INSTALLATION OF SAFETY PARAPHERNALIA OF NO USE WITHOUT MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON REGULAR BASIS

INSTALLATION OF SAFETY PARAPHERNALIA OF NO USE WITHOUT MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON REGULAR BASIS

Sometimes, even the experts may be misled and mistake the wood for the trees when it comes to efficient safety and security measures in the modern times. When it comes to installing, mistakes are less because established norms or proven and tested precedents influence choices. Also, laid down guidelines do not allow for sub-standard material or aids. However, when it comes to maintenance and upgradation mistakes are more common.

As per a recent news report, Crawley Hospital, founded in 1967, which services the busy town of Crawley in West Sussex and offers a full complement of healthcare services has undergone a wide scale overhaul to the wards, corridors and offices. As part of this refurbishment, the lighting was identified as requiring a significant upgrade. The primary aim of the project was to achieve energy savings over the previous lighting system, as well as reduce maintenance costs for management team. However, the additional benefit afforded to Crawley Hospital was improved aesthetics, particularly important for the waiting rooms and patient areas. Mick Allen, Project Manager at Morgan Sindall, commented, “We can see a big difference, both visually and economically. One of the main reasons we looked to change the lighting was to reduce running costs, and we can already see the savings that we will make.”

The service provider there also delivered a wide-scale emergency lighting network, including signage and escape route lighting. This ensured that staff and patients could make their way out of the hospital in the event of a severe emergency or loss of mains power.

There are established rules for installing fire extinguishers, alarms, emergency lighting and path finding photoluminescent signages for quick exigency and rescue in fire accidents, blackouts or similar mishaps. However, even if they have been installed their regular maintenance and upkeep is an area to be alert about 24x7.

Fire extinguishers can jam due to misuse. The content too may dry out or become useless after some time and fail to fire in the crucial moment due to lack of upkeep. Emergency exits may be crowded or blocked by boxes, furniture or waste material over time rendering them useless when most needed for people to get out. Signages, lights and path finding tools need to be checked from time to time and necessary repair and replacement done so that they are ready to come to use at any time because accidents don’t happen with prior intimation.