Oxygen-Related Fires Target of Safety Alert

Managers must learn from fatal incidents to keep patients and staff safe

By Dan Hounsell


The COVID-19 pandemic has created a host of potential threats to the health and safety of workers and patients in healthcare facilities — most notably, from the airborne transmission of the coronavirus that causes the disease. Now managers also must be aware of and prepare for another potential threat.

The European Commission Joint Research Centre recently issued a special lessons learned bulletin regarding the risk of oxygen-related fires in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, according to Health Facilities Management. Incidents such as the hospital fire in Baghdad in which more than 80 people died in what appeared to be an oxygen-related fire indicates the increased risk in such fires.

Although none of these recent fires occurred in the United States, it is imperative that managers learn from these incidents and be able to provide increased safety measures to keep patients and staff safe not only during emergency responses but also in day-to-day operations. While many factors influence the severity of a fire event and increased risk of fire due to high oxygen concentrations is anticipated more in operating rooms, the increased use of oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients is a specific risk that needs to be evaluated to assure that proper precautions are implemented to reduce the risk appropriately.



May 12, 2021


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

States Move Forward to Better Protect Senior Citizens

Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable population and require a certain level of care. States are trying to protect them.


Archer and REDA to Transform Newport Beach Building into Outpatient Center

Groundbreaking on the Newport Irvine Medical Center is scheduled for June 2025.


Sunflower Medical Group Facing Lawsuit Following January Data Breach

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, damages, expanded credit monitoring services and security improvements at Sunflower Medical Group.


Nemours Children's Health Opens New Location in Lake Nona

The nearly 8,000-square-foot facility will increase access to primary and specialty care services.


Enhancing Safety at Hennepin Healthcare with a Screening System

Case study: The system was able to detect 2,500 risk items in less than five months.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.