Odisha Govt sets up joint task force for regular fire safety audits in hospitals

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.