Critical analysis of fire incidents and self-assessment of fire safety program in a tertiary care hospital of India: an observational study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20234117Keywords:
Critical analysis, Fire audit, Fire safety, Incidents, Incident reporting, Hospital firesAbstract
Background: Self-assessment of fire safety provides valuable insights for framing a robust fire safety program for hospitals by identifying gaps and taking corrective measures. The study was performed to (i) critically analyse fire incidents which occurred in the hospital and (ii) assess fire safety program of the hospital.
Methods: A critical analysis of 3 fire incidents which occurred in hospital was performed. Further review of records regarding all fire incident reports was performed for last 4.5 years and analysed for cause, site, timing, triggering factor and firefighting. For the second objective, fire safety mechanisms in hospital were compared with national accreditation board of hospital checklist and national building code 2016 part 4 “fire and life safety” guideline.
Results: It was found that a total of 44 incidents of fire occurred over a period of four and a half years from January 2019 to July 2023, of which 42 were minor, confined fires while two were major and non confined fires. Electrical cause was found in 48.84% of fire incidents, 37% occurred in external areas, 41% in the morning shift hours and in 51.16% incidents clean agent was used for extinguishing the fire. In 93.18% incidents, trained hospital security extinguished the fire. Average reporting time was 1.23 minutes and mean time taken to act and extinguish the fire completely was 10 minutes.
Conclusions: Critical analysis of fire safety using records of fire incidents and comparison with guidelines helps hospitals in self assessment of their fire safety plans and guides in filling lacunae.
References
Booklet-Guide-for-Using-NBC-2016.pdf (bis.gov.in). Available at: https://www.bis.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Booklet-Guide-for-Using-NBC-2016.pdf. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Pan American Hospital Organization. Hospitals don't burn! Hospital Fire Prevention and Evacuation (paho.org). 2014. Available at: https://iris.paho.org/ handle/10665.2/34976. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Wood MH, Hailwood M, Koutelos K. Reducing the risk of oxygen related firesand explosions in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. Process Safety Environments Protect. 2021;153:278-88.
Siddharth SR, Pyreddy SR, Panthagani SN. A study on reported fire incidents in major hospitals of India. Int J Community Med Publ Heal. 2020;7(10);3896-906.
Juyal S, Tabassum-Abbasi, Abbasi T, Abbasi SA. An Analysis of Failures Leading to Fire Accidents in Hospitals; with Specific Reference to India. J Fail Anal Preven. 2023;1-12.
Pal I, Ghosh T. Fire incident at AMRI hospital, Kolkata (India): a real time assessment for urban fire. J Bus Manag Soc Sci Res. 2014;3:9-13.
Kumar P. Fire in the basement of ESIC Hospital, soon found by the readiness of the security guards. Dainik Jagran. 2021. Available at: https://www. jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/noida-ncr-fire-in-basement-of-esic-hospital-noida-21472568.html. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Mahdinia M, Yarahmadi R, Jafari M, Kouhpaei A, Khazaei M. Fire risk assessment and the effect of emergency planning on risk reduction in a hospital. Qom Univ Med Sci J. 2011;5:71-8.
Siddharth SR, Pyreddy SR, Panthagani SN. A study on reported fire incidents in major hospitals of India. Int J Community Med Publ Heal. 2020;7(10);3896-906.
Sharma R, Ashok K, Vipin K. Fire Incidents In Healthcare Organizations: Readiness, Response And Preparedness. Int J Scientific Res. 2019;8(8):2277-817.
Menon GB, Vakil JN. Commentary on National Building Code (Part 4, IITK-GSDMA-Fire 05-V3.0, page 39. Document No (iitk.ac.in). Available at: https://www.iitk.ac.in/nicee/IITK-GSDMA/F03.pdf. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Sodhi J, Pankaj A, Ranjitpal SB, Sidhartha S. Periodic condemnations in hospital: Why are they so important? Med Society. 2022;35(2);108-9.
Hospital Fire. Human made Disaster? India fails to learn from past mistakes. Available at: http//www.firstpost.com/india/hospital. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Venkataseshan J, Pandit S, Saini S. Fire incidents in Neonatal Nursery: Prevention and Management. Indian J Paediatr. 2011;78(11);1404-6.
Wood MH, Hailwood M, Koutelos K. Reducing the risk of oxygen related firesand explosions in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. Process Saf Environ Prot. 2021;153:278-88.
Standard Operating Protocol for Fire-safety. JIPMER. 2017;3. 2019. Available at: https://jipmer.edu.in/sites/default/files/Fire-safety-Audit-Checklist-Aug-2019.pdf. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Nambiar N. Fire audit of 527 Maharashtra hospitals over, Loopholes to be fixed in six months: official. April 29, 2022. Available at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/91163715.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Sinha S. Fire safety audit finds 85 hospitals in the red. Hindustan Times. 2023. Available at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/fire-safety-audit-finds-85-hospitals-in-the-red-101680114418935.html. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Sharma R, Bakshi H, Banerjee A. Fire safety hazards: How safe are our hospitals? Indian J Community Med. 2020;45(1);104-5.
Rijhwani K, Mohnaty VR, Balappanavar AY, Hashmi S. Complaince Assessment of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act in public places in Delhi Government Hospitals. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018;19(8):2097-102.
Romshi R, Aasim FS, Suhail MJ. Compliance monitoring of cigarettes and other tobacco products act (COTPA) and its awareness among person responsible for compliance in Srinagar government hospitals. Int J Appl Dent Sci. 2021;7(4):264-8.
Siddharth DR, Pyreddy SR, Panthagani SN. A study on reported fire incidents in major hospitals of India. Int J Community Med Publ Heal. 2020;7(10);3896-906.
Yarmohammadian MH, Alavi A, Ahmadi F, Fatemi M, Moghadasi M. An investigation of the status of preparedness and crisis management restrictions in hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Int J Health Syst Disaster Manage. 2016;4(1):58-62.
NABH Fire Safety Checklist. Available at: iihcp.org/download/nabh-fire-safety-checklist/.24. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Campell R. Structure fires in Healthcare facilities. 2016;112. Available at: http//www.nfpa.org/News-and-research-data-n=and-tools-and-building-and-life-safety/Fires-in-Healthcare-Fcilities. Accessed on 25 September 2023.
Nash HO. Fire alarm system for health care facilities. IEEE Trans Ind Appl. 1983;19(5):848-52.
Innocent M. Knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers towards fire prevention and control practice in the workplace at a medical laboratory in Gaborone, Botswana. Joint Event on 21st World Congress on Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner Meeting and Nursing Education and Management. J Community Publ Heal Nurs. 2018;4:28.
Ukegbu AU, Njoku PU, Metu KC, Onyeonoro UU, Obiechina OC, Ozurumba CC et al. Workplace Fire Safety: Knowledge and Preparedness in a Public Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Abia State, South East Nig J Community Med Pri Heal Care. 34(2):94-108.
