2010 Ergonomics Society - Actions in a coach fire

Tel: (+44) 01492 879813 Mob: (+44) 07984 284642andy@abrisk.co.ukwww.abrisk.co.uk

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A consultant’s experience of being in a fire

Andy Brazier

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Purpose of my presentation

Tell you about my experienceExplain the human behaviours I observed during and after the eventCommunicate learning points

Human factors/ergonomistsUsers of public transportParents, teachers and responsible adults.

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School trip to watch rugby

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Afternoon match

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The journey home

Liberty Stadium

Port Talbot

Strange smell

Smoke in coachI speak to driver

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Why didn’t we tell the driver to stop?

Smell was strong/unpleasantDid not recognise itMust be coming from outside.

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The source of the smell?

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Why didn’t I make the driver stopCould not smell it at frontGauges all healthyDriver said he would stop at services

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Smoke

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Why didn’t we know what to do?

Driver had given a briefing before setting offWe all knew there was an emergency exit

Didn’t know how to open itHigh above the groundExit on offside of coach onto live carriageway

We knew we could break a windowEven worse option

Main door has to be the main option.

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How did we get away safely?

The coach was not fullThe isles were clearIt was daylightMost people were awakeEveryone was soberAdults sat near the back to help the kids get offAdults at front took kids to safe location.

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You can learn a lot about an accident without knowing its cause

For example, I have seen first hand thatSmoke is a killerIt fills an enclosed space very quicklyYou can get a lot of smoke without a visible fire

We expect someone to take command without any evidence of their ability to do so

Coach driverHeadmasterEmergency services.

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More learnings

We assume we know what to do an emergencyYour brain works differently in an emergency situation

Loss of situational awareness – location of coachOverwhelmed by options – which exit to use

Until we go through the actions we don’t really know what to do.

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Not all bad news

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