2. Fire Drills/Fire Instruction

2.1 FREQUENCY

It is the responsibility of the provider/manager to ensure that ALL members of staff, whether employed in a full time or part time capacity, or on day duty or night duty are included in fire drills and instruction sessions.

(a) Fire Drills

The provider/manager will determine the frequency of fire drills. This will be achieved by carrying out a fire risk assessment on the premises; this frequency will be confirmed/amended by the inspecting fire officer. The officer will use the agreed guidance notes to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail (See Appendix to section 2). The completed assessment will be held in the premises file.

Generally, practice fire drills (evacuation drills) should be carried out under the supervision of a ‘competent person’ at a frequency of at least twice a year.

It is emphasized that the fire drills are for the benefit of the staff and consequently, the frequency of the drills relates to the individual staff member and NOT the premises i.e. each member of staff must partake in at least two fire drills per year. Residents may take part if they wish and it is safe to do so.

For small establishments (i.e. up to 10 residents) the frequency of fire drills may be reduced to one drill per 12 month period where the fire risk assessment corroborates this.

Again, it is stressed that the findings of the fire risk assessment will determine the frequency of fire drills. Once agreed, the frequency of drills will be recorded in the fire precaution register (log book).

(b) Instruction

Every member of staff must receive instruction from a competent person at periods not exceeding 6 months (excluding fire drills). For small establishments (i.e. up to 10 residents) where the turnover of staff is small and there are few fire safety complications, this may be reduced to one session per 12 month period. Again this needs to be agreed in writing with the fire safety officer.

The provider/manager should ensure that every member of staff has received instruction.

New staff should receive induction training on fire related issues as soon as possible, within their first week of employment.

N.B. Fire drills and instruction may be carried out at the same time but cannot be in lieu of each other.

2.2 CONTENT

(a) Fire Drills

Fire drills are exercises whereby persons in the building are moved (or a simulated movement of persons) to a safe place to ensure by means of these drills that persons working in the care home and, so far as practicable, service users, are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire, including the procedure for saving life.

A fire drill may take the form of a full evacuation or a partial evacuation, i.e. from one fire compartment to another where building construction allows. At least one drill per 12 month period should be a full evacuation.

The competent person may exercise discretion in not requiring specific staff members to actively take part in a drill, however, their names and reasons for not taking part should be recorded in the fire precautions register (log book) e.g. illness, essential duties etc.

The fire drill, or an evacuation in case of a real fire, will take the form of either:-

1. Full evacuation to outside the building

   or

2. Evacuation of one fire compartment to another

   or

3. Evacuation to a ground floor lounge etc. with DIRECT access to outside.
   

Circumstances will dictate which option is chosen, in the case of a drill, the competent person will decide.

Each staff member should sign the fire precautions register (log book) or personal record card to confirm that they have taken part in the fire drill.

When evacuating, those most at risk must be evacuated first then those at lesser risk. Subject to circumstances, those on upper floors must also be evacuated.
 

(b) Instruction

Instruction may include a walk through the building, lectures, video presentations, demonstrations of techniques, methods of handling equipment in connection with safe evacuation of residents, ensuring everyone is identified and that the premises have been successfully evacuated.

Each staff member should sign the fire precaution register (log book), personal record card or whatever recording methodology is adopted by the provider to confirm that they have received fire instruction.

2.3 It should be noted that it is not sufficient only to have plans to evacuate service users from the care home in the event of an emergency. It is equally important to make adequate arrangements for the safe placement of service users in an emergency situation.

Appendix to Section 2

DETERMINING THE FREQUENCY OF FIRE DRILLS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE PREMISES

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Under the ethos of Risk Assessment, it is the responsibility of the provider (employer) to determine the frequency of fire drills.

1.2 It should be noted that the frequency of fire drills relates to the individual employee and not the home itself, i.e. if the frequency is determined as two, this means each member of staff must take part in two fire drills per year.

1.3 Careful planning by the management of the home is therefore vital to negate constant fire drills.

1.4 Various factors come into play when determining an appropriate number of fire drills. There has to be a balance struck between keeping staff trained and alert as opposed to lethargic and complacent. Each individual premises has to be assessed on its merits, this note therefore acts as a guide to fire safety inspecting officers but is not designed to constrict the officers professional judgemement.

1.5 As part of the inspection process, the fire safety officer will check the frequency and agree or disagree with it accordingly. Where the officer disagrees with the frequency set by the provider, a written report will be compiled stating why with a copy being sent to the relevant inspector from the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

2.0 CRITERION

i) Complexity of the building

The more complex the building, the more fire drills are required.

Complexity not only relates to physical layout, height etc, but also to security measures i.e. secure and semi-secure units with inter-locking doors etc.

Simple layouts warrant one to two fire drills per 12 month period, complex premises will require more, up to four per 12 month period

ii) Specification of the building

A well-designed purpose built residential care home reduces the speed at which a fire will develop and alerts staff at the earliest possible stage. This can have a large bearing on the frequency of drills. On the other hand, a poorly designed converted building can give rise to a situation where fire can spread more rapidly and consequently staff need a higher level of training to compensate.

iii) Size

The size of the premises does have a bearing on the frequency of fire drills. Small premises (10 or less residents) may require only one fire drill. Larger premises will require at least two fire drills per 12 month period.

iv) Staffing

Staffing levels and staff turnover can have a bearing on the frequency of drills. Night staff especially need a higher level of training to cater for the lack of assistance in a fire situation.

v) Resident type

The ability of the residents affects the frequency of drills. If the resident base is predominantly able-bodied and able to respond to instructions, the time taken to evacuate an area is reduced and easier for staff, hence the need for less drills

vi) Management

Good management of the premises including maintenance, testing, training etc. plays a vital part in the effectiveness of the fire safety evacuation plan to work. Good management can reduce the need for more frequent fire drills irrespective of the size of the building.

Scores:

6-10 points = 1 drill per 12 month period per member of staff

11-14 points = 2 drills per 12 month period per member of staff

15-19 points = 3 drills per 12 month period per member of staff

20+ points = 4 drills per 12 month period per member of staff

Note: Where 20+ points are recorded, remedial action will most probably be required. The increased frequency of drills should only be used as a temporary compensatory feature until the problem(s) are rectified.  Where 15-19 points are recorded, again, remedial action will probably be needed, however, depending on the premises, three drills per year may be a realistic assessment.

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