Manchester Hospital breached fire safety rules
A Manchester hospital has been ordered by the fire service to tackle fire safety breaches in its operating theatres.
An enforcement notice has been issued by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service on Bury’s Fairfield General Hospital.
A routine check discovered various safety breaches and the fire service order says action must be taken to avoid prosecution.
Areas of concern that did not comply with the requirements of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 included:
• Fire doors wedged open
• Storeroom doors left insecure
• Combustible items stored in escape routes
• The Trust’s own fire safety policy not being followed
• Failure to maintain emergency routes and exits
• Fire safety risk assessment not suitable and sufficient
• Damaged and poorly maintained fire doors
• Limited evidence of fire drills taking place
Commercial buildings, non-domestic and multi-occupancy premises in England and Wales are already forced to undertake a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
While the overwhelming majority of premises do this, if the assessment is carried out to an insufficient extent, the responsible person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.
