Fire Response Team
Q: What, if any, are the requirements for a fire response team in a hospital? We do have a policy which does outline what departments/titles respond to a fire; however, we have two campuses and each site does things a little differently (not following current policy is a separate issue). Are there any guidelines on who should respond and how response should take place? Thank you.
A: There are very few requirements in the 2012 Life Safety Code regarding a fire response team. Here is what it says:
19.7.2.3
All health care occupancy personnel shall be instructed in the use of and response to fire alarms.
Personnel hearing the code announced shall first activate the building fire alarm using the nearest manual fire alarm box and then shall execute immediately their duties as outlined in the fire safety plan.
Section 19.7.2.2 says a written health care occupancy fire safety plan shall provide for all of the following:
Use of alarms
Transmission of alarms to the fire department
Emergency phone call to fire department
Response to alarms
Isolation of fire
Evacuation of immediate area
Evacuation of smoke compartment
Preparation of floors and building for evacuation
Extinguishment of fire
So, what we see in the Life Safety Code is a requirement to have a written fire safety plan (which is often the Fire Safety Management Plan required by Joint Commission) that instructs the healthcare worker how to respond to a fire, and you need to instruct your personnel on the fire safety plan. The last item under 19.7.2.2 is to extinguish the fire. Your plan can say that only individuals who have received hands-on training on how to properly use a fire extinguisher will attempt to extinguish fires. To expect everyone in the building to use a fire extinguisher without providing hands-on training is ludicrous and unreasonable.
So, your plan is a valid plan. Have your engineering and security people receive hands-on fire extinguisher training on an annual basis and expect them to attempt to extinguish the fire. Train them to not place themselves in harm’s way of the fire and let the professional fire fighters extinguish it if the fire is too large or dangerous. I’m told that OSHA has regulations on fire brigades that are very extreme, so you are cautioned to not call your fire response team a fire brigade. I’m not an OSHA expert so please consult with one who is for that information.
