FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT
We next looked at a weekly checklist, incorporating questions on elements including means of escape, access to fire extinguishers, particular risks in kitchen areas, fire prevention measures, management of waste, safety of electrical equipment, and fire doors.
Data externally managed Via another tab, Jamie Keay brought up a complete alphabetical list of all the Trust’s fire wardens, currently numbering around 380. All the data submitted goes to Digital Missives, which manages it, and the Fire Team then receives reports and alerts.
He said: “When we conduct initial fire warden training, we have a list of fire wardens we need to add to the system. To do this, we simply go to this screen, and enter their name, email address, and ‘contact type’.” Elaborating, he said: “Initially, I thought we would send all the fire wardens the ‘primary’ email on a Monday, only then issuing an escalation email to their manager the following Thursday. However, via training and feedback, we discovered that the managers also wanted to receive the Monday email, so now nearly every checklist recipient is both a ‘primary’ and an ‘escalation’ contact.”
Fire Compliance Online (FCO) also allows fire wardens to be temporarily designated as ‘away’ – for instance if they have only temporarily changed role or location, and are expected to return. Jamie Keay added: “Invaluably, the software also enables you to identify all checklist recipients with incorrect email addresses. We can also select individuals to remain on the list, but not to receive the notifications – typically
The Report Library function gives access to all reports generated by the FCO system.
these people are fire wardens who work across several different locations each week.
When adding new fire wardens, we only have to input most of the individual- specific data once, which includes adding to their ‘record’ their usual work location. The process is quick and easy, and the software provides the option to send new fire wardens a ‘Welcome’ email, that reminds them that – as explained during their training – the Trust is using the Fire Compliance Online software. In some areas, managers may stipulate that all staff on a particular pay banding must be trained as fire wardens. Here, we actually do fire drills in ward areas, which isn’t too common in the NHS.”
Two sides to the role Jamie Keay explained here that, essentially, there were two sides to the fire warden role at the Trust – undertaking the weekly fire safety using the online
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checklist, and having an enhanced role in responding to a fire or fire alarm actuation. He expanded on this: “Alongside improving our oversight of all our fire wardens, FCO has considerably raised overall fire safety awareness among our staff. People now expect the checklist each week, and discuss the topic. Fire safety is in people’s consciousness, and we hope that more staff will notice obvious fire hazards as they go about their daily routine. Attention to often quite small things can make a big difference to reducing overall fire risk.”
Having looked at how the Fire Safety management team at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust adds new fire wardens to the system and updates records, and at the fire wardens’ role, Jamie Keay took me on to look at the software’s report- generating capabilities. Looking at a ward’s latest checklist, he noted a ‘No’ answer to two questions. He said: ‘In all instances of a ‘No’ response, the person
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