SECTION A: DECLARATION
Note that the assessment will not be marked if this declaration has not been
completed.
Declaration of own work
I hereby declare that the material which I now submit for assessment is entirely my
own work and has not been taken from the work of others. Work that was
constructed from other sources has been duly referenced.
Module code: MNO 2603
Full name & surname: REBAONE MOLALE
Student number: 46983163
Signature: RMOLALE
(electronic / digital handwritten signature / initial(s) and surname)
Cellphone number: 0731729465
46983163
MNO2603
QUESTION1
The smoke doors are not used as the magnetic system on the doors was no
longer effective and they were recommissioned.
Fire hydrant couplings were not compatible with the fire hoses on
Johannesburg Fire Service fire engines because “some had been stolen.
Spotlight has requested, but not received a copy of the fire audit/ inspection
report from the Gauteng Health Department.
Firefighters were not given building and floor plans of the hospital’s
emergency exit plan when they arrived on the scene.
Smoke detection systems, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and the
mechanisms that would have triggered the magnetic smoke doors were also
not in working condition.
There was also water flow and low pressure to the hydrants besides non-
compatible hose couplings aging building has not had the benefit of routine
maintenance to extend its lifespan.
One fire truck holds 4 500 litres of water. It’s not enough for a fire on even one
floor of a building of that size, that’s why we need fire hydrants to be working.
High levels of noncompliance to fire and safety bylaws within the city continue
to be a headache
There are only four working fire trucks for the entire city.
It ranges from lifts that have not been serviced for years; fire escapes that are
obstructed and regularly used for makeshift storage and dumping space; fire
extinguishers gathering dust or used as door stops and facility health and
safety committees who are slack on fire safety compliance if they meet at all.
QUESTION 2
Exit doors must be designed, built and maintained in such a way that the
means of egress is obvious and direct.
The means of egress must be capable of handling the maximum number of
occupants in the building.
The building must have atleast two means of egress.
Exits must be easily accessible at all times.
The distance from the furthest point to the exit must be measured and be
within the prescripts.
All exits from a building must lead to a courtyard or public place.
All means of egress should be illuminated when the building is occupied.
Emergency lighting should be provided for all means of egress.
Exits must be clearly marked by visible signs.
Areas that contain highly hazardous contents should have more exit points
that are close to occupants of the building.
QUESTION 3
Every building that is occupied by people must have a way to get out and
protect them from fire and make sure that they can evacuate fast or be
protected against the fire in the case of no evacuation is needed, and provide
safeguarding if the system fails. In the article provided at the Charlotte
Maxeke the smoke doors are not used due to the fact that the magnetic
system on the doors were no longer effective and the smoke doors are
supposed to be used to prevent the smoke from spreading in the building
when there is fire.
Every building that has got people living in it must be in a condition that
people living on it are protected from fire, smoke, until they are evacuated or
until they protect themselves from fire. According to the article provided for the
assignment, at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital the fire hydrant couplings were not
compatible with the fire hoses on the Johannesburg Fire Services fire engines
due to it being stolen.
By providing a way out from fire or protecting occupants from fire there are
some factors that need to be considered such as checking if the occupants
have the capability to be evacuate, how many are they and if there is fire
protection available to evacuate the occupants, the height and type of building
or any other concern that is related to fire. At Charlotte Maxeke during the fire
incident there was low water flow and low pressure to the hydrants besides
non compatible hose couplings.
Nothing must obstruct the way out in case of fire except in facilities such as
mental health institution or correctional services, however there must be an
employee available to assist should such incident occur and ensure that
people are evacuated safely.
The exits in the building and escape route should be marked clearly and
visible to the eye and allow people to evacuate safely, the doors and
passages that look like exits must also be marked to avoid confusion from
people going to dead end doors and passages.
The routes and facilities used for egress should be included in designing the
lighting for the building to have artificial illumination if and where necessary.
According to the article provided, the firefighters were not provided with the
building and floor plan of the hospital’s emergency hospital plan.
Fire alarm systems must be installed and maintained regularly in the building
that is too big for people to warn each other by word of mouth. According to
the article provided the smoke detection system, fire alarms, sprinklers
system and the mechanisms that would have triggered the magnetic smoke
doors were also not in a good condition.
In the case where a means of egress is blocked then an alternative means of
egress should be provided.
Stairs, ramps or lifts should protect people from fire if it is used as a means of
egress.
Question 4
The main objectives of the response plan are as follows:
1. Understanding the type and degree of the disaster
2. Equipment and personnel
3. Operation procedures
4. Incident command system
Actions to be included in the response plan:
Identify the type of disaster.
Identify the source of immediate risk.
If the alarm has not been raised, raise the alarm.
Alert local emergency services.
Isolate hazard where possible.
Administer first aid to injured employees.
Initiate security and evacuation procedures.
Account for employees at the assembly points and log events.
Activate emergency communication lines.
Inform neighbouring organisations where possible.
Remain informed about the developments.
Convey information to news network, according to approved organisational
procedures.
Implement rehabilitative procedures afterwards, where required.
Question 5
Employees in the organisation must be training of fire safety.
Preparation for a disaster needs commitment and planning from management
as well as fire drills for all employees.
Integration of organisational plans with the community plans should be done.
Police and fire fighters should be consulted about fire safety and be informed
of the organisation’s disaster preparation plans.
REFERENCING
Question 1
https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2021/05/13/in-focus-what-the-charlotte-maxeke-fire-
tells-us-about-health-and-safety-in-gauteng-hospitals/ (Accessed 07October 2023).
Question 2
Louw,L.B. Safety Management in an Organisational Context. 1ST ed. Cape Town:
Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd, pp183-184.
Question 3
Louw,L.B. Safety Management in an Organisational Context. 1ST ed. Cape Town:
Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd, pp183-184.
https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2021/05/13/in-focus-what-the-charlotte-maxeke-fire-
tells-us-about-health-and-safety-in-gauteng-hospitals/ (Accessed 07October 2023).
Question 4
Louw,L.B. Safety Management in an Organisational Context. 1ST ed. Cape Town:
Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd, pp 41.
Question 5
Louw,L.B. Safety Management in an Organisational Context. 1ST ed. Cape Town:
Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd, pp 182.
