The primary goal of a healthcare facility is to treat ill patients and improve their quality of life. It is also your responsibility to keep them safe from hazards like fire as they recover. Mind you, a fire outbreak can also lead to property damage that might also lead to costly lawsuits. This is why as a healthcare facility manager or owner, your job is to strive to keep your clients, staff, and property. Well, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to dealing with disasters. Here are some key steps to prevent fire hazards in your healthcare facility.

Inspect and service your fire suppression system regularly

A fire suppression system protects your healthcare facility by keeping the fire from spreading or preventing the occurrence of a fire. Most healthcare facilities use a combination of special hazard fire protection, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers. It would be wise to ensure your fire suppression systems are in tip-top shape and working effectively. We recommend checking your fire alarms at least every month and inspecting your sprinkler systems every three years.

Prioritize electrical safety

You will use numerous electrical appliances in your healthcare facility to help streamline various functions and optimize patient care. However, these appliances could also cause a fire outbreak in your medical facility if not well checked. The key to protecting against fire caused by electricity is to practice safety tips and do regular inspections of your infrastructure.
You should find a professional near you to conduct electrical equipment testing and ensure your electrical appliances do not pose a risk to anyone in the facility. For instance, if you are in Cambridge, you can get PAT Testing Sussex often known as Electrical Equipment testing (EET). These kinds of regular tests ensure your health facility is safe from fire hazards that can crop up from electrical faults. It will also ensure you are compliant with regulations like the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, The Electricity at Work Regulations of 1989, and more.

Establish an effective fire drill procedure and evacuation plan

If a fire breaks out at your healthcare facility, it will help have employees who know how to get everyone to safety. Remember, some patients are admitted and cannot move around independently. First and foremost, it would be wise to start with a risk assessment of your facility to help identify risks and how to mitigate them. You can then move on to develop an appropriate fire drill and evacuation plan according to the code requirements.

Invest in fire extinguisher training

There is no need to have fire extinguishers if your personnel doesn’t know how to use them properly. Fire extinguishing training can help your staff respond to a hazard quickly and prevent the fire from spreading. It would be best if professionals conducted the training on-site to give your employee a feel of how to react in a real situation.

Wrapping up

Fire safety is a priority for all industries, including the healthcare industry. Your patients and staff will be confident knowing that your hospital is compliant and safe. So, take steps to implement the right preventive steps to secure your facility from fire outbreaks.