Fire

This photo was taken on the third floor of a Melbourne hotel.  The electricians regularly serviced the emergency exit light and it was working, but they did not see anything wrong with this exit light.

Hotel maintenance regularly inspected the hotel but they did not see any issue.

Management when told of the issue brushed me off… can you see the issue?

The issue is that this light is in the middle of a hallway has the words EXIT… yes ideally it should be a running man sign… as not all patrons who sleep on the premises may be able to read english… but that was not the critical safety issue…

Now… imagine it is dark at night and the hallway is filling with smoke… people are trying to evacuate… they gravitate to the exit light… except… there is NO DOOR where the light is…

If the exit light had an arrow pointing to the door it would have been fine.  However the hotel potentially was putting the lives of everyone sleeping on that floor at risk.

Queensland requires that high occupancy buildings have fire safety advisers appointed to the business to ensure compliance with legislation.  Experience here would dictate that this is an unnecessary risk for clients.  This is an example of what experience gives you.

If you have not had an audit done by a Fire Safety Adviser… now is the time to take the first step.

More Info on Fire Compliance

Over the years I have not audited one lawyer’s office that was fire compliant!

According to Ben Warren, a Brisbane Lawyer ‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse’ and few occupants in CBD buildings – including lawyers – would be aware that “occupier” obligations under the fire safety regulations extend beyond mere participation in the building owner’s compliance regime.  The “occupier” (each tenant) often has distinct statutory obligations, including the need for a specific evacuation plan, diagrams, staff training, etc.. 

Most lawyers would not know what to do in an emergency. The legal practice often decides that to have the lawyers participate in a two-hour fire training course is not productive. Can you imagine… the lost revenue on a practice of 10 lawyers whose charge our rate is over $300 per hour… would lose them over $6000.

The lawyers often appoint their secretary to act as Chief Warden… from experience, they usually fail to participate in the fire drills, and it is hard for the secretary to enforce participation. If a real emergency occurs… they would not know what they are supposed to be doing.

Remember, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse…” Legal practitioners need to understand that they MUST as a minimum, by law do the following:

·        Conduct and document a Hazard & Risk Assessment of their practice

·        Install Evacuation Signs and Diagrams

·        Have a separate Emergency Evacuation Response Plan (separate to their other procedures)

·        Have ALL staff, including doctors complete, General Evacuation Training every year

·        Have ALL staff, including doctors complete First Response Training every two years

·        Have the wardens (usually practices managers or nurses) do training every year if in QLD and in the other states every six months.

·        Conduct a Practice Fire Drill for all shifts on an annual basis

What legislation did you ask? Qld Fire & Rescue Services Act 1990 and AS3745 Managing Emergencies in Facilities.

In interviews with 271 survivors of 911, researchers in 2008 found that only about 8.6% had fled as soon as the alarm was raised while about 91.4% stayed behind to wait for more information or carrying out at least one additional task (collecting belongings/calling a family member). The interviews also showed that 82% of those who were evacuating stopped at least once during their way down, due to congestion on the stairs, take a rest, or due to environmental conditions (smoke/debris/fire/water).

Do we have to wait for a major disaster in Australian high rise offices before people take fire compliance seriously?

Time to act now! Find out if your business is fire compliant! Book a Virtual Fire Safety Audit today!

Book a Virtual Fire Audit

Before going to sleep at night most people lock their doors and check their windows.  However, there are other nightly routines that could save your family’s life.

Nightly Safety Rituals kids should do

• Before the kids go to bed, they need to clear their floor of toys and obstacles. Toys may become trip hazards should they need to evacuate in a night-time emergency.

Nightly Safety Rituals Parents should do

In 2015 a smoke alarm woke a 78-year-old woman after an overheated wheat bag was left smouldering in a rubbish bin.  When the woman tried to escape, the security screen was locked, and fire stopped her from reaching her keys. Firefighters were able to force the door open and the woman was treated for smoke inhalation

• If your doors have deadlocks – LEAVE the keys in the door as you won’t have time to go looking for them if the house catches fire.
• Make sure the keys are in the security screens or you have emergency push out screens. In trying to keep unwanted people out of your home you make yourself a prisoner and no one can rescue you.
• As parents, we often check on the kids before we turn in for the night.  When you check on them make sure ALL electronics such as laptops and phones are switched off and not resting on their blankets. This is important as some electronic devices overheat and the bedding could catch fire.
• Close your bedroom door before you go to sleep. A shut door keeps smoke and heat out of the room and gives you time to evacuate the house.

• Consider putting smoke alarms in all bedrooms

The Royal Children’s Hospital put out a really great Home Safety Checklist

Buy Fire Safety for Home E-Book


Contact Us