The Fire Safety team lead on all matters relating to fire safety at LUHFT and work as part of a large diverse team of subject matter experts working across the extensive portfolio of multi-site acute and specialist hospitals.
The team are responsible for the protection of everyone who works in, or uses, the our hospitals, health centres and headquarters buildings, including the Trust assets and buildings themselves.
We are in this together. Fire safety affects all of us.
Fire - even a small one, will disrupt our work and cause stress to visitors, patients etc. A larger one may mean people have to go elsewhere to get treated, or reduce the available bed space.
Fire prevention is everyone's responsibility. Workplaces should not be a source of danger to either patients, staff or visitors
We are constantly monitor fire safety arrangements and update managers accordingly.
When a fire alarm sounds the fire investigation team will attend your location to assess the situation but, do you know your responsibilities?
Fire Safety is managed centrally by the Fire Safety Advisors who maintain a programme of:
- Fire Risk Assessment and Audit – with delegation of actions to relevant person using SOTOR system.
- Inspection of wards, departments, public areas and plant-rooms
- Fire Safety Training for all staff including Fire Warden and Fire Drill training with Desktop excercisesfor clinical areas.
- Ensure all areas have the correct equipment and signage.
In addition to this and with the assistance of maintenance we have a programme of testing and monitoring for Fire Doors, Fire Alarms, Fire Exits, Fire Extinguishers and Signage.
It is the responsibility of the Ward/Departmental Manager to:
- Ensure your area has Fire Wardens (enough to cover each shift pattern)
- Ensure Fire Wardens complete monthly checklists
- Ensure staff complete necessary training as required
- Escalate any concerns to the Fire Safety Advisor
- Keep all emergency exists clear of obstructions
- Ensure doors are not wedged open.
FAQs
A building or part of a building comprising one or more rooms, spaces or storeys constructed to prevent the spread of fire to or from another part of the same building or an adjoining building.
This is achieved through the provision of fire resisting walls and floors (commonly offering between 30 minutes and 120 minutes fire resistance). And will include special measures to address any openings in the compartment lines, such as doors, glazing, service penetrations and ductwork.
The wall or floor must remain functional for the duration of the designed fire resistance period. The compartment wall or floor should not crack or develop holes that allow flames, smoke or hot gases to pass through it, and if appropriate, it should maintain a suitable degree of insulation.
Simple answer to this, is NO!
As part of the Trust’s continued work around improving fire safety, staff are being reminded not to wedge open any fire doors.
Fire doors not only prevent the spread of fire, they also provide an important barrier to smoke. A fully closed fire door can help protect people from the dangers of fire for more than half an hour, allowing critical time to escape or seek refuge, and provide a safe and protected route into the building for emergency services.
No matter how good a fire door is at doing its job, it is rendered useless if it is wedged open. Smoke can spread very rapidly along corridors and into rooms when fire doors are open.
Staff who wedge open fire doors and leave them unattended are placing everyone at risk in the event of a fire and could leave themselves liable to prosecution.
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation - Is the process of evacuating people into an adjoining fire compartment on the same level, from which they can later evacuate to a place of ultimate safety.
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Department of Health, Health Technical Memorandum states that you must nominate a sufficient number of competent persons (Fire Wardens) for each of your areas, this enough to cover all areas at all times when occupied..
Clinical areas (not an exhaustive list):
- Inpatient Ward
- Outpatient Area
- Emergency Department
- Therapies Areas
- Day-case Wards
- Theatres
- Critical Care Units.
Administration areas must have enough to ensure cover on every shift.
For more information email: fire.
- Ensure your area has Fire Wardens
- Ensure any Actions on Fire Risk Assessments are completed in time allowed with appropriate escalation to Fire Safety Advisor and Matron / Head of Department if required
- Ensure Fire Wardens complete monthly checklists
- Ensure staff complete necessary training as required
- Escalate any concerns to the Fire Safety Advisor
- Keep all emergency exists clear of obstructions
- Ensure doors are not wedged open.
- Fire Risk Assessment and Audit
- Inspection of wards, departments, public areas and plant-rooms
- Fire Safety Training for all staff including Fire Warden and Fire Drills, with a Desktop excercise for clinical areas.
- Ensure all areas have the correct equipment and signage.