Fire safety


maintain fire safety equipment, provide staff training on emergency procedures, and establish effective evacuation plans tailored to the needs of vulnerable individuals.


What are fire risk assessments? A fire risk assessment involves a systematic evaluation of your premises, activities conducted on-site, and the likelihood of a fire starting and causing harm to occupants and visitors.


In the UK, fire regulations for care homes are vital for ensuring safety. These assessments must be tailored to each care home’s specific needs. Key considerations for a care home fire risk assessment include identifying fire hazards, minimising the risk of harm, determining necessary fire precautions and management arrangements, and ensuring regular testing of fire safety equipment. Weekly testing of fire alarms, checking and testing extinguishers, conducting PAT testing (a process in which electrical appliances are tested and routinely checked), and 5-year electrical testing for appliances are essential. A clear reporting structure for faulty items or equipment is imperative for swift resolution.


Fire safety training Care homes are classed as a high risk premises because not only do people sleep there, but elderly or vulnerable people are likely to have mobility issues, slower reactions, and sight and hearing impairment, creating more complexities


Cooking and cooking equipment poses the biggest fire risk to care homes


around evacuation. In such a high-risk environment, all staff


should receive fire marshall training during their induction – especially those staff working nightshifts, as there tends to be reduced staffing levels – and should receive a refresher every six months. Fire marshall training should cover fire safety responsibilities, fire prevention, evacuation procedures, and use of fire extinguishers.


Staff should also receive fire safety


awareness training, looking more closely at the hazards causing fires and how to spot and prevent these potential risks.


What equipment needs to be in place? It is a legal requirement for care homes to have a fire alarm system installed. The British Standard with regards to testing is BS 5839-1:2019: fire detection and fire alarm systems in buildings, which outlines that fire alarms need to be tested weekly to ensure no major faults are present. While not specific to care homes, a study by fire safety specialists JLA revealed that 20 per cent of businesses only test their fire alarm systems once a year, indicating the likelihood that not all care homes are checking their systems as regularly as the guidelines recommend.


Fire extinguishers Common types of fire extinguishers include water, foam, and dry powder extinguishers. Staff should be trained in how to use each of them and they should be easily accessible in the event of a fire. The types of fire extinguishers that should be present in the care home will depend on the risks identified in the risk assessment.


Fire doors Correctly fitted fire doors will enable escape routes to be used and prevent fire and smoke from spreading from one area into another.


Long corridors should be divided by fire doors to stop the fire spreading quickly and allow residents enough time to safely evacuate into an area of safety. Keeping fire doors shut at all times and


training staff on the importance of making sure all doors are clear from obstructions will mean they can operate properly in the event of a fire and no escape routes will be rendered unusable.


Evacuation materials Each care home needs to equip itself with specialist materials, like evacuation sheets, mats, sledges, and chairs, which can assist the safe evacuation of its residents, particularly those with mobility issues.


What practice fire drills should be in place? Fire drills that involve all staff and residents should be conducted at least twice a year. Fire drills are essential to improving the


September 2024 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52