Inspectors are concerned – fire safety in care facilities in Estonia leaves much to be desired
In March, inspectors of the Eastern Rescue Center checked social care institutions in Virumaa, and in almost every third of them, fire safety violations were identified.
In total, 55 institutions in Virumaa were checked in March, of which only 15 were without violations. In Ida-Virumaa, inspectors visited 32 institutions, of which only 7 met the norms. In Lyaen-Virumaa, 23 institutions were checked, of which 8 had no violations. In one case, a fine was imposed that the evacuation door was locked.
“Over the years, we have been conducting sudden fire safety checks in social care institutions. Unfortunately, the picture from year to year practically does not change – in many buildings there are problems with fire -fighting doors, evacuation lighting, an automatic fire alarm system and evacuation routes, ”said Gerly Paula, adviser to the security bureau of Eastern Rescue Center. According to her, the checks again confirmed that the situation was still unsatisfactory in the buildings that were checked last year.
During the inspection, the main attention was paid to the state of the fire alarm and evacuation lighting system, the correct installation and serviceability of fire extinguishers. The exits and paths of evacuation were also checked, including the integrity of the fire sections and the serviceability of fire doors. Additionally, compliance with safety requirements was evaluated when using electrical appliances in the premises, the organization of smoking and the willingness to act in case of a fire.
The largest number of violations related to fire sections – in 23 cases. “Most often, the fire doors were not completely closed, they were kept open with improvised means, such as wooden wedges or metal hooks. Fire doors should be in a closed position, with the exception of those that are equipped with appropriate magnetic devices and are automatically closed with fire alarm. It is the fire -fighting doors that restrain the spread of fire and smoke, allowing customers and employees to safely leave the building and minimizing the damage, ”Paul explained.
In five institutions, problems with the automatic fire alarm system were identified: the sensors were closed or the system did not work. “Even five cases are already a lot. These devices should be constantly in working condition to find a fire in a timely manner, ”she added.
The use of electrical appliances in the premises of trusted institutions complyed with the requirements, special zones were allocated for smoking. However, employees of the institutions complained that some customers violate the internal routine and smoke in rooms or toilets. Inspectors expressed gratitude to employees, well aware of actions in the event of a fire. “We recommend that the employees have confidence in their actions in an emergency. It is also necessary to instruct new employees, ”said the adviser.
In March, inspectors checked mainly healthcare institutions that provide round -the -clock care and rehabilitation services, as well as nursing houses, social rehabilitation centers and support houses. The sample also included buildings where fire safety violations were previously identified, as well as those where there is the possibility of transmitting anxiety signals from automatic fire alarm systems to the Center for Alarm.
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