HOSPITAL FIRES

1. HOSPITAL FIRES Health & Safety Department 2013

2. Training Objectives To appreciate why we deliver fire training to staff To gain an understanding of what fire is and it’s consequences To ensure that staff are fully aware of what actions to take in the event of a fire or the fire alarm actuating To understand how to fight a fire (if it is safe to do so)

3. It’s The Law! Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Employers Duty of Care, to staff, visitors, and patients Employee’s Duty of Care, by acts or omissions, to act responsibly, promptly, and not to endanger themselves or others Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Risk Assessments of the work place NHS Fire Code 05 - Health Technical Memo’s Trust Fire Policy - TPP 431 It is a Statutory requirement for staff to attend Fire training on an annual basis and Health and Safety updates as new legislation is introduced or for the updating and revision of Trust policies and procedures

4. What if we don’t comply? If you, with your knowledge, allow contraventions of any Acts or Regulations then you are deemed as the responsible person and as such, if an incident occurs, then you may be held personally liable and subject to heavy personal fines and/or a custodial sentenceIgnorance is no defence!! Watchacre Properties Limited, London Landlord imprisoned for 4 months for serious breaches of the RRO New Look, London - £400,000 (£136,000 costs) Shell International Limited, London - £300,000 (£45,000 costs) ASDA, Slough – £40,000 (£15,000 costs)

5. What Is Fire? Fuel ! Heat

6. How Fires Start Accidental By-product of an unintended action Deliberate Arson or diminished responsibilities Negligence Putting the three sides of the triangle in the same place at the same time without considering the consequences

7. 53% of all Hospital Fires are either: PREDICTABLE or PREVENTABLE

8. No Smoking Hospital fire death ‘accidental’ A verdict of accidental death has been recorded on a woman who was engulfed in flames after lighting a cigarette in a hospital ward. Miss *****, 41, died three days after the incident at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in February. Shropshire Coroner, John Ellery, praised the bravery of two staff who tried to put out the fire, which left Ms ****** with severe burns. Mr. Ellery said Ms. ****** would have known that it was against hospital rules to smoke but may not have anticipated the ‘catastrophic consequences’ of lighting a cigarette in a room where there was a high concentration of oxygen.

9. Alarm Signals We have two types of alarm signals, what are they? Full Alarm: However the alarm was activated it is in your immediate area Intermittent Alarm: However the alarm was activated it is in a neighbouring area

10. How to respond FIRE • RAISE ALARM • Phone 3333 • Attack Fire/Evacuate ALARM Non Patient Area’s - Evacuate Patient Area’s - Evacuate if there is a confirmed fire or if you are instructed to do so

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13. Automatic Fire door Fire Doors clear closed

14. Compartmentalisation&Fire Doors • Enables progressive horizontal/vertical evacuation • Has weaknesses • Doors • Windows • Cables ARE THERE ANY FIRE DOORS IN THIS ROOM

15. Signage Mandatory – Blue circle Fire Information – Red Safe Condition – Green Rectangle Prohibition – White circle red bar and edge

16. Check doors with the back of your hand

17. SMOKE KILLS

18. Keep low to breathe

19. Evacuation of PersonsNeeding Assistance • 1st PRIORITY • THOSE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER • 2ND PRIORITY • FURTHEST TRAVEL DISTANCE • (No two fires are the same and priorities may change) Alarm Panel 1 2 3 Actuated Alarm Zone 4 5 6

20. How quickly does fire spread? FIRE ~ takes hold in under3 minutes How much time would it take to evacuate a less abled person? Remember – Fire Safety is Paramount!!

21. The Role of the Senior Person in the event of a full alarm sounding If it is safe to do so • Inspect the area – ensure Patients, Visitors and Staff have evacuated the ward / department • Ascertain what has caused the fire alarm (if possible) • Report findings to Switchboard on 3333 within 2 minutes • On leaving the building checks that all doors and windows are closed (if it is safe to do so) • Direct all those evacuating the building to the nearest evacuation location point Note: • The Fire Service will only attend calls to a confirmed fire immediately • The Fire Service will respond to fire alarms if a reasonable period of time has passed (2 minutes) and we have not reported the cause of the alarm to Switchboard as all staff could be involved in evacuations or fire fighting

22. Fire Or Full Alarm In A Non Patient Area Get Out!! Do not delay your evacuation to collect personal items Do not use the lifts Close all doors and windows as you exit the building (if it is safe to do so) Calling the Fire Brigade Operate the nearest Break Glass Call Point (if possible) From a safe place call 3333 (for any non medical emergency) and state: “Fire” The location of the fire Detail any danger(s) to people or processes If assistance is required Stay Out Until told by the person in charge that it is safe to re-enter building

23. Emergency Procedures • Building Evacuation: • Proceed to your nearest fire exit • Assemble at least 100 feet from building • Provide emergency crews with information about people still in the building • Provide information to emergency crews about the reason • for the evacuation • Neverre-enter a building until instructed to by a Fire Officer • or suitably qualified member of staff

24. Fire Safety & Fire Extinguisher Use

25. Water (9 Litre) • Use on class A fires (wood, paper, cloth) • Pressurized water • Do Not Use On Oils Fats Or Electrical Fires

26. Foam (6 Litre) • AFFF (Foam) • Use on CLASS A + B (wood, paper, cloth and flammable liquids, oils, paints and greases)

27. Carbon Dioxide (2Kg) • Use on class B & E (Flammable liquids, oils, paints & greases and Electrical) • Hard, plastic nozzle • No pressure gauge • Do Not Hold Nozzle

28. Dry Powder Use on classes A, B, C & Electrical (Wood, paper, cloth & Flammable liquids, oils, paints and greases & Gases & Electrical) Use with caution if in confined areas

29. Fire Blanket Use on kitchen fires – Classes A, B & D (Wood, paper, cloth & Flammable liquids, oils, paints and greases & Metals) Do not hold by pull out tags

30. Extinguisher Plates What Type of Extinguisher it is What to use it on What not to use it on

32. P.A.S.S. Method Pull the pin and break the tag: This will allow you to squeeze the handles together in order to discharge the extinguisher

33. P.A.S.S. Method Aim at the base of the fire Aiming at the middle will do no good as the agent will pass through the flames

34. P.A.S.S. Method Squeeze the handles: This will release the pressurized extinguishing agent

35. P.A.S.S. Method Sweep from side to side Cover the entire area that is on fire Continue until fire is extinguished Check for areas of re-ignition

36. Fighting a Fire • Tell someone of your intentions • Remember to keep an exit to your back • Only fight a fire in the incipient stage

37. Summary • Know your work place ~ What the risks/hazards are • Arson • Smoking • Hazard Rooms • Fire Doors ~ KEEP SHUT • FIRE PROCEDURES – What action you need to take • Escape routes and fire assembly points • Location of Fire Extinguishers and Call points

38. Any Questions? Please Contact: The Health & Safety Department Extension 3192