Roles & Responsibilities of Safety Coordinators in Peshawar - Do it the Safe way & Do it the Right way

Safety Coordinators play significant role in order to ensure safe and secure environment for their staff and patients. They are responsible to ensure compliance of all the guidelines in order to reduce work related injury. Following are the roles and responsibilities of safety coordinators: 

                    

1	Facility Inspection  Rounds Participate in Facility Inspection/Environmental Rounds and ensures follow-up on observation/improvement opportunities
2	Risk Assessment Active role in departmental Risk Assessment at least annually. Maintain close liaison with Facilities Safety team during risk assessment and share all the identified risks. Ensure display of PCRA before and during renovation and construction activities within the department.
3	Departmental FMS Trainings & FMS Quiz Arrange and conduct trainings on FMS within department and maintain record/attendance in hard form or in TMS: FMS Quiz – 100% Fire Quiz – 100%
4	Knowledge of Fire & Awareness of Firefighting Equipment Knowledge of RACE & PASS Must be aware of locations of nearest firefighting equipment, fire exit, evacuation plan, evacuation routes followed by assembly points. Monitor inspections of departmental equipment as per requirement. Ensure corridors and exit points free from obstructions. Intimate Security in case of any ambiguity in the maps, routes etc.
5	Knowledge of Utilities Knowledge of  Electrical DB location & handling  Knowledge of location of Oxygen Shut off valves  All the oxygen cylinders must be clamped or in trolleys, shouldn’t be left unattended
6	Knowledge of Hazmat Ensure Hazardous Material Inventory followed by MSDS is updated on HIS and same record is maintained in hard form (blue file). Ensure staff knowledge about hazardous material labels/symbols. Staff knows about chemicals followed by MSDS, which are used in their respective area. Staff education is mandatory regarding MSDS
7	Knowledge of Spill & Spill Kit Knowledge of role during spill. Ensure availability of spill kits where hazardous materials/chemicals are placed and it should be easily accessible. Knowledge of spill kit item and its location  Ensure spill kit has all the relevant items available Frequent opening of spill kit for training or checking of spill kit items especially disinfectant. For more info, please refer to: 1.        Multi Purpose: Tricky Questions - Spill Management in Healthcare Facilities (multipurpose15.blogspot.com) 2.        Multi Purpose: Spill Management in Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities (multipurpose15.blogspot.com)
8	Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) PPEs are available, in use where required and are in good condition. Ensure PPEs availability and usage as per MSDS when chemicals are used.
9	Emergency facilities and Eyewash Must ensure that Emergency facilities such as eyewash bottles, eyewash stations & showers are operational, their labels are uniformed and logs are maintained.
10	Departmental Incident Participate in Incident Investigation and responsible to raise QIO.
11	Knowledge of Emergency Codes In case of CODE RED (Fire): Liaison with \ Security regarding fire incident/ issue Control and direct all fire prevention efforts till the arrival of firefighting team. Assist firefighting team and make report of any missing staff members in assembly area after head counting. In Case of  Spill: Stop the source of the spill  Cordon of the area and take measures to reduce the likelihood of exposure according to spill management guidelines.  For major spills, CODE YELLOW is announced at extension 2500. In case of Bomb  & Terrorist threat: Record as much information as possible on the Bomb Threat Checklist then announce CODE BLACK at 2700. In case of Child Abduction: Call security at 2700 and / or exchange for announcement of CODE PINK and provide relevant information.   (For more details: https://multipurpose15.blogspot.com/2021/01/hospital-emergency-codes-codes-code.html )
12	Utilities Failure In case of Utilities Failure – Power Outage, Medical gases Outage or Water Failure: Notify shift supervisor/EMD. Determine the impact of utilities failure on patient care Check backup system
13	Waste Management Ensure appropriate segregation of hazardous waste as per Waste Management Programme. Ensure display of  disposal guidelines where different color bins are placed. Impart knowledge to other staff members.
14	Preventive Maintenance   Ensure that PM or PPM (Periodic Preventive Maintenance) of all utilities and medical equipment is done before due date.
15	Close Liaison with Facilities Safety    Maintain close liaison with Facilities Safety in case of any confusion while implementing any of these guidelines.

    

    Roles and Responsibilities will be updated as per need. To ensure compliance, these roles

    may be displayed in the respective area of safety coordinators. 

Remember Safety is more important than Convenience

HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CODES – CODES & CODE ANNOUNCEMENT IN HOSPITAL

 (Things you must know in case of unfortunate situation)

Hospitals are the most common institutions that use color codes to designate emergencies. The use of codes is intended to convey essential information quickly and with minimal misunderstanding to staff while preventing stress and panic among employees, patients and visitors. These emergency codes are not only displayed on departmental boards but are printed on employee ID cards as well.

CODE YELLOW – Hazardous materials & Gas leakage

CODE YELLOW EXTENSION: 2100

Description of Code YELLOW:                                                                 

Code YELLOW refers to Major spills that can be radioactive, gas leakage, hazardous material or chemical spills.

 Code YELLOW is not announced for minor spills. Each and every location of the hospital is equipped with spill kit where likelihood of spill is there.

