Fire Safety In Healthcare 23rd September 2015 Current Legislation HIQA Inspections Fire Wardens/Managers Mark Gavin BSc, BEng (Fire Eng) CEng MIEI MIFireE Michael Slattery Associates

Current Legislation & Updates Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 States that employers must ‘ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees’. Section 8 of the 2005 Act requires employers to obtain, where necessary, the services of a competent person – Fire Safety Manager Competent person/Fire Safety Manager is defined as having the sufficient training, experience and knowledge having regard to the task and the size or hazards (or both) of the undertaking

Current Legislation & Updates Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 Section 11 requires emergency plans and procedures to be in place Section 12 requires consideration of persons other than employees Section 19 requires Fire Safety risk assessments to be carried out, which address: Fire Prevention Fire Detection and Warning Emergency Escape and Fire Fighting

Current Legislation & Updates Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 ‘It shall be the duty of every person having control over premises to’ take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire on such premises provide reasonable fire safety measures for such premises and prepare and provide appropriate fire safety procedures for ensuring the safety of persons on such premises ensure that the fire safety measures and procedures are applied at all times

Current Legislation & Updates Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 ‘It shall be the duty of every person having control over premises to’ ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire whether such outbreak has occurred or not

Current Legislation & Updates Building Control Act 1990 & 2007 A Fire Safety Certificate is required in relation to the following works: Works in connection with the design and construction of a new building Works in connection with the material alteration of a hospital o healthcare facility Works in connection with the extension of a building by more than 25 square metres Whare a a material change of use takes place

Current Legislation & Updates Building Control Regulations 1997 - 2015 The Building Owner is ultimately responsible to ensure compliance with Building Regulations and must appoint competent Designers, the Builder and the Assigned Certifier. If an Owner, Designer, Assigned Certifier, Ancillary Certifier or Builder signs one of the statutory undertakings or certificates under the Regulations which subsequently prove to be non-conforming, they can be held liable for the consequences.

Current Legislation & Updates Health Technical Memorandum 05-01 ‘Managing healthcare fire safety’– 2013 Edition Sets out recommendations and guidance for the management of fire safety in healthcare buildings. Intended to assist in determining the appropriate fire safety management system to be applied to healthcare organisations. The increasing use of fire strategies for healthcare premises which contain fire-engineered design solutions will intensify the need for enhanced fire safety management.

Current Legislation & Updates Health Technical Memorandum 05-02 ‘Fire safety in the design of healthcare premises’ – 2014 Edition Major Changes: Guidance on the designing for fire safety in premises providing in-patient mental health services and in-patient accommodation for people with learning disabilities, Revised guidance on the provision and use of escape lifts, Definition of fire hazard rooms and the Location/type of fire & smoke dampers.

Top Five Fire Safety Compliance Tips Fire Safety Manager – competency & support, Fire Safety Management Policy, Duties & responsibilities Procedures Maintenance of life safety systems Fire Safety Training, Fire Drills, Fire Safety Risk Assessments

HIQA Standards & Inspections The Fire Safety Inspections: Specific for residential services for children, older people and people with disabilities. Services are only allowed to operate if they are registered by HIQA and they are inspected regularly. The purpose of the inspections is to safeguard vulnerable people of any age who are receiving residential care services. The inspections are announced or unannounced & reports are published after every inspection.

HIQA Standards & Inspections Fire Safety Requirements: The legislation governing the registration and inspection of residential care services is the Health Act 2007 (Regulation 28 - Fire Precautions). Each centre must have written confirmation that all statutory requirements relating to fire safety and building control have been substantially complied with - from a certified engineer or a qualified architect.

HIQA Standards & Inspections Preparing for a HIQA (or any) Fire Safety Inspection: Each centre must have written confirmation that all statutory requirements relating to fire safety and building control have been substantially complied with - from a certified engineer or a qualified architect. Proper Fire Safety Management System in place,

Fire Safety Management The Fire Safety Manager: Day to day responsibility for Fire Safety within the building Proper Fire Safety Management System/Manual in place Responsible for the following: an awareness of all fire safety features of the building fire safety risk assessments requirements for disabled staff and patients

Fire Safety Management The Fire Safety Manager -Responsible for the following: compliance with legislation development and implementation of the organisation’s fire safety policy & strategy development of an effective training programme liaison with enforcing authorities liaison with other managers monitoring of inspection and maintenance of fire safety systems

Fire Safety Management The Fire Safety Warden -Responsible for the following: act as focal point on fire safety issues for staff raise issues regarding local area fire safety with line management assist with coordination of the response to an incident within the immediate vicinity be responsible for roll-call during an incident be trained to tackle fire with first aid firefighting apparatus where appropriate; support line managers on fire safety issues.

Fire Safety Management The Fire Safety Manual: Should contain the technical specifications for all aspects of the building and should include the following; Compliance with legislation Fire safety policy statement Safety management structure Development and implementation of the organisation’s fire safety policy & strategy Actions to be taken in a fire emergency Fire drills, Staff training

Fire Safety Management The Fire Safety Manual: Should contain the technical specifications for all aspects of the building and should include the following; Housekeeping Monitoring of inspection and maintenance of fire safety systems

Fire Safety Risk Assessments

Fire Safety Risk Assessments Dependency of the patients: Awareness of the particular requirements of the patients, staff and management. Any fire strategy should be specifically designed to address these profiles and to enhance the care provision of the hospital. Notably, to consider: The patient dependencies on staff in an emergency, The current evacuation protocols and staffing levels, The existing standard of on-site Fire Safety Management.

Fire Safety Risk Assessments Risk assessment of the fire hazards, should include: Waste management, Food related activities, Electrical systems and portable appliances, Medical gases – piped & cylinders, Storage of goods, Textile management,

Fire Safety Risk Assessments Adequately fire safety trained staff: Key to the hospital’s fire safety policy is the provision of fire safety training courses: To deliver the full scope of fire safety training courses, at a time that suits the staff and including night time delivery where required, Customise a course to meet a group’s specific objectives, To develop a new or adapt a fire safety training course for a new role or procedure,

Cause of fires in major hospital’s During the period from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005, the NHS in England reported 1194 fires. The main causes of fire in the NHS were: deliberate ignition (27%) smoking (20%) cooking appliances (17%) and equipment failure (electrical) (16%).

Location of fires in major hospital’s With regard to specific areas of the healthcare buildings: 17% of these fires occurred in clinical areas 15% of fires occurred in non-patient areas 13% of fires occurred in communal areas 7% of fires occurred in food preparation areas.

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire Safety Management Responsibilities Fire Safety Training Fire Alarm System – usage Evacuation Procedures

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire doors wedged open

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire exits blocked

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire exits blocked

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire stopping missing

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire stopping - foam

Common Fire Safety Failures Fire dampers – missing/not fixed

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