NAHFO NW Conference 2013

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Fire Safety and Emergency Planning – Fire Safety and Emergency Planning – A Fusion of MindsA Fusion of MindsNAHFO NW Conference 2013NAHFO NW Conference 2013

Paul RobertsPaul RobertsRisk Management Adviser & Policy Lead

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Why the Dear Colleague Letter from David Flory?Why the Dear Colleague Letter from David Flory?• Fire at Woodlands Psychiatric Unit at Ipswich

Hospital 26th October 2011– Patient set fire to bedding and stayed in the room whilst

fire develop until rescued by fire service 25 minutes later

• Subsequent investigation led to Enforcement Notice listing 15 items of remedial work

• Trust could not be prosecuted because of a merger where criminal liabilities not transferred

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• No one person to blame – systemic failures within the organisation

• Enforcement Notice not challenged• All the enforcement items have been addressed• Criminal liabilities now transfer• Nothing in the list that is not ‘bread & butter’https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-into-fire-safety-duties-in-the-nhshttp://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/suffolk.gov.uk/Emergency%20and%20Safety/Fire%20and%20Rescue/Workplace%20Fire%20Safety/2012_12_20%20Report%20of%20Investigation%20Final.pdf

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HTM 05-01HTM 05-01• This guidance replaces previous versions and

the letter on e-learning issued in February 2011• The document was issued for technical

engagement for 3 weeks and received 60 pages of comments

• Some comments were readily accepted, some readily rejected and some considered before a final decision

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Key changesKey changes– Brought in the functional requirements of the

Building Regulations Approved Document– Made clearer the differences between policy

and protocols– Tried the make management levels more

appropriate– Defined duties for local managers– Better defined duties for various roles– Referenced PAS 7– Greater emphasis on training section

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Key changes continued:Key changes continued:– Updated the exemplar management system to

follow PAS 7– Expanded the Person Specifications to ensure

the correct calibre of staff in post– Detailed appendix on developing protocols– Detailed appendix on developing the training

needs analysis– Left in the Annual Statement as an exemplar for

local use

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Department of Health fire Department of Health fire safety policysafety policyTo provide an unambiguous statement of fire safety policy applicable to the NHS in EnglandNHS in England, and to premises where patients receive NHS funded treatment or care, excluding a single private dwelling.

Exemplar Trust fire Exemplar Trust fire safety policysafety policyTo provide an unambiguous statement of fire safety policy applicable to Anytown TrustAnytown Trust, and to premises where patients of Anytown NHS Trust receive treatment or care, excluding a single private dwelling.

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DH willDH will•Ensure that appropriate advice and guidance on matters relating to fire safety will be available to NHS organisations in England through the provision of the Firecode suite of guidance.•Facilitate the development of partnership initiatives with stakeholders and other appropriate bodies in the provision of fire safety where reasonably practicable.

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The Trust Board will:The Trust Board will:• Discharge its responsibilities as a provider of

healthcare to ensure that suitable and sufficient suitable and sufficient governance arrangements governance arrangements are in place to manage fire related matters.

• Provide appropriate levels of investmentappropriate levels of investment in the estate and personnel to facilitate the implementation of suitable fire safety precautions

• Facilitate the development of partnership development of partnership initiativesinitiatives with stakeholders and other appropriate bodies in the provision of fire safety where reasonably practicable.

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The Trust Board expects those tasked with managing The Trust Board expects those tasked with managing aspects of fire safety to:aspects of fire safety to:•Diligently discharge their fire safety responsibilitiesDiligently discharge their fire safety responsibilities as befits their position.•Have in place a clearly defined management structure a clearly defined management structure for the delivery, control and monitoring of fire safety measures.•Have in place a programme for the assessment and review of fire programme for the assessment and review of fire risksrisks.•Develop and implement appropriate protocols, procedures, action appropriate protocols, procedures, action plans and control measures plans and control measures to mitigate fire risks, comply with relevant legislation and, where practicable, codes of practice and guidance.

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Management levelsManagement levels• DH acknowledge the diverse nature of healthcare

providers, eg those providing community based care, where the organisation may be responsible for a range of healthcare premises of varying complexity.

• The local management of each premises should conform to the management level appropriate for that type of premises as shown in Table 1.

• The management of central functions should conform to the management level appropriate for the most complex premises and/or highest dependency of patients in the organisation’s portfolio.

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Local management Local management (snapshot of duties)(snapshot of duties)

•Monitoring fire safety in the area of responsibility•Ensure fire risk assessments undertaken•Report defects as they affect fire safety•Develop local emergency and action plans•Ensure sufficient, adequately trained staff available•Ensure staff attend training

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Developing fire safety protocols (Developing fire safety protocols (examplesexamples))•Fire strategy•Fire risk assessment•Fire prevention•Fire detection & alarm•Reducing false alarms•Fire fighting equipment•Portable appliance testing•Medical gases•Purchasing•Etc etc

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TrainingTraining • Ensuring prevention and emergency action

plans can be put into practice• Legal duty• Fire Safety Manager responsible for

training programme being developed and delivered to allall employee’s

• Matron’s, Head’s of Service and Departmental Managers to ensure staff attend

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InductionInduction• All staff to be inducted LOCALLYLOCALLY on or before 1st

day of work– Include location specific issues

• Corporate induction should take place within 1 month

PeriodicPeriodic• All staff should receive regular, updated training and

instruction– Frequency and duration determined by Training Needs Training Needs

AnalysisAnalysis

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E-learningE-learning• Offers benefits• Not acceptable as sole means of training (other than

very small premises eg small GP practice)

– Significant findings of risk assessment– Changes in working practice– Evacuation techniques– Job specific

• Should be completed within 1 month or re-started• ExceptionalExceptional circumstances may be an alternative

but no gap longer than x2 the TNA interval

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Training Needs AnalysisTraining Needs AnalysisExemplar and not exhaustive• Determine staff with FS responsibilities• Group staff with similar responsibilities• Determine training requirements for each

FS responsibility• Determine nature, duration and number of

sessions required

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Training Needs Analysis continuedTraining Needs Analysis continued• Determine frequency – should reflect

complexity– Eg self evacuation may only need F2F training

every 36 months providing e-learning is used in the intervening the years along with an unannounced fire drill

– Practical sessions eg for evacuation training may be more extensive and require more but shorter sessions

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• Revision to HTM 05-2– Issued scope to Framework partner– Complete review to meet the needs of today’s

healthcare system– Delivery by March 2014 (very tight timescale)– NAHFO need to be involved

• Revision to HTM 05-03 anticipated in 2014/15 … but no guarantees!

So, what’s next?So, what’s next?

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Thank youThank you

Questions?Questions?