How to Find Your Way Around… EXAMPLE COURSE EXAMPLE COURSE 1. You can play the PowerPoint, and find the Test here 2. You can minimise this column and make the main page bigger by clicking this icon. Click it again to bring it back. 3. Always click this ‘Home’ icon to save your progress and log off. This is very important! EXAMPLE COURSE

Fire Safety Training

Learning Objectives Welcome to the Fire Safety Theory e-learning module, this course forms part of your mandatory training and ensures that all staff are aware of the contribution that they can make to maintaining high standards of fire safety on Trust premises. This training should be taken alternate years in conjunction with your face to face Fire training. An introduction to fire safety Types of fire alarms Types of fire extinguishers Evacuation Policies and information Your part in fire safety

Introduction Fire safety responsibilities for employers and employees are put in place by NHS Fire code, Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) and Fire Safety Legislation. The Trust has in place a range of Policies and procedures that ensures that all employees, patients, and visitors are safe. However as an employee of the Trust you also have responsibilities. These are:- Under the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Trust’s fire safety management policy RM02, all employees have a responsibility to assist in the maintenance of the fire precautions Take reasonable care for the safety of himself or herself and of other persons who may be affected by his or her acts or omissions at work To co-operate with the Trust so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with Inform the Trust of any situation which he or she believes presents a serious and immediate danger any matter which he or she believes represents a shortcoming in the Trust’s arrangements for safety. Ensure that Fire evacuation drills are undertaken every six months

Fire evacuation drills are to be undertaken every 12 months. Question Fire evacuation drills are to be undertaken every 12 months. True False Continue

Basic Fire Safety How fires start and how to avoid them? Fires do start, but for a fire to start the conditions have to be right. Firstly there has to be something to burn – fuel in the form of combustible materials. There has to be something that causes the combustible material to get so hot so as to ignite – heat in the form of ignition sources. There has to be enough air for materials to burn. This is often referred to a as the fire triangle.

Oxygen Fuel Heat So how do we put a fire out? Continue Click on each component to find out Oxygen Without an oxygen supply, a fire cannot begin or continue. Oxygen can be removed from the triangle by using a carbon dioxide extinguisher or a fire blanket Without fuel a fire will stop. There are two ways fuel can be removed; either naturally, where the fire has consumed all the burnable fuel, or manually, by removing the fuel from a fire Fuel Without heat a fire cannot begin. If a fire becomes cool enough, it will not keep burning. Heat can be removed by using water . If it is an electrical fire the heat can be removed by taking away the electricity flow Heat Continue

Basic Fire Safety Ignition sources in the workplace must be controlled. Faulty electrical equipment is a common source of ignition.   The Trust regularly inspects and maintains its electrical equipment and services; it is for you to use the equipment properly and report any faulty equipment promptly. You are expected to take some responsibility for the electrical equipment you use. There are particular danger signs you should look out for on all the electrical items you have in your workplace: Hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow frequently, flickering lights, and scorch marks on sockets or plugs –these are all signs of loose wiring or other problems that should be reported. Overloaded sockets – too many electrical appliances plugged into one socket or adaptor can overload it, which will lead to overheating – use only the adapters approved by the Trust Do not allow visitor or patients to use their own equipment before it is safety tested by the Estates Electrical department.

Filing cabinet in front of electrical sockets Question Which of the following is something you need to look out for with electrical items in the workplace Filing cabinet in front of electrical sockets Overloaded sockets Continue

No Smoking Some patients and indeed some staff are still tempted to smoke in Trust buildings. Remember it is Trust Policy that you are not allowed to smoke on ANY Trust premises. Deliberate Ignition This is one of the reasons it is important to follow the Trust’s security procedures, particularly ensuring that doors are closed to prevent unauthorized access.

Other ignition sources include: Cooking – A majority of fires are caused by toasters Portable heaters - Only use as a last resort and never use fan heaters. Oil filled electrical heaters only which must be tested for electrical safety by Estates.

Water Fire Extinguishers Fire Fighting Equipment All areas are provided with fire- fighting equipment.  You may choose to fight a fire but ONLY if it is safe to do you must never place yourself at risk. Within the Trust you will find the following types of extinguishers:- Water Fire Extinguishers A Water extinguisher works by cooling burning material so there is not enough heat for it to continue burning. Water is effective on fires involving combustible solids such as wood, paper and textiles. DO NOT use Water extinguishers when: There may be electricity present. Water is a conductor and there is a danger of electrocution. The fire involves fat or flammable liquids. Water can rapidly turn into steam and cause a huge fireball. Oil and fat float on water, spreading the fire.

Foam Fire Extinguishers Foam extinguishers work by both cooling the burning material, effectively sealing the vapours and excluding oxygen from the fire. Foam is highly effective for fires involving fat or flammable liquids. Foam is also suitable for combustible solids, e.g. fires involving wood, paper and textile. DO NOT use spray foam extinguishers when electricity is present - Foam is water based so there is a danger of electrocution.

CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Fire Extinguishers Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers work by excluding oxygen. Carbon Dioxide is effective on fires involving electrical equipment as it does not damage the equipment or conduct electricity. CO2 is effective on fires involving flammable liquids that are contained. CO2 is discharged under high pressure, so if the flammable liquid is not contained, there is a danger of the fire being spread. DO NOT use Carbon Dioxide extinguishers when in a confined space, such as a walk-in cupboard. CO2 is stored under pressure and when released, it increases in volume (500 times). If used in a confined space, CO2 replaces all the oxygen available, making it impossible for the user to breathe. Carbon Dioxide has no residual cooling effect, so if the fire is not completely extinguished, there is a danger of it re-igniting.

Fire blankets Fire blankets are made of fire-resistant materials. They are particularly useful for smothering fat pan fires or for wrapping around a person whose clothing is on fire. Fire blankets are suitable for use in the home. The fire blanket will be marked to show whether it should be thrown away after use or used again after cleaning, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. A fire blanket or damp cloth should be used on a fat pan fire.   Fire blankets should be kept in the kitchen.  Do not put your blanket too close to your cooker. You may not reach it in the event of a fire.  Always place the fire blanket near an escape route so that you have the option to walk away and contact the Fire and Rescue Service if you feel the fire is too large to tackle.

Which type of fire extinguisher would you use to remove oxygen? Question Which type of fire extinguisher would you use to remove oxygen? Foam Water CO2 Continue

Raising the Alarm If you discover a fire YOU MUST: Raise the alarm. Shout to notify anyone in the vicinity. Activate the fire alarm immediately. Evacuate from the building by the safest route. Close all windows and doors behind you as you go (if you are the last one out), to stop the fire spreading. Ensure the Fire Brigade are immediately notified, once you are in a safe location. Go to your assembly point and report to your Fire Marshal. If you discover a fire DO NOT: Panic, it can affect your ability to make safe decisions and can make others panic. Risk being trapped. Never move to a position where the fire is between you and your exit. If the fire spreads suddenly, you may be cut off. Put yourself in further danger. Attempt to tackle a fire unless you are certain you can do so safely. If there is any doubt, GET OUT - leave it to the Fire Brigade.

If the fire alarm is activated If the fire alarm is activated YOU MUST: Calmly make a fast and safe evacuation. If you're with a visitor, ask them to follow you. Go immediately to your assembly point and report to your Fire Marshal. If the fire alarm is activated YOU MUST NOT: Stop to collect your personal belongings. Attempt to return to your own workstation or try to finish the work you are doing. Use lifts or escalators (unless they have been specifically designed to allow for fire evacuation) as the power may be switched off and you may become trapped or have an accident. Remember Smoke is as dangerous as fire. Smoke also rises so, if you are evacuating from a smoke filled area, the safest breathing area is likely to be nearest to the floor.

Elevators should be used as an escape route in the event of a fire True or False? Elevators should be used as an escape route in the event of a fire True False Continue

Review - Fire Procedures When the fire alarm is activated, evacuate quickly and safely by the most direct route. If you discover a fire, shout to notify those in the immediate danger area and activate the fire alarm. Evacuate from the building and ensure the Fire Brigade has been contacted. When evacuating from a smoke filled room, the safest breathing area is nearest the floor. Never place yourself in further danger. Only tackle a fire if you are certain that you can do so safely. Once you have evacuated from the building, go immediately to your assembly point.

Good housekeeping and maintenance The prevention and control of fire is all about stopping heat, fuel and oxygen coming together. Good housekeeping habits and the maintenance of fire precautions are an important part of fire prevention and creates a safe workplace. Good housekeeping reduces risk by: Limiting the amount of flammable and combustible materials in the workplace - quantities greater than the daily need should be kept in a secure store room. Controlling ignition sources Keeping work areas, aisles, sidewalks, stairways, and safety equipment should be kept clear of loose materials, scraps, etc. Keep all fire doors closed - Fire doors must never be held open with wedges; the Trust provides a number of fittings that allow doors to be held open, but will allow them to close on the operation of the fire alarm.  Some fire doors do not have self-closing devices, and are normally kept locked shut.

Summary Prepare yourself by making sure you know the Fire Safety provisions in your workplace. Ask yourself: Where's the nearest Fire Alarm? Where's the nearest Fire Exit and where does it lead? Where is the Fire Action Plan for where I will be working? Where's the nearest Fire Extinguisher and do I know how to use it? Do I know the evacuation procedures including those for people with disabilities? Where's my Assembly Area? Who is my Fire Warden? If you don't know the answer to any of those questions, you should find out from your line manager!

Now You need to take the Test. Please click the ‘Test’ icon in the left column, and then click for Questions. EXAMPLE COURSE Remember to click the ‘Home’ icon when you finish the Test to save your results