Fire Safety Failures Lead to Fatal Fire

The recent inquiry into a fatal fire at a care homeand extinguishers. The expert also sent the home
reveals how crucial fire safety regulations are.a health and safety policy and procedural manual,
It's easy to become complacent about the risk ofadvising them to address the issues raised.
fire. But the shocking inquest into the blaze at aThe tragedy killed 14 people in the Scottish care
care home where 14 residents died revealed thathome in 2004. In the last six years there have
the home was told that their health and safetybeen numerous attempts to bring criminal
policy was not suitable or sufficient a year beforeproceedings against the care home, which have
the fatal incident. The inquiry shows how crucial itso far failed. Legally, a full evacuation and drill
is that businesses and organisations regularlyshould be carried out every six months with
check their emergency procedures, including theproper records kept. Drills help wardens uncover
safety of their fire equipment and staff training.any weaknesses when it comes to their
Easy access to an extinguisher could make theevacuation process. Also at the home, some fire
difference between a potential tragedy and anexits were found to be partially blocked and there
actual one.were obstructions in the way of the fire
A health and safety expert who was hired by theextinguishers. What's more, safety catches
owners of Rosepark Nursing Home in Lanarkshiredesigned to keep doors shut to prevent the
told the inquest that he advised the care homespread of flames were removed from some of
they needed to carry out key changes in theirthe bedrooms.
health and safety policy. His audit in 2003 coveredWhether the care home is found guilty or not, the
the safety of their fire equipment and theirtragic loss of life underlines the importance of
emergency procedures, as well as the fire exitsmaintaining and up-keeping rigid safety procedures.