An effective safety management program aims at ensuring that all the risk prone areas such as discussed below, are rendered and maintained risk free. It should ensure:
1. Safety of Buildings:
i. There are no unauthorized constructions. The buildings are as per the approved plans and have been duly passed by the concerned authorities including the fire services
ii. Structural engineering norms have been followed while erecting the structures and the building materials used are as per the standard norms
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iii. The buildings are earth quake resistant
iv. The materials used in the fire prone areas are fire retardant
v. The fire escape routes are as per the norms and lit at night. With the keys easily available (if locked)
vi. The internal plasters on the ceilings and walls are as per the norms
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vii. The floors, ramps and stairs are nonskid type, the ramps have the requisite gradient and side rails and the stairs have the steps of requisite height and width and are without protruding nosings.
viii.The terraces, roofs, balconies have protective railings and the access to terraces/ roofs is controlled
ix. The windows/have grills and wire mesh protection
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x. The hospital has a perimeter boundary wall to protect the unauthorized ingress
xi. Regular scheduled inspections to detect any deterioration and a program of planned periodic maintenance are being carried out.
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2. Safety from Fire Hazards:
i. The building byelaws related to fire safety are being strictly complied with
ii. Fire safety equipment has been provided as per the requirement
iii. The equipment is being properly maintained and tested as per the preventive maintenance program
iv. There is a program of continuous fire safety training of staff
v. Periodic testing of fire safety plans is being done by periodic rehearsals
3. Safety of Equipment:
i. Malfunctioning of equipment such as ventilator, defibrillator can be catastrophi It must be ensured that all the equipment, medical or non medical, are of high; quality, fault free and hazard free and supported by an efficient system of maintenance for optimum operational efficiency.
ii. The wheel chairs should have brakes, the trolleys and beds should have strong side rails to prevent accidental falls.
4. Safety of Lifts:
The lifts are as per the authorization and are provided with all the safety features.
5. Staff Competence:
The staff of various categories has to be as per the prescribed norms considering the work load. There has to be a protocol (strictly followed) for verification of the credentials of all the staff.
6. Stable Power Supply and Protection from Lightening:
i. Hospital has mains power supply from at least two different phases and has internal back up by generator sets of adequate capacity and UPS system to support the vital areas/ equipment
ii. The actual power load is less than the sanctioned power load
iii. The wiring and user points are fault free and hazard free to protect against electrocution/short circuiting
iv. The buildings are effectively earthed by lightening conductors whose patency is being tested at regular intervals.
7. The Lighting:
The lighting of various areas is as per norms and adequate security lighting is available for safety, especially of the female patients/staff, at night.
8. Water Supply:
Drinking water supply is being tested periodically to ensure that it is fit for hum consumption. For certain equipment/areas (such as dialysis) RO water plant has to be provided. The distribution pipelines are being checked regularly to ensure that there are no leakages anywhere.
9. Communication System:
Communication system such as nurse call system, doctors paging/call system, relatives call system, communication with/between the security staff, etc. has to be fault free.
10. Safe Infection Free Food:
Hygiene and safety of food has to be assured by ensuring the personal hygiene of the food handlers, sanitation of the kitchen area, high quality of raw materials and their appropriate storage, a mechanized kitchen with fault free equipment and above all documented operating procedures for all important activities of the kitchen.
11. Personal Protection Equipment:
Personal protective equipment has to be available to staff of risk prone categories such as the staff of radiology, pathology, labor room, OT, engineering service and the house keeping staff handling BM waste. The equipment should be in functional order and should be used by staff as required.