genuine competence, not just awareness.
⚖️ Legal Compliance
Demonstrates compliance with Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Equal Status Acts, and Fire Services Acts.
🏢 All Building Types
Suitable for offices, hotels, retail, healthcare facilities, schools, universities, leisure centres, and public buildings.
🔧 Equipment Familiarisation
For on-site training, we use your actual evacuation chairs so staff become familiar with the specific equipment they will use.
🎓 Expert Instructors
Qualified People Moving and Handling Instructors with professional memberships including NAHFO, IFE, IOSH, and FST.IIESMS recognition.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for anyone who may be required to operate an evacuation chair during an emergency. Typical attendees include:
🦺 Fire Wardens & Marshals
Designated evacuation coordinators responsible for assisting during emergency evacuations.
🚨 Emergency Response Teams
Staff assigned to assist during evacuations and emergency situations.
👷 Health & Safety Officers
Personnel responsible for workplace safety and emergency preparedness.
🏢 Facilities Managers
Those overseeing building safety systems and emergency equipment.
🔐 Reception & Security Staff
Front-line personnel who may need to assist visitors during evacuations.
🩹 First Aiders
Staff already trained in emergency response who need evacuation chair skills.
What You’ll Learn
The course combines theory with extensive hands-on practice to build genuine competence:
Understanding Evacuation Chairs
- Different types of evacuation chairs
- Design features and weight capacities
- Tracked vs wheeled vs bariatric models
- Selecting appropriate equipment
Legal Framework
- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
- Equal Status Acts requirements
- Fire safety regulations
- Organisational and personal responsibilities
Pre-Use Inspections
- Systematic pre-use inspection checklist
- Checking braking systems
- Harness and wheel/track inspection
- Safety mechanism verification
Risk Assessment
- Rapid risk assessment techniques
- Hazard identification
- Route planning
- Adapting to individual needs
Safe Transfer Techniques
- Manual handling principles
- Transfers for varying mobility levels
- Protecting operator and passenger
- Securing with harnesses and restraints
Chair Operation
- Deploying and setting up correctly
- Operating braking systems
- Controlled descent on stairs
- Navigating obstacles and doorways
Communication
- Passenger reassurance techniques
- Clear instruction delivery
- Maintaining calm under pressure
- Emergency communication protocols
Post-Use Procedures
- Post-evacuation inspections
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Returning to storage location
- Reporting and documentation
Course Programme
| Module | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Purpose of evacuation chairs; types and features; legislative context |
| Risk Assessment | Pre-use assessment, dynamic risk assessment during evacuation, route planning |
| Equipment Inspection | Pre-use checks; identifying faults; maintenance requirements |
| Deployment | Unfolding, setting up, and positioning for transfer |
| Transfer Techniques | Safe manual handling; transfers for varying mobility levels; securing passengers |
| Chair Operation | Level surface manoeuvring; stair descent; braking; obstacle navigation |
| Communication | Passenger reassurance; clear instructions; emergency communication protocols |
| Practical Exercises | Hands-on practice with evacuation chairs and training manikins |
| Assessment | Practical demonstration of safe evacuation technique |
Benefits of Evacuation Chair Training
👤 For Individuals
Practical Life-Saving Skills
Gain practical skills to help vulnerable people during emergencies with confidence.
Hands-On Confidence
Build confidence through extensive hands-on practice with evacuation chairs and manikins.
Legal Understanding
Understand your responsibilities under Irish health and safety legislation.
Injury Prevention
Learn techniques that protect you from injury during evacuation operations.
🏢 For Organisations
Legal Compliance
Meet legal obligations under health and safety legislation and demonstrate duty of care.
Effective Equipment
Ensure evacuation chairs are actually usable in emergencies with trained operators.
Reduced Liability
Reduce risk of injury and potential liability claims through competent staff.
Inclusive Workplace
Create a more inclusive workplace where all staff and visitors can be safely evacuated.
Delivery Options
We offer two ways to complete the Evacuation Chair Training Course:
Duration and Class Size Options
| Option | Duration | Max Learners | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Day | 4 hours (2 × 2-hour sessions) | 4 learners | Small teams needing focused, intensive training |
| Full-Day | 6 hours (3 × 2-hour sessions) | 12 learners | Larger groups with rotation through practical stations |
Both options include the same course content. The full-day format accommodates more learners by extending practical sessions and rotating groups through exercises.
Pre-Course Requirements
Before Attending
There are no formal prerequisites for this operator course. However:
- English language proficiency: Training is delivered in English; learners must have sufficient fluency to participate fully
- Appropriate clothing: Wear comfortable clothing suitable for practical exercises
- Medical conditions: Please inform us of any medical conditions that may affect participation in physical activities
- Age requirement: Learners must be at least 18 years of age
Course Details
Training Methods
- Classroom presentation via PowerPoint
- Instructor demonstrations
- Extensive hands-on practice
- Ruth Lee rescue manikins
Assessment
- Practical demonstration
- Safe evacuation of training manikin
- Controlled stair descent
- Instructor feedback throughout
Equipment Provided
- Evacuation chairs
- Professional training manikins
- Printed course materials
- Your own chairs also used (on-site)
On-Site Requirements
- Training area with staircase access
- Space for classroom theory elements
- Your evacuation chair(s) for familiarisation
Certification
Your Certification
Upon successful completion, learners receive a Phoenix STS Training Certificate.
We recommend refresher training before the certificate expires to maintain skills and stay current with best practices.
Our Instructors
All Phoenix STS evacuation chair instructors are qualified People Moving and Handling Instructors and Evacuation Equipment Instructors. They hold memberships with professional bodies and have achieved a minimum of Fire Safety Technician (FST.IIESMS) recognition. All instructors complete manufacturer-approved refresher training every three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Page last updated: January 2026
