The Manitoba government is taking immediate steps to invest in sprinkler retrofits in personal care homes and is striking a task force to provide advice to further improve fire safety in hospitals, personal care homes and other facilities across the province. This announcement was made by Health Minister Erin Selby and Labour and Immigration Minister Erna Braun.
“There’s nothing more important to families than knowing their loved ones are being taken care of and are safe in their homes. The fire safety measures in place today are already very strong, but with the recent tragedy at a seniors home in Quebec, we want to be sure that we are doing absolutely everything possible to protect residents and staff,” said Minister Selby.
The Manitoba government is dedicating up to $7 million annually from ongoing funding for sprinkler and fire safety upgrades in health-care facilities. In addition, a fire safety fund will be established to provide another $2 million to support additional standards and safety reviews, and undertake any immediate actions to further improve fire safety in personal care homes.
“Fire sprinkler systems are just one important element of fire safety plans in health-care facilities,” said Minister Braun. “These investments will help health-care facilities focus on fire prevention efforts and staff training, as well as develop strong fire plans that are specific to the needs of their facility.”
Minister Braun also announced a Fire Safety Task Force will also be created to review fire safety in other facilities that house vulnerable people including retirement homes, assisted living and supportive housing, hospitals and group homes. The task force will also provide advice on timelines for sprinkler installations and the scope of facilities where sprinkler retrofits would be appropriate.
Chaired by staff from the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the task force will include representatives from the Manitoba Building Standards Board, the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs, front-line fire services, regional health authorities and several provincial departments. Expertise and input will also be sought from the Long Term and Continuing Care Association of Manitoba, local certified sprinkler system installers, municipal governments and others.
The task force will look at a range of fire and life safety activities including fire protection and early warning systems, code enforcement and inspections, education and prevention, and emergency and fire planning. Recommendations from the task force are expected in fall 2014.
The ministers noted Manitoba has standards in place that must be followed by every personal care home. This includes requirements for disaster management programs and effective fire prevention plans to minimize the risk of fires and protect the safety of residents and employees.
This includes evacuation and relocation plans of residents to a safe location as well as appropriate staff training for emergency response. There are also standards to ensure all outside and stairwell doors are equipped with an alarm or a locking device approved by the fire authority under the Manitoba Fire Code.
Standards reviews take place every two years. The province also undertakes unscheduled reviews to ensure compliance with these standards, said Minister Braun.
Health-care facilities in Manitoba, including personal care homes, were built to the building standards in place when they were constructed. Manitoba is one of the only provinces in Canada that requires an annual fire inspection of personal care homes by local fire inspectors.
In 1998, the building code changed, requiring new building construction or renovation projects to have sprinkler systems. All personal care homes constructed or renovated since 1998 have full sprinkler systems.
