Prevention of fires in secure facilities

Background

WorkSafe inspectors have responded to minor and major fires, believed to have been deliberately started, posing an immediate critical threat to employees and occupants.

Safety issues

Fires in these secure facilities present significant risks to life and safety. This is due to the vulnerability of occupants, the challenges associated with emergency response and evacuation in secure environments. Employees present may be exposed to a range of hazards, including fire and smoke. They may also experience psychological harm associated with high job demands and exposure to traumatic events.

Accidental or deliberate misuse of fire ignition sources and fire accelerants within these facilities can increase risk to employees and occupants. These risks include:

• being unable to evacuate independently due to reduced mobility, cognitive impairment or mandatory confinement
• delays in responding to fires due to staffing limitations, particularly overnight
• occupants becoming trapped in sleeping quarters, under beds or in living areas where visibility is significantly reduced by rapidly spreading dense smoke
• vulnerable occupants that are identified as being at risk of engaging in self-harming behaviours may further endanger themselves and others through impulsive use of fire
• employees and emergency response staff being required to enter smoke-filled rooms to rescue trapped and incapacitated high-risk occupants.

Recommended ways to control risks

Where risks cannot be eliminated, they must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable. The following measures may help to reduce the risk of harm and should be considered as appropriate for each facility:

• conduct a risk assessment of accessible areas where vulnerable populations may be present, to assist in identifying areas of increased risk
• ensure established control measures, such as the use of fire-retardant mattresses and blankets, installation of shrouds* and improved fire monitoring, are in place where practicable
• design front-end intake procedures which enable employees to quickly evaluate all risk factors that may be reasonably associated with the incoming occupant
• document emergency plans and procedures and ensure they are readily accessible to employees
• conduct regular role-specific emergency and evacuation drills tailored to high-dependency environments to ensure employee readiness
• where possible, restrict unauthorised access or embed a system to inspect and monitor ignition sources such as items with lithium batteries, cigarettes, lighters and matches
• ensure fire protection systems (such as alarms, sprinklers and hydrants) are installed, inspected and tested in accordance with the relevant standards
• consider installing or upgrading additional fire mitigation measures where possible, such as smoke detection and smoke purging systems
• prioritise timely and effective communication and coordination between key stakeholders. This may include Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria Police, Department of Justice and Community Safety, Department of Home Affairs, Federal agencies such as Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force, National Disability Insurance Agency, Comcare, and respective health care partners.

Control measures must be reviewed regularly and should be revised as necessary after an incident.

* Engineered controls designed to cover and protect electrified outlets or connection points.

Legal duties

Employers have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. They must:

• so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of employees and independent contractors
• provide employees and independent contractors with the necessary information, instruction, training, or supervision to enable them to do their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health
• ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons other than employees are not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the employer’s conduct
• make arrangements for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage or transport of plant and substances.

The employer must also, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with employees and any health and safety representatives on matters that are likely to directly affect them. This includes:

• identifying or assessing hazards or risks to health and safety at the workplace
• making decisions about risk control measures at the workplace
• proposing changes to the workplace, plant, substances or other things used or the conduct of the work performed at the workplace, that may affect the health and safety of employees.