By Healthcare Facilities Today

The Manitoba government has created a task force for evaluating fire safety in healthcare facilities and is dedicating up to $7 million annually from ongoing funding for sprinklers in personal care homes, according to an article on the Canadian Underwriter website.

A fire safety fund also will be established to provide another $2 million to support additional standards and safety reviews, and to take any immediate actions to further improve fire safety in personal care homes, according to the article.

The task force will provide advice on timelines for sprinkler installations and the scope of facilities where retrofits would be appropriate, the article said. Recommendations are expected in the fall of 2014.

Chaired by 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.  Input will also be sought from the Long Term and Continuing Care Association of Manitoba, local certified sprinkler system installers, municipal governments and others.

Manitoba currently has standards in place for fire safety in personal care homes, and standard reviews occur every two years. The province also uses unscheduled reviews to ensure compliance with standards. It also requires an annual fire inspection of personal care homes by local fire inspectors.

Read the article.