Ensuring fire safety in hospitals: 10 definite actions to take

Patient safety is elemental to Hippocratic oath and fundamental to quality in healthcare. Yet, it is unfortunate that occasionally hospitals themselves turn into an inferno claiming many lives.   As per the rules laid down by the Fire Department, all high-rise buildings need to get NOC?as per the zoning regulations of their jurisdiction concerned.

Unfortunately, majority of our hospitals continue to have inadequate fire safety measures in place. Recent incidents such as the fire caused at AMRI hospital, Kolkata, should act as an alarm for hospitals and officials involved in the accreditation departments. Here are 10 definite fire safety measures that each hospital must implement.

1.Adherence: Adhere to all the rules and regulations extensively dealt in part IV National Building Code, NABH Standards Ch 8, FMS 5, ISS 3844 and local bye-laws. The NBC gives clear requirements for design and planning of safe buildings such as use of non-combustible materials in load-bearing elements and escape routes, fire retardant building material and textiles, installation of fire detection and suppression systems.

2. Emergency planning: Based on these factors, have the hospital’s emergency fire plan in place indicating escape routes, compartmentalisation and other fire protection facilities and incorporate all these in routine fire evacuation mock drill.

3. Preparedness: Ensure that appropriate emergency response teams are established and sufficient staff is available at all times to provide assistance with evacuation in an emergency. The NFPA requires eight definite actions with respect to staff training for the ‘defend-in-place’ concept.

4. Fire detection and alarm systems: Have intelligent sensors installed for fire/heat/smoke detection that activate a reliable alarm system automatically; and a PA system with talk-back facility available.

5. Fire suppression mechanism: Have adequate number of serviceable fire points (comprising of fire extinguishers and water hoses), automatic sprinkler system, portable fire extinguishers and static water tanks available during outbreak of fire.

6. Escape routes: Have elaborate mechanisms to facilitate easy movement and safe escape of patients in case of fire. Remember, patients have restricted mobility and need assistance. Ensure that the number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits are adequate having regard to the use and dimensions of the workplace and the maximum number of persons that may be present there at any one time.

7. Additional precautions: Must for air-conditioning plants, electrical installations, LPG cylinders in kitchen, oxygen manifold, OT and ICU, etc.

8. Ban on smoking: A complete ban on smoking should be strictly implemented in hospital premises.

9. Statutory requirements: It is the local municipality who approves the building plan and is responsible for monitoring the same and issuing a completion and occupancy certificate after inspecting the building post-construction to check that there is no deviation from the approved building plan.

10. Fire Safety Officer: Must be designated; one who is responsible for implementation of all fire safety measures and fire safety risk assessment.

Dr  Sanjeev Sood           

 MBBS,MD,M Phil (HHSM),PGDHHM,PGCQMHC,FCGP,AFeISAM

NABH  Empaneled Assessor,Certified Healthcare IT & Qlty Assurance Consultant
Hospital & Health Systems Administrator

SMC,Air Force Station 

doc_ssood@yahoo.com