The Development of Fire Safety Management Plan of Work for

  THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN OF WORK FOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL BUILDING

 Dr. Naziah Muhamad Salleh*, Profesor Sr. Dr. Mastura Jaafar, Sr. Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim, 

Associate Professor Sr. Dr. Zailan Suleiman, Dr. Norhidayah Md Ulang

 * Project Leader

ABSTRACT

Fires incidents in public hospitals trigger a lot of tribulations to the human, financial, public perception and environmental. The main aim of this research is to develop a holistic plan for fire safety management standards for existing and future public hospital buildings in Malaysia. Overall, this research carries three objectives. The initial stage of study was evaluating the level of compliance with the legal requirements in government hospital buildings. Secondly, to examine fire safety management in the government hospital building and by combining both two objectives, the third objective performed: develop the fire safety management plan for government hospital buildings. Five case studies in Penang selected for this research. The descriptive-cross-sectional and applied study conducted at Penang General Hospital, Seberang Jaya Hospital, Balik Pulau Hospital, Bukit Mertajam Hospital and Sungai Bakap Hospital. The case studies being selected based on the functions, specialist, clusters and building’s characteristics and criteria. These buildings were built before and after the existence of UBBL in 1984. The first phase of data collection emphasis on the hospital Fire Risk and Safety audit at 122 zones of the case studies. Checklists for fire risk assessment from the NFPA 101 standard were developed and compiled. The information collected analysed in the Computerized Fire Safety Evaluation System (CFSES) software for final evaluation of the buildings. The second stage of data involved with the interview with 16 stakeholders who involved with Hospital Fire Safety Management. Extracted from objective one and two, rating systems created during focus group interview to compete the third objectives: developing the fire safety management plan for public hospital. This study revealed that 84% of zones in the case study failed to comply the NFPA 101 requirements in terms of people movement in the building. Fire risk assessment score was unacceptable (Failed) in all hospital, and in the three areas mentioned general safety, egress/exit routes, and fire control. ERT team in hospitals does not get any advice from Fire and Rescue Department ( BOMBA) during reforming the ERT and Fire Safety organization. The ratio basis of staff to patients and staff handling patient during fire are not determined and there is no guidelines from BOMBA and KKM to manage the ratio. Even though, the financial management for fire safety unavailable in the hospital budget. Thus, these elements are discovered to develop the Fire Safety Plan for Public hospital. As the studies of Fire Safety Management in public hospital are limited, by evaluating this experience it can create the attention of this research to the policy makers and the government.

Keywords: Fire Safety Management Plan, Public Hospital Building, Fire Risk Management