Fire Safety in Care Homes Common Pitfalls and Lessons ... Coleman.pdf · The Context ? Fire Safety...
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Sean Coleman [email protected] www.colemanrisk.ie Fire Safety in Care Homes Common Pitfalls and Lessons Learned?. Date 23 rd Sept 2015
Transcript of Fire Safety in Care Homes Common Pitfalls and Lessons ... Coleman.pdf · The Context ? Fire Safety...
Sean Coleman
www.colemanrisk.ie
Fire Safety in Care Homes Common Pitfalls and Lessons Learned?.
Date 23rd Sept 2015
The Context ?
Fire Safety in 17 Irish Nursing Homes
John Moore/ Victor Hrymak Dublin Institute of Technology 2012
• Inability to prevent fire or evacuate residents to a place
of safety
• The lack of a standardised fire safety risk assessment
methodology
“It is regrettable that should a fire occur in a nursing home
that results in fatalities and injuries, it may be the only way
that the existing situation will change”
The Context ?
Year
Incidents Fire deaths
Fire-related injuries
2008/09
541 3 52
2009/10 500 4 33
2010/11 477 4 40
2011/12 476 1 47
2012/13* 540 2 26
That’s why we want to see all residential care homes fitted with sprinklers. The number and regularity of
care home fires that the Brigade attends is clear evidence that builders, developers, local authorities and
private providers need to stop ignoring their benefits.” LFB 2013
Rose Park Glasgow 14 dead
9 minutes before they contacted the fire service. < 2 minutes away
4 minutes, added delay fire brigade went to wrong entrance
Access hampered by a secured gate that had to be bolt-cut open
Night staff unfamiliar with the recently installed fire alarm panel
No smoke dampers in ductwork
Fire barriers in the roof space were breached,
Aerosols stored in the electrical cupboard exploded
leaving residents' bedroom doors open at night
FAILURE TO IDENTIFY ABSENCE OF ELEC
INSPECTION/TESTING CONTRIBUTED TO FIRE AND DEATHS
COMPLETION CERTIFICATE ISSUED WHEN SERIOUS
COMPLIANCE FAILURE (DAMPERS
NO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR QUALS OF FIRE RISK
ASSESSORS OF CARE HOMES
Rose Park Fire tests
If not detected beforehand 1 min to detect with good AFD
Rescue unlikely in first minute
Within 2 to 3 mins conditions in room of origin extremely dangerous
All embracing fire within 6 mins
2014 England’s largest social landlord for older people has been ordered to pay more than £170,000 for breaching fire safety laws after a woman died in a care home fire. Fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by --------nightwear coming into contact with a naked flame
Night time fires
2013 Staff at a Liverpool care home left elderly residents inside the building during a fire – despite getting out themselves
fine of £22,000 each > £4,000 costs.
Care home refused to call fire brigade following alarm as it would have cost too much
http://www.thejournal.ie/richmond-house-hiqa-2293001-Aug2015/
Pressure on costs
PEEPs and the common good
Confusion over refuges - should staff stay
Security v egress
Absconding
Fire Doors and movement – special fittings- ventilation
Door closing pressures
Over emphasis on paperwork v action
Investigation v evacuation v FB call out
Availability of staff at night
Conflicts/ Problems
High staff turnover
Aging population
Not purpose built – evolved
No dedicated FM person
Fire an infrequent reality- Motivation
Stairlift – polished handrails
Outside and inside waste storage
Lighting and way finding
Competence and design knowledge
Problems
“Fire Safety is included in cost of service” CFPA guidelines
Infrastructure
Management
A fire risk management system is required not a disjointed number of elements
Management
Management
• Identify – Assess
• Plan – Organise Perform
• Execute
• Measure (Meaningful) & Improve
Are you doing what you said you will do and how will you do it better?
System
Sprinklers required in Scotland
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Community/FireandEmergencyServices/FileDownLoad,820,en.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-risk-assessment-healthcare-premises
References
Fire safety Management
http://cfpa-e.eu/wp-content/uploads/files/guidelines/CFPA_E_Guideline_No_6_2011_F.pdf
• evacuation of a protected zone in 2.5 minutes;
• rooms of residents unable to evacuate – upgrading to 60
minutes fire resistance;
• staff remaining with residents who are unable to
evacuate;
• the use of external fire escapes by residents;
• the travel distance of evacuation routes;
• the use of by-pass routes.
Keep motivation of management /staff in the
limelight (remember the hard lessons)
Competent advice and assessment
Integrate management and infrastructure
Adopt Fire Safety Management System
Emergency response plan
Summary
Sean Coleman
