DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services: The Buddy System & Floor Wardens

Fire/EMS Emergency Evacuation Plan Guide: The Buddy System and Floor Wardens

Buddy systems aren't perfect. When setting up a buddy system in the workplace, consider potential problem areas and potential solutions.

To be effective, the employee and the buddy must be able to make contact with each other quickly when the need arises.

Situations that prevent buddy system contact:

The buddy is in the building but is absent from the customary work area.
The buddy cannot locate the employee with a disability because the employee is off from work that day.
The employee with a disability is working late, when the buddy is unavailable.
The buddy has not been trained in what to do or how to provide assistance.
The buddy is inappropriate, not strong enough, or unacceptable to the employee with a disability.
The buddy forgets or is frightened and abandons the employee with a disability.

Possible solutions to ensure help is available:

Employees with disabilities could be given the responsibility of selecting their own buddies.
Assign at least two people who are work associates to the employee with a disability.
The buddies and floor wardens could be given pagers.
The employee with a disability should identify themselves and their location to the officials in the emergency control center or security when in the building after hours.
The employer should have bi-monthly plan reviews that include checking the status of buddies and floor wardens.
The buddy can be trained by the employee with a disability as soon as they are recruited. The employer should suggest or require practice sessions to ensure that selected buddies can handle their assigned task.