Procedures for Persons Requiring Assistance

This procedure is in effect for people who have been identified as needing assistance and are employees in the building.

The Fire Code defines this as anyone, for any reason, visible or invisible, who will not be able to use the stairs at a normal rate of travel. This means no-one will be hampered in their travel down the stairs.

Those who may find this stair travel difficult are personally responsible to report this to their Personnel or Human Resources Department, or the Floor Warden, as each company is responsible for maintaining its own space and personnel safety. This information must be relayed to the Building Management office before an emergency occurs to allow pre-planning inclusion, and be updated as often as necessary.

This is not meant to violate a confidentiality, but to attempt to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. A list of "persons in need of assistance" is required by the Toronto Fire Services, to be handed to the responding Officer immediately upon arrival at the building, to dispatch adequate people and equipment for this purpose, and call for back-up if necessary.

Every floor requires main waiting and alternate designated waiting areas equipped with a telephone and located as close to an elevator lobby as possible.

These locations are to be highlighted on a copy of the floor plan and sent to Building Management.

The list of persons requiring assistance must be kept up to date and adjusted as often as necessary. Persons requiring assistance who choose not to advise their company of a problem could be jeopardizing themselves and other unnecessarily.

After these precautions are in place, it must also be realized that if the problem is not near your floor, it is possible that you may not be in danger or evacuated at all. Toronto Fire Services will make these decisions after arrival and briefing on the situation.

Toronto Fire Services will be using the elevator and if evacuation is required, the location of the person will be known. The Floor Warden shall ensure that the Emergency Co-ordinator knows that persons requiring assistance have been left at the waiting area during an emergency. It is recommended to telephone 911 (9-911) on arrival at your waiting area. During a Fire Drill do not call 911!

Please note, the building staff will not be operating elevators under alarm conditions.