Current affairs He pointed out that it is ‘size, not weight’ that
is the issue, no single item of equipment being able to meet all patients’ needs. Some experience difficulty breathing in certain positions, while others experience pressure on internal organs or on ulcerated areas. There is a need to ‘satisfy multiple teams’ within the NHS, and dignity of transfer is ‘contentious’ as it requires a large number of carers to move people. Other factors to consider, including premises
integrity and reinforcement of floors and staircases in wards, are especially important as regards where the ‘most appropriate’ area might be to site patients, and how this might relate to the hospital site. The number of available carers is of ‘paramount
importance’ when moving and handling, most trusts just ‘finding a way’ to deal with each case. Mr Clark reflected on the need to undertake ‘detailed planning’ to accommodate patients and conduct transfers safely, before giving a list of the varying equipment available in different trusts nationwide, such as special trolleys and vehicles. The responsibility for welfare falls on operators, and FRSs should not be relied upon – there should be ‘no exceptions when making provisions: careful planning is required, and you should consider all areas’. Pete Davies of Fireco explored evacuation of the deaf and hard of hearing, noting that people are ‘becoming too desensitised’ from regularly hearing sirens and alarm clocks and experiencing fire alarm tests and drills. We have become ‘too comfortable’, Mr Davies said, then showed a video of a group interaction test where people ignored an alarm. With one in six suffering from hearing impairment, these people need to be alerted separately and effectively. He shared a case study of a deaf woman who notified a hotel she was to stay at that she was deaf, and would need to be separately informed in a fire. She was told someone would come to her room to alert her – but when a false alarm event occurred,a hotel worker came in and shouted before leaving, resulting in all guests being evacuated except for her. Mr Davies cited this as an example of how we
fail the hearing impaired, false alarm disruptions being an ‘all too common’ factor in desensitisation. Solutions included ‘new ways’ to evacuate such as pagers, flashing lights and text messages, alongside pre alarm notifications to establish if there is a fire as opposed to a false alarm.
Signage and workshops
Means of Escape’s Jim Creak involved his audience by using image printouts, and discussed signage standardisation for means of escape. This was the European Commission’s directive on escape route signs, which remains government guidance
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‘whether good, bad or indifferent’, and he gave an overview of the evolution of photolumines, including how they can be used in evacuation, and other emergency signage developments. Exploring standards and confusion around
them, and interrelation between European, UK and international standards, he stated that the Health and Safety Executive – despite legislating signs and symbols – does not have an expert that can explain the symbols decided upon. There are laws dictating font height and material, and competency is difficult to attain due to confusion around standardisation. Having been involved in formulating these
standards, Mr Creak is often asked about them, and he expressed his wish for scope to be outlined on what a competent person is expected to do when audited over signs they should have on site. Presenting a wide range of images he had taken of contraventions of rules and regulations, he stated that signage ‘needs to be intuitive’, with requirements determined by the process of a formal FRA. With laws specific on many details, risk assessors
determine signage needs and should detail their requirements. Mr Creak suggested that further guidance be made available, concluding that the laws and standards are ‘at odds’. A series of delegate workshops were then held in the afternoon on topics including stay put, forward planning, dealing with a fire crisis, and fire and smoke damper design, specification and installation
William Roszczyk is editor of Fire & Risk Management. For more information, view page 5
www.frmjournal.com SEPTEMBER 2018 51
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