Welcome to my blog. My name is Darren. I own several rental properties in Western Australia. Once I had made the purchases, I discovered that several of the properties needed extensive work before I could rent them to tenants, so I had to hire construction contractors, plumbers, electricians, waste disposal experts and roofing experts to make sure the homes were in top condition. Once I had repaired the buildings, I contacted a letting agent who put them on the market for me. I learnt a lot from working with some many different businesses so I decided to start this blog to share everything I know.
Buying Property: Working with Tradesmen and Agents
4 Fire Safety Tips For Residential Care Homes
by Louella Brewer
If you run a residential home with elderly, vulnerable residents in your care, you will be only too aware of just how dangerous a fire could be. In addition to regular fire safety inspections, there are steps you can take to keep your residents and staff safe.
Here are 4 fire safety tips for you to implement in your care home.
Check all fire doors on a weekly basis Fire doors are essential for preventing the spread of fire and for containing it. If the fire doors in your building are not working correctly, a small blaze in one room could rapidly become a raging inferno that spreads throughout the whole property. Make it a weekly job to have a member of your staff go around the property to check every fire door. The doors should close quickly and automatically and should seal shut into the frame, without leaving a gap or swinging open again. Be sure to have faulty fire doors fixed immediately.
Regularly review your fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) You are legally required to have an FEEP in place for your residential care home. The plan should provide details on how you would safely and quickly evacuate every resident, depending on their individual needs and abilities. Review every resident's FEEP regularly to make sure that the arrangements are still applicable. It's also essential that all your staff and designated fire wardens are knowledgeable about the fire action and evacuation procedures.
Keep plant rooms and service stair wells clear Stair wells and plant rooms can easily become dumping grounds for junk or can be used as extra storage space. Out of sight is out of mind, and this means that unnecessary fuel for a fire could be lurking in these areas, unnoticed. Make it a part of your regular maintenance routine to check these areas and dispose of any unnecessary items properly.
Clean and maintain tumble driers regularly The tumble driers in your home's laundry will probably be heavily used. This can lead to a build-up of lint and fluff in the dryer's filter, which can easily ignite and start a fire. Make it a weekly task for staff to clean the filters and the ducting on the outside of each dryer.
These tips can help to make your care home a safer place for your residents and will keep you on the right side of the law too. For more advice and guidance on fire safety procedures, have a chat with your local fire safety inspector.
