Fire Awareness FACTSHEET. Your responsibilities The nature of fire How fire spreads Alarms Extinguishers Signage Evacuation

Transcription

1 FACTSHEET Fire Awareness Your responsibilities The nature of fire How fire spreads Alarms Extinguishers Signage Evacuation A quick way to update mandatory training Based on the Skills for Health Core Skills Framework Developed in collaboration with Trust Fire Safety Advisor, Learning & Development & Liverpool Women s NHS Foundation Trust Last Updated: December 2015 Page 1 Please note: there are only 2 attempts at the eassessment.

2 How to enrol and play the eassessment on ESR 1. Log onto the PC using your own network username and password. 2. Insert your smartcard into the card reader on your computer keyboard or place on the infection control reader. Enter your smartcard pin number. Select the box for Patient Care. 3. Double click on the ESR via smartcard icon on your desktop. If you see a certificate popup box, tick the box Always trust content from this publisher. then select Run. 4. Click 427 elearning User then Learning. 5. Using the Search box, type RUH into the blank search box and click Go. 6. From the list returned, click the envelope icon under choose or enrol in class next to the relevant eassessment. 7. Click Apply. The course will be in the list of courses ready to play. 8. Click the Play button to the right hand side of the eassessment programme. 9. You may get the following security warning. Click on No. 10. You will get 2 attempts at the eassessment. Please ensure that you have dedicated time to complete the eassessment. 11. To exit and save your result, you must click on the Home icon at the top right corner of your screen. If you do not click on the Home icon your results will not be recorded. 12. When you have completed the module, please check that your result has updated to Passed under the under the Status. If your result does not automatically update to Passed on your ESR enrolments page, your STAR record will not update. Page 2

3 Introduction This fact sheet will give you key guidance on Fire Awareness. It aims to provide you with an update on the importance of fire prevention and precautions to help staff protect themselves, patients and visitors from the effects of fire. Further information can be found on the Trust intranet site or by completing the Fire Awareness elearning programme on ESR. You might like to refresh your training with this factsheet if you are about to attempt the online eassessment for Fire Awareness. Learning objectives for fire awareness training The Core Skills Framework states that the learner will: understand the characteristics of fire, smoke and toxic fumes know the fire hazards involved in the working environment be aware of the significant findings of relevant fire risk assessments practice and promote fire prevention know instinctively and describe the right action to take if fire breaks out or smoke is detected be familiar with the different type of fire extinguishers, state their use and identify the safety precautions associated with their use be familiar with and state the evacuation procedure and associated escape routes at their location take part in practical training sessions which should include evacuation techniques and where appropriate fire fighting equipment. Section 1 - Fire safety Government legislation The Trust takes its guidance from the Department of Health s fire safety laws: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Building Regulations 2000 Approved Document B Fire code: Health Technical Memorandum Further guidance can be found at: Legislation.gov.uk Health and Safety Executive website Fire Protection Association website Page 3

4 Section 2 - The Trust s responsibilities As your employer, the Trust is required to do the following: Have a fire prevention and fire fighting programme to move patients in an emergency Be able to implement an immediate operational strategy when a fire emergency happens Appoint a Fire Safety Manager Regularly review policies to reflect physical, functional and procedural changes as and when Provide fire safety training for all staff as soon a they start working for the Trust Provide an adequate number of trained fire safety staff Mobilise additional staff to support the operations policy in the event of a fire Conduct annual fire safety audits to identify weaknesses, fill gaps and allocate resources. Section 3 - Your responsibilities As an employee you are required to do the following: Practice and promote safe fire prevention Know instinctively what to do in the event of a fire Be aware of the fire risks and precautions in your ward/department Be aware of fire safety equipment available to you Be aware of escape routes and keep them free from obstruction Understand how to raise the alarm when a fire is suspected or occurs Report any cases where fire prevention procedures are not being carried out Complete fire safety training as and when required for your particular role. Section 4 - The nature of fire For fire to exist it needs three elements: 1. FUEL for the fire to burn 2. AIR (OXYGEN) for the fire to breathe 3. HEAT for the fire to continue burning If any of these elements are missing or removed, the fire will go out. If you stop these three sources of fire from coming together you can reduce the chances of fire happening. Currently in the NHS the most common causes of fire are smoking, electrical items and arson. Page 4

