The recent fire beside Glasgow Central Station highlights the importance of effective evacuation planning in high-occupancy buildings.

With emergency services deploying large resources to control the blaze and surrounding areas evacuated, the incident demonstrates how quickly fire can disrupt busy public environments.

For safety professionals, events like this reinforce several key considerations:

• Clear evacuation procedures• Regular staff training

• Accessible evacuation routes

• Equipment to assist people with reduced mobility

During fires, lifts cannot be used. This means stairway evacuation becomes the primary route out of a building.

Evacuation chairs provide a safe and controlled method for trained personnel to assist individuals down staircases when independent evacuation isn’t possible.Fire safety strategies must consider the needs of everyone in the building.Preparedness saves lives.