Probability of Code YELLOW announcement:

Likelihood of Code YELLOW announcement in our hospital is near to negligible because of stringent measures. However, following areas of the hospital where there is a probability of major chemical spills are:

a)      Chemical Store

b)      Laundry Area

c)       Pathology Lab where formalin, xylene and ethanol are used

d)      Diesel storage area where generators are installed

Additional measure for major spills:

Sand trolley or sand bags are placed in those areas where likelihood of major spill is there in order to tackle any unfortunate situation because spill if not controlled well in time might have toxic effects for surrounding environment.

Team to respond in case of CODE YELLOW:

1.       Firefighting team because chemical may have flammable characteristics

2.       Engineering & Maintenance Department (EMD) team to stop the flow, to cut off ignition source and to shut off valve.

3.       Housekeeping for final cleaning

CODE PINK – Prevention of Child Abduction

CODE PINK EXTENSION: 2300

Code Pink is announced to prevent infant or child abduction. It’s announced in the hospital when a child is reported to be missing. Overhead code announcement is taken place at extension – 2300.

Steps to be followed in case of Code PINK:

a)      Additional security staff is deployed at all the entrances and exits  of the hospital

b)      All entrance points/gates are closed

c)       No car or individual is allowed to leave the vicinity unless got vehicle or belonging searched.  

d)      Assistance from CCTV camera’s installed at hospital is taken.

e)      Details of missing child such as age and physical appearance is shared with security staff for identification and search purpose.

f)       Additional staff remains present at all entrances unless code Pink is called off.

g)      Additional measures are taken to limit the probability of such incidents in future. 

CODE BLACK – (Bomb or Terrorist threat)

CODE BLACK EXTENSION: 2300

Code BLACK typically means there is a bomb and terrorist threat to the facility. In case of threat, inform Safety & Security immediately at extension 2300.

Types of threats:

a)      Call threat

b)       Incendiary bombs or inflammable material – ( These devices may create small explosion leads to fire)

c)       Letter & Parcel Bomb

Do’s	Don’ts
Call Threat
·      All call should be taken seriously ·       Hear the threat call seriously	No need to panic
Incendiary bombs or Inflammable material
·      This threat should be treated in the same way as threat posed by explosive device	No need to panic
	No ignorance at all
Letter and Parcel bombs
·      This should be taken seriously and take actions as per guidelines	No need to panic
	No ignorance at all
·      Be vigilant	Don’t open the parcel
·      Inform Security on extension 2300 immediately	Don’t place it in water or put anything on top of it
	Do not leave it unsupervised

Procedures to be followed for letter and parcel bombs:

It’s a special threat that shouldn’t be ignored. Staff dealing or handling with unopened letters and parcels must be vigilant to identify following:  

Unfamiliar post marks	Inappropriate address
Excessive weight or uneven weight distribution	Springy parcels

In case of suspected package or letter, following measures are to be taken:

·         Do not try to open the parcel/letter.

·         Do not place it in water or put anything on top of it.

·         Isolate it where it poses no harm, ideally outside but avoid carrying it through crowded places.

·         Do not leave it unsupervised or allow anyone near it.

·         Inform Safety & Security at extension 2300 immediately. Police and bomb disposal squad are informed by security department.

·         Building Evacuation will trigger as per nature of threat.

NO THREAT SHOULD BE IGNORED

CODE RED – (Prevention from the menace of Fire)

CODE RED EXTENSION: 2100

Code Red is announced to protect patients, visitors and employees from fire and non-fire emergencies. It’s announced on Extension: 2100

 

Things To Remember – Fire Response
Do’s	Don’ts
Be calm and follow RACE & PASS as per need          If need be, announce Code RED	No need to panic            No need to shout near patients or manifest excitement or fear
Exits may be closed	Exits shouldn’t  be blocked or unobstructed
If need be, prepare to evacuate patients in following order: a)      Patients who can walk b)      Patient in wheel chairs c)      Patients on beds	Don’t leave patients helpless
Transfer patients from central oxygen system to portable cylinders	If fire is in piped oxygen area,  Don’t  leave patients on central oxygen system

 

Steps to be followed when code RED is announced:

·   In case of fire expands, Code RED is announced and building evacuation plan is triggered.

·         Safety coordinator will be responsible to lead his staff to designated assembly area.

·         Rescue 1122 authority will be called by the security department.

·         No employee is permitted to re-enter the hospital building until Code RED is called off.

CODE BLUE – (Medical Emergency)

CODE BLUE EXTENSION: 2200

It’s a medical emergency code. Upon announcement, the team members respond immediately to all calls for assistance to provide resuscitation and/or life support measures. The team is to reach at the said location within 5 minutes. 

Similarly, relevant nurse manager/designee ensures that the crash cart is easily accessible, fully functional and complete in all respects. For more details, please refer to the ‘Policy of Resuscitation’.

Note:

All the information is obtained from Policies, Plans and manuals of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC)

Haider Ali is young professional works in Health Safety & Environment sector at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH & RC), holds a degree in MPhil Environmental Science from GC University, Lahore. He writes on burning issues and has been involved in various projects.