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practice management | cally about the best way of getting those people safely down any stairs. You may find that an evac- uation chair is vital, as is training staff in how to use such equipment. Evaluate and act Having now identified all of the potential prob- lems and hazards that are present in your dental surgery, you can now take the relevant action to take precautions to reduce those risks as far as practically possible. The most reliable solution is installing fire detectors throughout the building and using smoke and heat detectors, along with call points, as part of a fire alarm system. When the alarm sounds, fire exit signs will then direct people to safety while emergency lighting illuminates that route to keep people safe, no matter what. Having the correct fire extinguishing equipment installed throughout the premises is one of the best ways you can prepare. Fire blankets in the kitchen area will help tackle small fires with little mess or hassle, while fire extinguishers are best in waiting rooms, corridors, offices and treatment rooms. Wa- ter extinguishers are suitable for general fires, in- cluding paper, cardboard, rubbish and furnishings, whereas foam extinguishers can be used for flam- mable liquids. Powder extinguishers are versatile, lighter and safe to use around electrical equipment and flammable liquid and gas. However, they can af- fect visibility and breathing, so should be mitigated by a health and safety risk assessment if specified for indoor use. On elec trical equipment, carbon di- oxide extinguishers are the safest method and will prevent further damage to the electronics. Each extinguisher needs to be partnered with an extinguisher identification sign and should be commissioned upon installation and then serviced annually by a trained professional. You will need to select at least a few members of staff you trust to take on fire warden responsibili- ties. Once they have received the appropriate train- ing, you should then have plenty to ensure there is always a fire warden present in spite of sickness and holidays. The purpose of fire wardens is to help ed- ucate the other staff, besides taking charge in the event of an emergency. Their training will help them to act appropriately and calmly in a fire situation and to oversee the evacuation. They will also be on hand to help you with your fire safety duties, such as performing visual checks of equipment and lead- ing fire drills to test the effectiveness of your pro- cedures, and to help familiarise staff with the plan. Lastly, inform all staff on how to use the fire extinguishing equipment in your surgery. Review A risk assessment is never finished, and you should constantly monitor what you are doing to see how effectively the risks are being controlled. It also needs updating should there be a change in building layout or the activities that are carried out. Acquiring a new piece of equipment may seem like just a small change, but together, a few small changes can have a signifi- cant effect. That is why many fire services recom- mend reviewing the assessment at least once a year so you know it is up to date. The ultimate responsibil- ity for complying with special fire safety regulations falls to the owner of the dental practice. He or she can either carry out the fire risk assessment himself or herself or ask a competent individual to assist. Many business owners choose to hire professional risk assessors to complete it on their behalf. This not only saves them time and effort, but also gives them the peace of mind that it has been done correctly and that no risks have been overlooked._ Record, plan, inform, instruct and train contact Author details In order to deal with any fire situation, you need to have an emergency plan. This means that all staff will know what to do and ensure the premises are safely evacuated. Further ensure all new staff are informed of this and that it is easily accessible for anyone to view. Stuart Collyer Professional Writer United Kingdom stuart@fireprotectiononline.co.uk www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk Kurz & bündig Als Zahnarzt ist man es gewohnt, regelmäßige Checks bei Patienten durchzuführen, um etwaige Probleme frühzeitig zu erkennen und zu behandeln. Ein solch präventiver Ansatz sollte auch beim Thema Brandschutz angewendet werden. In fünf Stufen beschreibt der Autor, wie sich das Brandrisiko in der Zahnarztpraxis effektiv bewerten lässt. laser 3 2017 33