OG 3003 Night Safety Inspections

Issued By: FIRE PREVENTION (D. Day)
Approved By: Fire Chief William H. Mosher    
Date of Issue:  1997/03/03
Revision Date: 2008/03/25

PURPOSE: 

To ensure life safety concerns are met during evening hours and to define the roles and responsibilities of fire prevention officers. 

OBJECTIVE:    

The objective to ensure the safety of HRM citizens by defining the procedures of HRFE officers while conducting night safety inspections. 

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer members of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency.

PROCEDURE:

1. Fire Prevention Officer will contact the Nova Scotia Alcohol & Gaming Authority to inform them of the date and time the Fire Service staff will be conducting night safety inspections and make arrangements for a liquor inspector to accompany him/her on their rounds.

2. The Fire Prevention Officer must speak to the manager and record his/her name.

3. Record the time you were at a particular location on the individual situation report.

4. Make sure all occupant load certificates are posted in a visible location.

5. Check fire department connections for protective caps and signs of debris in the connection.

6. Check all exits in relation to being locked or blocked. Obstructed exits are to be dealt with by the Fire Prevention Officer and establishment staff all obstructions are to be removed by establishment staff while you are on site if possible. On returning to the office on the next business day the file of the establishment in question is to be checked. If establishment has a history of obstructing exits and in the last six months have been notified in writing of code requirements for keeping exits clear, the incident will be referred to the legal department for prosecution by the Fire Prevention Officer who conducted night safety inspection. If other deficiencies are noticed during the night safety inspection, they will be referred to the district Fire Prevention Officer for follow up. All problems dealing with exits shall be addressed as per the statement above. Rechecks on blocked exits will be conducted by fire prevention personnel doing the following month’s night safety inspection.

7. Overcrowding: A count of patrons and staff shall be made by FPO. If the count exceeds the posted occupant load, legal charges shall be laid by the inspectors who conducted the night safety inspection.

8. Any deficiencies other than obstructed exits and overcrowding are to be written up and reassigned to the district FPO for follow up.

9. Copies of all correspondence regarding licensed establishments shall be forwarded to the Nova Scotia Alcohol & Gaming Authority.

10. All correspondence re: licensed establishments shall have a 15 day recheck, be sent by certified mail and the closing paragraph shall be the same as the second notice.

RELATED POLICIES/ OPERATING GUIDELINES:

•    OG 3001 Inspection Frequencies, OG 3002 Inspection Types)

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to night safety inspections by HRFE.