Are government institutions prepared for fire disasters?

THE recent fires at the UCT Jaggers library and the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg bear reference.

These incidents raise the question as to whether government institutions in the city are wellprepared for fire disasters, especially those that may originate on their premises.

How compliant are the Western Cape’s municipal and provincial government buildings, therefore, with regard to fire safety?

Even though the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government indeed try their best to ensure this, more seem to be needed.

Some facilities might not even have the basic equipment such as fire extinguishers and alarms, whereas that of others are insufficient, inaccessible, or not in working condition.

In large and multiple-storey buildings, fire hose reels are also required.

Such deficiencies therefore mean that the safety of employees and service users is compromised in the event of similar emergencies.

Emergency evacuation plans indicating the location of fire extinguishers and directions to their nearest exit doors and assembly point are often not visible.

The fact that these plans are not clearly displayed may even be an indication that it is outdated or that no such plan is available.

The lack of large standard building safety signs in some facilities also causes one to question whether its employees have been adequately trained in relevant Occupational Health and Safety measures with regard to fire prevention and handling.

Employees seem to be lacking the necessary knowledge and skill regarding their roles and responsibilities in this regard.

It is especially health facilities such as hospitals and community health centres with many weak and immobile patients where annual evacuation drills are critical to help employees learn about safe and efficient client evacuation on a practical level.

R BARTES | Manenberg