The LWF Blog

Fire Risk Assessment for Healthcare Premises – Managing Fire Safety – Part 124

February 6, 2023 11:57 am

LWF’s blog series for healthcare professionals aims to give information on best practice of fire safety in hospitals and other healthcare premises. In part 123 of Fire Risk Assessments for Healthcare Premises, LWF discussed the necessity to inform, instruct, co-operate and co-ordinate fire safety arrangements. In part 124, we continue to look at how fire safety and prevention information should be shared with relevant persons in healthcare premises.

Fire action notices may be used in healthcare premises to reflect the information and instruction given to staff and other relevant persons, based on the emergency plan. When fire action notices are used they should be posted in appropriate and prominent locations.

People who work in a healthcare building and patients, visitors etc. are not the only parties requiring information about the fire safety arrangements for the premises. The fire and rescue services will also require all relevant information presented in clear and concise manner. The information should be available at a pre-agreed location (most commonly the main entrance area). The information should include floor plans, construction of the building, contents, hazards and built-in fire protection measures. The more relevant information that can be provided to the fire crew, the lower the risk to occupants, fire crews and premises will be.

Liaison may be necessary with other occupiers of the same building. In non NHS-owned premises, or where there is more than one occupier and other organisations are responsible for different parts of the building, co-operation and co-ordination is required to ensure a cohesive fire safety plan is in place.

Liaison must take place between the various parties, with each made aware of any significant risks that have arisen as a result of the fire risk assessments and any significant findings.

Additionally, employees have a responsibility to assist their employer so far as necessary to help with compliance of any legal duty.

Fire safety training is an essential part of effective fire safety management in healthcare premises. All fire safety training should be designed and delivered with the following in mind:

• It should take account of the findings of the fire risk assessment
• It should explain the emergency procedures
• It should take account of work activity and explain the duties and responsibilities of staff

Fire safety training should not be solely computer-based instruction, but should include face-to-face training and be delivered by a competent person. Where appropriate, it should include practical demonstrations and/or exercises.

In Part 125 of LWF’s blog series, LWF will begin to look at how the fire risk assessment should be reviewed. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this blog, or wish to discuss your own project with one of our fire engineers, please contact us.

Lawrence Webster Forrest has been working with their clients since 1986 to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.

While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.