BBC investigation uncovers poor fire safety in London care homes
13:53 - 29/07/2011
BBC investigation uncovers poor fire ...
An investigation by the BBC has revealed that 29 care homes in London are failing to comply with even basic standards of fire safety and are putting their vulnerable residents at risk.
Each of the homes has now been issued with a legal Enforcement Order by the London Fire Brigade (LFB), ordering them to make improvements. Firefighters now list care homes as second only to hospitals for presenting the biggest risk to life out of all public buildings.
The homes, many of which were guilty of breaching the law, demonstrated failings including a lack of staff training, the non-existence of fire escape plans and no marked fire exits. Some homes were guilty of up to eight individual breaches of fire regulations that could prove lethal.
Green Party London Assembly Member Jenny Jones commented: “It is quite horrifying. In care homes you have some of the most vulnerable people in society – people who can’t move around quickly. It’s crucial those homes have good fire safety procedures.”
The importance of clear fire safety plans has been repeatedly highlighted by fatal fires in care homes, including a fire at Rosepark Care Home in Scotland in 2004 which tragically claimed the lives of 14 people. An inquiry into the incident concluded that the deaths could have been prevented if a sufficient fire safety plan had been in place.
London has a total of 1,976 care homes and 663 of these have been inspected since 2010, with enforcement action being taken against 4% of those. The remaining 1,313 homes have not been checked recently.
Steve Turek, Assistant Commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, said: “It’s important for owners of care homes to take their responsibilities seriously.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable for anyone who receives an Enforcement Notice to say it was for minor infringements. We don’t issue Enforcement Notices lightly.
“It’s important people who are in charge of both care homes and sheltered accommodation understand the importance of their role.”
First Response Training offers a wide range of care sector training courses, which have been carefully developed and mapped to meet the Common Induction Standards and Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements. Courses also link to the Diploma in Health and Social Care (Level 2). They can provide fire safety training to help organisations ensure that they are meeting fire safety standards and are protecting their workers, service users and the general public.
Perry Leeks, Managing Director at First Response, says: “We can provide a basic Statutory Fire Training course for all care workers which will provide the training and information required by law to equip staff to cope in an emergency or fire situation. The course also teaches fire risk assessment and fire prevention methods.
"For those members of staff nominated as Fire Marshals/Wardens within an organisation, we can provide more in-depth Fire Marshal training to provide them with a good knowledge of fire safety risks, how to prevent fire and also how to co-ordinate and lead fire safety and evacuation procedures.
"Finally, for senior staff members, we offer a Fire Safety for Managers and Supervisors course to enable them to manage and maintain the required standards in relation to fire safety, including managing a Fire Marshal scheme.”
For more information on fire safety training, please call First Response on free phone 0800 310 2300.
Each of the homes has now been issued with a legal Enforcement Order by the London Fire Brigade (LFB), ordering them to make improvements. Firefighters now list care homes as second only to hospitals for presenting the biggest risk to life out of all public buildings.
The homes, many of which were guilty of breaching the law, demonstrated failings including a lack of staff training, the non-existence of fire escape plans and no marked fire exits. Some homes were guilty of up to eight individual breaches of fire regulations that could prove lethal.
Green Party London Assembly Member Jenny Jones commented: “It is quite horrifying. In care homes you have some of the most vulnerable people in society – people who can’t move around quickly. It’s crucial those homes have good fire safety procedures.”
The importance of clear fire safety plans has been repeatedly highlighted by fatal fires in care homes, including a fire at Rosepark Care Home in Scotland in 2004 which tragically claimed the lives of 14 people. An inquiry into the incident concluded that the deaths could have been prevented if a sufficient fire safety plan had been in place.
London has a total of 1,976 care homes and 663 of these have been inspected since 2010, with enforcement action being taken against 4% of those. The remaining 1,313 homes have not been checked recently.
Steve Turek, Assistant Commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, said: “It’s important for owners of care homes to take their responsibilities seriously.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable for anyone who receives an Enforcement Notice to say it was for minor infringements. We don’t issue Enforcement Notices lightly.
“It’s important people who are in charge of both care homes and sheltered accommodation understand the importance of their role.”
First Response Training offers a wide range of care sector training courses, which have been carefully developed and mapped to meet the Common Induction Standards and Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements. Courses also link to the Diploma in Health and Social Care (Level 2). They can provide fire safety training to help organisations ensure that they are meeting fire safety standards and are protecting their workers, service users and the general public.
Perry Leeks, Managing Director at First Response, says: “We can provide a basic Statutory Fire Training course for all care workers which will provide the training and information required by law to equip staff to cope in an emergency or fire situation. The course also teaches fire risk assessment and fire prevention methods.
"For those members of staff nominated as Fire Marshals/Wardens within an organisation, we can provide more in-depth Fire Marshal training to provide them with a good knowledge of fire safety risks, how to prevent fire and also how to co-ordinate and lead fire safety and evacuation procedures.
"Finally, for senior staff members, we offer a Fire Safety for Managers and Supervisors course to enable them to manage and maintain the required standards in relation to fire safety, including managing a Fire Marshal scheme.”
For more information on fire safety training, please call First Response on free phone 0800 310 2300.
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