Fire Safety in Victoria's Hospitals
Public Hospitals in Victoria are responsible for ensuring that laws relating to fire protection, health, and general safety are observed for any premises from which the Hospital operates irrespective of whether the relevant regulatory requirements place the obligation upon the owner or occupier of those premises.
These community objectives are enhanced with a responsibility for ensuring that the Department of Human Services expectations are satisfied in respect to fire risk management. These policies and procedures are outlined in the Capital Development Guidelines: Series 7;
Operational readiness
The Hospital must ensure that appropriate operational readiness measures are developed, implemented and reviewed. This includes (but is not limited to) fire emergency management and evacuation procedures, and training of staff to implement the procedures developed. The Hospital must also ensure that Essential Safety Measures are maintained and reported on, in accordance with the building regulations.
Client placement
At the time of patient placement in any premises, the Hospital must ensure the premises complies with all laws relating to fire protection, health, and general safety which apply to any premises from which the Hospital operates. The Hospital must also ensure that the premises are suitable for the client to be evacuated reasonably, taking into account the fire systems installed, and the evacuation capacities of the client. Where any relevant change occurs which may affect the client?s ongoing ability to evacuate safely, the suitability of the placement must be re-assessed, and appropriate action taken.
Fire Safety Certificate
At the end of each financial year, all Health Services are required to provide certification to the Department of Human Services that the management of the hospital has satisfied the Department's Capital Development Guidelines Series 7 Fire Risk Management.
Action Plan
As part of the certification, an Action Plan outlining fire safety upgrade works for each campus under the responsibility of the Health Service is to be developed. The action plan should contain a schedule for upgrade works to be carried out over the time period of the action plan relating to outstanding fire safety works and activities determined through maintenance regimes, reporting on the assets and procedures or the most recent fire safety audit.
Fire Safety Certificate No. 6 for a Health Service (Public Hospitals) confirms that:
- Monitoring of fire safety for premises coming within the Health Services? control is in accordance with the Department of Human Services' Capital Development Guidelines Series 7 - Fire Risk Management (FRM).
- emergency response procedures and training are in place which meet relevant Australian Standards or guidelines; and
- The relevant building maintenance provisions of the building regulations are being met including the annual essential safety measures report.
Fire Safety Certificate No. 6 falls due on 1 July of each year and relates to the preceding financial year.
For reporting purposes, Certificate 6 with the Action Plan is to be signed by the Health Service and issued to the Department before 30 September in the same year and is to be provided for each bed-based campus for which the Health Service is responsible. It is submitted to the Department as part of general conditions of funding
These conditions are detailed in the Public Hospitals and Mental Health Services Policy and Funding Guidelines
