Advisory Note – 2015-01 November 2015
Fire safety induction program training
Application
Pertains to the Department of Health & Human Services’ (DHHS) residential services offering 24 hour supported accommodation, in Disability Services, Out of Home Care and Secured Services. The interim department-wide fire safety training strategy dated December 2013 is applicable.
Summary
The Interim Fire Safety Induction Program provides DHHS staff with the necessary fire and emergency response skills to evacuate people safely from a residential facility and to comply with relevant departmental fire safety checks of the residence and the installed equipment.
Definitions
Induction - is the initial fire safety training program staff complete before working in a residential service offering 24 hour supported accommodation in Disability Services, Out of Home Care and Secured Services.
This training focuses on fire awareness and prevention, smoke alarm systems, sprinkler systems, emergency procedures and other fire emergencies.
Orientation Program (checklist) – is to be completed by a staff member during their first shift at a new work location. Orientation gives staff an overview of their new work location, including the location of fire equipment, evacuation points, evacuation procedures and an overview of the fire behaviour of clients living within the home.
Weekly Checklist – to be completed by any staff member, however each staff member should complete the checklist at least once a year to help maintain fire safety awareness. The weekly checklist is a visual inspection of the following: smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, fire blanket, evacuation pack and evacuation plan, sprinkler heads, fire indicator panel, external sprinkler control cabinet, exits and exit paths, fire prevention – housekeeping (internal and external).
Evacuation exercise – evacuation exercises must be performed either during the day and/or at night, so that every staff member participates in at least one exercise per year. The exercise may be conducted as table-top, tactical or field exercises. Casual staff are excluded from this exercise, however may participate at any time.
Background
As part of its service provision mandate, DHHS is committed to providing safe and secure buildings for its staff and clients. A critical part of this commitment is the development of a department-wide fire safety training strategy.
Over the past 10 years there have been significant improvements in the engineering and the fire safety systems installed in the department’s residential services offering 24 hour supported accommodation. In Disability Services, Out of Home Careand Secured Services.
These improvements have removed the necessity for staff to manage all aspects of a fire situation. The strategy now focuses on Safe Place and Safe People; the safety of people as a first priority is addressed through safe engineering controls, supported through an effective evacuation procedure and allowing the installed equipment to manage any fire. The use of first attack emergency equipment (that is, portable fire extinguishersetc.) by staff is no longer recommended as part of fire and emergency management.
Staff Training
Staff, who receive the necessary training are better able to perform their job and will become more aware of safety practices and proper procedures for basic tasks. The training also buildson the staff members’ confidence by providing a stronger understanding of the industry and the responsibilities entailed in their job.
- An interim department-wide fire safety training strategy was developed that will:
(a)Ensure staff are equipped with the required fire and emergency response skills and knowledge, by:
- Continuing to mandate that all staff undertake skill based induction training (prior to undertaking a shift in an accommodation facility). The on-line or face to face training need only be successfully completed once.
- Requiring that all staff participate in ongoing skills maintenance activities including:
- completing an orientation checklist (on their first shift at a new work location),
- completing at least one weekly checklist a year and
- carrying out at least one evacuation exercise a year.
- Making on-line resources available to staff, to review and maintain their ongoing fire and emergency response skills and knowledge.
- Casual staffarenot required to complete a weekly checklist or be involved in a physical evacuation exercise, however, they must complete an orientation program from the house manager, each time they work in a new house. This will involve as a minimum, being orientated with the following key elements within each house:-
(a)The primary and secondary exits.
(b)Any additional dedicated exits.
(c)The location of emergency assembly points
(d)Understanding of the evacuation diagrams.
(e)Any additional accommodation that may be located on site, such as bungalows.
(f)The location of the fire indicator panel (and any sub panels).
(g)The location of portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
(h)The location of the evacuation pack.
(i)The location of the first aid kit.
(j)Awareness of any door strikers.
(k)Awareness of egress routes to assembly points.
(l)Awareness of any gates plus associated hardware, which may need to be negotiated en route to assembly points e.g. door hardware, gate swing, door strikes etc.
(m)Awareness of sprinkler and smoke alarm systems.
(n)The location of telephones.
(o)The location of staff office/sleep over room.
(p)Awareness of client’s mobility and behaviour types, particular highlighting clients who exhibit a propensity for fire lighting behaviour (refer to Client Risk Assessment form, link:
Outcome
Casual staff will not be required to complete a weekly checklist or be involved in a physical evacuation exercise; however this does not mean that they are prevented from participating in completing a weekly checklist or a physical evacuation exercise.
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© State of Victoria, November 2015.
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Advisory Note 2015-01 - Fire safety induction program training