HEALTH & SAFETY Extinguishing the Risks


The experts at Fire Protection Online outline the key steps to take into account when carrying out a fire risk assessment in a care facility to ensure the safety residents and staff.


Fire safety in your care or nursing home has always been one of those responsibilities near the top of every manager’s to-do list. Since the events of Grenfell Tower, how you would prevent and handle a fire is now at the forefront of a lot of minds.


Every workplace, business, and public building requires a fire risk assessment as part of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. When you have this carried out, and then follow all of the recommendations put forward, you know you are doing everything practically possible to keep residents and staff safe.


Unfortunately, there are oſten cases where care homes are in breach of fire regulations, more oſten than not unwittingly. Just last year, a care home in Cheshire was fined £50,000 for fire safety breaches, and in 2004, fourteen elderly residents tragically died in their Scottish care home; emphasising the importance of fire safety.


There are five essential steps to carrying out a fire risk assessment, and reviewing it every 12 months:


1


FIRE HAZARDS The best way to start is simply to


walk around your premises, making a note of all the things which could potentially burn, and those things which could start a fire. These are the possible sources of fuel and ignition.


Electrical equipment, heaters, cooking equipment and naked flames are all possible causes of a fire. These risks can be reduced by simply ensuring that all equipment is regularly maintained and serviced to the manufacturer’s guidelines by professionals.


You also need to carefully consider what you have on the premises and where it’s stored. For example, potential fuel sources include cardboard boxes, medical supplies, toiletries, aerosols, cleaning products and waste, so it’s important to store and use them as directed.


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Additionally, furniture and furnishings are common ways a fire can spread when placed too close to potential causes of ignition. As such, you should always look out for the fire safety label on upholstered items, and make sure they’re placed a safe distance from heaters.


“Since the events of Grenfell Tower, how


you would prevent and handle a fire is now at the forefront of a lot of minds.”


2


IDENTIFY THOSE AT RISK Next, you need to identify the


people who are most at risk. Staff covering day and night shiſts, residents, and visitors are most likely to be affected, but also don’t forget about temporary staff and contractors.


You must then consider individual needs, particularly those of your residents, including their medical conditions, sensory awareness and mobility. With this, you may need to seek professional advice and discuss the needs with each individual. Some may be able to escape unaided but will take longer, whilst others will need assistance and maybe even specialist equipment.


For these vulnerable residents, staff will require evacuation training.


3


EVALUATE AND ACT Now is when you begin to evaluate


and act, knowing all the relevant information.


Fire extinguishing equipment is essential, making sure the correct type is located near the applicable risk. For larger premises, you may require a sprinkler system for instant fire


suppression, but more generally, this will consist of extinguishers and fire blankets in all kitchen areas.


As a rule of thumb for fire extinguishers:


• Water extinguishers are suitable for general fires including paper, cardboard, rubbish, and furnishings


• Foam extinguishers can additionally be used for flammable liquids


• Powder extinguishers are versatile, lighter, and safe to use around electrical equipment as well as flammable liquid and gas, although not recommended for indoor use


• On electrical equipment, CO2 extinguishers are the safest method and will prevent further damage to the electronics


Each extinguisher also needs an extinguisher identification sign installed just above it, and should be commissioned upon installation and then serviced annually by a trained professional.


4


RECORD, PLAN, TRAIN Installation of an addressable fire


alarm is of the utmost importance. It is recommended that you have L1 coverage, which ensures all rooms and escape routes have detectors, and sounders are loud enough to wake people from their sleep. This will need to be professionally installed and maintained, and should automatically connect to the fire brigade.


An extra gadget useful in a care setting is the vibrating pillow alarm which ensures even those with a hearing impairment are woken by a fire alarm.


Emergency lighting and fire exit signs will be required throughout, leading towards the nearest safe exit. These will ensure that even those unfamiliar with the building are able to quickly evacuate.


Your premises must be properly fireproofed too. This allows you to contain fires to the room where they


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