Odisha Govt sets up joint task force for regular fire safety audits in hospitals
Bhubaneswar: In response to a recent
directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the state government has
established joint task forces to regularly keep note of the fire safety audits
in hospitals and nursing homes. These task forces will operate at both the municipal corporation and district levels to ensure comprehensive fire and
electrical safety inspections across healthcare facilities.
Each municipal
corporation’s task force will be constituted with a five-member committee led
by the municipal commissioner, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) or
Superintendent of Police (SP), a fire officer, and an electrical inspector or
deputy electrical inspector serving as members. The director of Capital
Hospital and the director of Rourkela Government Hospital will act as the
member-conveners for Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, respectively, while Chief
District Medical Officers (CDMOs) will convene in the other three municipal
corporations, reports The New Indian Express.
Similarly, at the
district level, the task force will be headed by the district collector and
include the SP, CDMO, assistant fire officer, and superintendent
engineer-cum-deputy electrical inspector. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has
instructed the Health and Family Welfare Department to compile and maintain a
list of hospitals and nursing homes to conduct fire and
electrical safety audits.
Additionally, the Health
Department has directed district collectors to ensure that all government
healthcare facilities within their jurisdiction have taken proactive measures
to prevent fire incidents. Health Secretary Shalini Pandit emphasized the importance
of regular inspections of firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers,
hydrants, and alarms, and maintaining a consistent schedule for their upkeep reports the Daily.
Districts have been
instructed to develop comprehensive evacuation plans for health facilities.
These plans should include clearly marked escape routes, unobstructed emergency
exits, and designated safe assembly areas to ensure the safety of patients and
staff in case of a fire emergency.
This initiative
underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing safety standards in
healthcare facilities and preventing fire-related incidents, thereby
safeguarding the well-being of patients and healthcare workers across the
state.