5 Sources of FUEL Anything that burns can be a source of fuel for a fire. Items that burn easily are more dangerous. You may be familiar with some: Flammable products e.g. cleaning products Flammable gases e.g. aerosols Plastics or rubber e.g. foam-filled furniture, videos Wood e.g. furniture, materials Laundry e.g. bedding, towels, aprons Waste e.g. shredded paper, wood, dust. Sources of AIR Air, or oxygen, is everywhere. It exists in two forms: 1. Natural airflow through doors, windows and other openings; and 2. Mechanical airflow through air conditioning systems Oxygen also exists inside materials used as part of the service we provide to patients. They are: 1. Chemicals 2. Oxygen supplies Chemicals containing oxidising materials provide a fire with more oxygen, which helps it to burn longer. This makes them highly dangerous. Hazardous, oxidising chemicals must be stored and handled very carefully by trained staff to avoid danger. Oxygen supplies can be cylinder storage and piped systems eg: a. Medical oxygen b. Oxygen used by contractors Sources of HEAT There are a number of sources of heat, or ignition, within the building that can cause a fire: Naked flames Arson Faulty electrics Cooking equipment Lighting Ventilation obstruction Hot processes Misused electrical equipment Smoking materials Page 5

6 Section 5 - How a fire spreads There are three ways in which a fire can spread: 1. Conduction 2. Convection 3. Radiation Here are some examples of good housekeeping that you should follow in the course of your job to reduce the threat of fire: STORAGE All objects e.g. equipment and packaging should be: Stored in their correct places Stacked or shelved in an orderly manner CLEANING Clean all workplaces, machinery and equipment regularly OBSTACLES Keep all areas clear of items and rubbish e.g. corridors, lifts, exits and fire escapes ELECTRICALS Do not use unfused multiple point plug adaptors or unauthorised private equipment Check cables and cords regularly for wear and tear HEATERS Prevent staff and patients from placing items over heaters e.g. to dry towels Using dangerous substances is part of the service we provide yet flammable and highly flammable liquids can cause devastating effects, if incorrectly handled. If you come into contact with these items you can do the following to reduce the risk of fire: 1. Only store the amount you need within the ward or department and keep the main stock in a dedicated storage area 2. Do not keep flammable solids, liquids and gases together 3. Remove linings, covers or anything that is likely to set on fire away from flammable items e.g. curtains or plastic linings 4. Do not dispose any flammable liquids down the sink or drains; let qualified staff use appropriate waste methods in a safe environment. Page 6

7 Section 6 - How to raise the fire alarm & fire alarm sounds Your first response to fire should be to: Activate nearest red manual call point or Phone 2222 (Trust emergency phone number) Our alarm system has two distinct rings: Cardiac Arrest Fire Emergency 2222 CONTINUOUS ALARM If the fire is in your area, the alarm rings. This will sound throughout the area of your department. Non patient areas evacuate immediately. Patient areas check for risk of fire and smoke and evacuate in accordance with local policy. INTERMITTENT ALARM This will sound in the areas immediately next to your ward or department If the fire is on either side of your area, an alarm will stop and start to let you know a fire is close to you. Prepare for evacuation Section 7 - Fire extinguishers There are four types of extinguishers held on Trust property: It is important that you understand the difference between the various extinguishers, but the Trust DOES NOT RECOMMEND that any member of staff attempts to fight a fire or put themselves at risk unless they are sufficiently and properly trained to do so. There are also fire blankets and a number of wet chemical fire extinguishers in our main kitchens. Page 7

8 Section 8 - Signage Below are the two fire action notices that you may see at the trust and the fire assembly point. Page 8

9 Section 9 - Evacuation Once a fire is raised or even suspected, the top priority is human life and it is essential that you know how to remove yourself from any potential danger both quickly and efficiently taking the safest and most direct route. If you work within a ward and are responsible for patients adults, children and babies you have a further responsibility. You must always be aware of your ward or department s evacuation procedure in the event of having to evacuate the area. Your Line Manager can tell you everything you need to know. Non-Patient areas immediately evacuate to assembly points on sound of a continual fire alarm. Patient areas, undertake progressive horizontal evacuating, from one internal compartment to another. Moving anyone at risk to the other side of a set of fire doors. Should total evacuation be required, patients will be taken out of the nearest main entrance, to that particular block. Progressive horizontal evacuation This is a 3 step process in which patients are moved to another area on the same floor, the area fire doors are closed and everyone is moved to the next area as the fire approaches. The fire doors will provide at least 30 minutes protection from fire, smoke and toxic gases. Section 10 - The Trust fire safety management arrangements Trust Lead Job Title Contact details James Scott Howard Jones Brian Gubb Chief Executive with overall responsibility for fire safety Director at board level responsible for fire safety Head of Estates Fire Safety Manager John Moore Building Surveyor Nominated Officer for Fire 4202 Leno Esposito Trust Fire Safety Advisor 1558 Bleep 7519 Daniel Keen Trust Fire Safety Craftsperson 1551 Bleep 7901 Switchboard Emergency number 2222 Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust Page 9