Safety


lighting that operates when there is a power cut, highlighting the emergency evacuation route. Emergency lighting provides illumination of the emergency exit signs and can provide guidance down corridors for safe evacuation. If you’re not sure about the best type


of emergency lighting for your care home, speak to a professional who can provide advice on the design of the system and the options available to you. Emergency lighting should be tested


monthly by the designated trained person within your care home, which is likely to be your lead fire warden. Bulbs should be changed if required. The emergency lighting must also be serviced annually by a competent person, and records of this service kept. The company will check battery levels and ensure that the battery is charging correctly and units aren’t faulty.


Fire safety training All care home staff should have, at a minimum, basic fire training, which is the most common type of fire safety training undertaken by businesses. Basic fire training is designed to educate staff on how to spot fire risks and how to avoid unnecessary fires. It does this by helping widen the team’s understanding of safety and identifying fire risks. It also covers what to do in the event of a fire, from raising the alarm to evacuation. Crucially, staff will also learn about the different types of fire, and the different extinguishers available for fighting these different fire types. Practical hands on training in handling


a fire extinguisher is also useful for staff, helping them feel more confident should they need to use one. Practical sessions take place outside; providing your care home has space outdoors, this training could take place at your premises. For those designated as a fire warden


or fire marshal, training is imperative. Training covers basic fire safety and also identifies the additional responsibilities that a fire warden undertakes in the event of a fire. These responsibilities will vary, but are likely to include details of the evacuation plan, and the specific responsibilities of different team members in the event of an emergency evacuation. All care homes are required to have a fire warden, although it can be useful to have a staff member with fire warden responsibilities on shift at all times.


Emergency evacuation Ensuring you have an emergency evacuation plan in place is a crucial part of your health and safety responsibilities


All care home staff should have, at a minimum, basic fire training


to your staff and residents. Your detailed personal emergency evacuation plan, also referred to as PEEPS, will take into account any mobility or hearing issues that your residents may have, and the difficulties you may encounter within your building when moving residents should a fire break out. As staff know residents and their needs, it is important that they are involved in developing your specific personal emergency evacuation plan procedures. Ensuring all your staff are aware of fire


risks, what to do in the event of a fire and your fire evacuation procedures, can ensure that should a fire break out, they will be well equipped to act calmly and safely. This will reassure residents and help reduce any anxiety that they may be experiencing.


Kitchen safety It can be easy to overlook the risk of fire in a care home kitchen. With constant use and high demand to ensure food is delivered in a timely manner at meal times, kitchen appliances are regularly put through their paces.


Abbot Fire Group


Abbot Fire Group provides free fire safety log books in which you can record details of your fire safety checks and servicing. For a copy please email:


admin@abbotfiregroup.co.uk January 2017 • www.thecarehomeenvi ronment .com Does your care home kitchen have


sufficient fire safety measures in place? For larger care home kitchens, an automatic fire suppression system that responds within seconds should a fire break out, should be considered. These systems provide round the


clock protection, even when the kitchen isn’t manned. Responding automatically to the rise in heat and temperature if a fire breaks out, a special liquid is automatically dispensed to suppress the fire, cool hot surfaces and smother flames. Kitchen fire suppression systems,


depending on the size of the care home, can often lead to a reduction in insurance premiums, not only keeping staff and residents safer, but reducing costs too. If your care home has a smaller


kitchen, fire precautions are still vitally important. They are likely to include a wet chemical fire extinguisher and fire blankets. Ensuring kitchen staff are aware of fire risks and confident in using fire extinguishers and fire blankets, will reassure staff and residents when the kitchen is in use.


Legal obligations It is important to know what your legal obligations are when it comes to fire safety. In addition to a fire risk assessments, fire safety products also require regular servicing. This includes a weekly fire alarm check during which the sounders must be tested and recorded. It is worth letting residents and visitors know when you are undertaking a test


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