20 Jun 2014
Facilities and buildings managers of care homes need to know more about their fire safety responsibilities, according to an MSP.
Scottish Labour’s Michael McMahon called on the Scottish Parliament to raise awareness of the Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Care Homes it issued in March this year.
Mr McMahon’s motion is also designed to highlight what FMs need to do to keep commercial premises in line with fire safety laws in the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. This includes the need for all buildings to undergo a fire risk assessment and it also states that those that make the assessments be fully qualified to do it.
In 2004, 14 residents were killed in a blaze at Rosepark Nursing Home in Uddingston and it was suggested at an inquiry that people might not have died if the home had a proper fire safety plan in place.
The chief executive of the Fire Industry Association (FIA), Graham Ellicott, said the motion is good news and he thinks MPs in Westminster might do something similar in terms of certifying care home fire risk assessors.
The Care Standards Act says all care home staff should be trained to prevent fires and spot and deal with fire hazards. Residents should be told about fire risks when it is appropriate to do so.
Copyright Press Association 2014