Assessing compliance with the LSC has always been a tricky proposition, since a deficiency that is obvious to one individual might not be so obvious to another, based on surveyors’ different levels of knowledge.
In reviewing the April 2024 edition of Joint Commission Perspectives, specifically the Consistent Interpretations column, I noticed that almost a third of the hospitals surveyed in 2023 were cited for issues relating to the weekly inspection of Emergency Power Supply System (EPSS)...
Scott Wytosick, a fire and life safety consultant at Jensen Hughes, catches up this month with Healthcare Safety Leader to discuss topics such as adapting Life Safety Code® (LSC) compliance for a post-pandemic world, the future of remote inspections by authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ), and...
Darryl saw the low CO2 level alarm on the microbiology incubator and went to change the tank in the nearby storage room. The valve cover seemed stuck on the replacement tank and Darryl was unable to remove it with his hands. He found a hammer and began to hit the valve cover to loosen it. The...
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) face unique challenges in fire safety and compliance. For example, the fire extinguisher used in an ASC may be different than the one used in a hospital due to the ASC’s unique environment and potential hazards. It's not just about meeting the standards—it's...
Training and education in any professional role can help individuals improve their skills and learning competencies. Training and education opportunities, however, often get sidelined by day-to-day duties and lost in performance reviews. That should not be the case, and certainly when it comes...
Check whether smoke detectors are at least 36 inches from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) vents to ensure they detect smoke right away.
Check whether smoke detectors are at least 36 inches from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) vents to ensure they detect smoke right away.
As one might imagine, I’ve had the chance to review a lot of different risk assessments over the course of the last little while (OK, maybe more than a little while…unless 20-plus years is a little while). One of the interesting dynamics I’ve encountered relates to the surveillance of...
