Improving safety systems concept in aged care

The coronial inquest into the nursing home fire, handed down numerous recommendations for the Minister for Emergency Services, the Commissioner for Fire and Rescue NSW and the aged care sector.

The recommendations for the aged care sector were heavily based in emergency planning and training staff to know what to do and when, in an emergency. Ensuring that staff have a continuous awareness of hazards and planning for a range of emergency scenarios is vital.

Perhaps the most salient recommendation was for facilities to hold regular scenario based practical training exercises. It has been proven time and time again, the key factor in any emergency situation is human reaction. Knowing what to do, and when to do it, can save lives.

Getting right the concept of aged care safety systems

Concept Safety Systems’ integrated online and face to face training program delivers instruction for fire and emergency. The program is based on site specific information and uses interactive plans to demonstrate evacuation procedures. It also houses rich video content to show users how to operate fire equipment in their location.

Due to the basic induction training being delivered online it is available 24/7 and users are able to do their training anywhere and at the most convenient time for them.

Concept Safety Systems’ Fire & Evacuation program (FEP) provides compliance for the requirements under the Australian Standard for Planning for emergencies in facilities along with the Australian Standard for Planning for Emergencies in Health Facilities.

Concept Safety Systems currently works with a number of nursing homes Australia wide, including Scalabrini Village and Oz Care. Partnering with Scalabrini in 2013, Concept Safety Systems implemented the online Site Induction Program (SIP) for six sites across New South Wales.

The online system integrates the FEP program delivering Scalabrini’s fire and evacuation instruction along with their workplace health and safety information. The program also keep tracks of the positions of wardens at each Village.

The program is used to induct volunteers, contractors and staff throughout Scalabrini’s sites. All inductions are recorded and reported back to Scalabrini management.

Helen Hall, Scalabrini Village, capital works and developments manager, Scalabrini Village, says: “We have rolled out the site induction program to our volunteers, contractors and staff throughout all out sites. The process of doing so was easier than expected, particularly because many of our staff come from non English backgrounds and are not overly familiar with using computers. The demonstration videos and easily understood processes enabled us to implement successfully and provide site compliance.”

Concept Safety Systems also works with a number of clients in the health sector. In 2014, an online training program was developed and implemented the delivery of fire safety emergency procedures and site induction for the new Lady Cilento Children's Hospital (LCCH).

The online program delivered induction information to employees, contractors, students and multiple other stakeholders. It covered both health and safety information along with the fire and evacuation procedures.

As the training was delivered online this enabled LCCH to instruct a large amount of people with minimal disruption. It also enabled the user to return to the program at any time to refresh their skills. Before the hospital opened LCCH inducted more than 3,000 people were using the program, the majority within a two week timeframe.

Karen Davies, director, safety and wellbeing of the Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, says: “The Concept Safety Systems platform enabled Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service to ensure that our staff, volunteers, service partners and contractors had completed their mandatory fire and evacuation training prior to occupying the new Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

“The web based program was easy to access and any changes within the new building were readily incorporated within the system to enable ‘real time’ learning. Overall, the system provided an efficient and effective solution to managing the significant fire and evacuation training requirements of our new hospital.”

Concept Safety Systems is a privately owned fire, evacuation and safety solutions company. They help businesses meet compliance and protect their most valued assets everyday. If you need help with your emergency planning, talk to Concept Safety Systems by phoning 1300 738 461.