Responding in the event of a fire

Fires within health care settings pose a major threat to all occupants in the building, clients obviously being the most vulnerable; fire safety strategies are therefore primarily based on the avoidance of fires.

Annual attendance at fire lectures is mandatory for all health care personnel to ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities in a fire situation and are conversant with how to reduce the risks of a fire occurring. Fire Safety Advisers are employed within all hospitals and most other health care settings, their role being to ensure that legislation is updated and applied to and within the workplace.

Whilst strategies may differ slightly for each health care setting due to, for example, building structure and numbers of staff, key principles underpinning the actions to be taken in the event of a fire and to reduce the potential for fire are based on the following legislation.

• The National Health Service and Community Care Act (1990)
• The Fire Precautions Act (1971) (amended by the Fire Safety and Safety at Places of Sport Act 1987)
• The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
• The Buildings Regulations Act (1991)

The basic principles are as follows:
• to ensure if at all possible that fires do not occur
• to ensure that fires are discovered rapidly, alarms are used and the fire brigade contacted immediately
• to ensure that the fire is extinguished quickly
• basic fire-fighting practice should be attempted only by staff that have been trained and only if it is considered safe to do so
• to provide safe means of escape or avoidance for everyone in all areas
• the spread of the fire is contained and delayed by structural and other means for as long as possible
• rehearsed evacuation routines are undertaken quickly
• evacuated areas are checked for the presence of clients and others and that a roll call is completed.

Action point	Rationale
Attend annual fire lecture	To ensure understanding of current fire procedures and policy
Observe no-smoking policies	To reduce the risk of fire from discarded cigarette
Observe parking restrictions within ground of workplace	To ensure easy access for emergency services
Identify all escape routes from the working area and ensure that these routes remain clear at all times	To allow efficient and effective management of evacuation
Ensure understanding of positioning and identification of all fire-fighting equipment within working area	To ensure efficient and effective use of all equipment as necessary
Ensure that fire doors are not wedged open	To ensure containment of fire
Do not use lifts to evacuate if fire present or fire alarm sounding	To ensure safety; reducing risk of smoke inhalation from lift shaft vacuum or risk of becoming trapped
Electrical equipment Ensure annual testing of all electrical equipment and report any defective piece of equipment for immediate repair. Reporting to manufacturer or in-house repairs department	To assess for faults thus reducing risk
Switch off non-essential equipment when not in use	Potential fire hazards
Do not leave televisions on stand-by	Potential fire hazard
Client’s own electrical equipment or adapters must be tested by in-house department prior to use	To ensure safety of all equipment
If safe to do so electrical equipment must be switched off at the wall socket if source of fire	Ensuring personal safety first – this action could slow down or stop the development of a fire
Gas Report any smell of gas immediately via emergency switchboard	To ensure immediate response and assistance
Do not switch on or off any item of electrical equipment	To reduce risk of fume ignition
Evacuate clients and staff	To ensure safety and evacuation from risk of inhalation or explosion
Ventilate area if possible and safe to do so	To reduce risk of inhalation and reduce concentration of gas collection