INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION ISDR AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM

INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION (ISDR) AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM 2009 Health Sector’s Emergency Response Plan Victoria Hospital Risk Assessment 2008 Seychelles Health Services Agency Department of Risk & Disaster Management Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

SEYCHELLES Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, far East Cost of Africa 85000 Population 115 Islands 176 Sq Miles 1. 4 Million Km 2 Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social

SEYCHELLES Health Sector Ministry of Health and Social Development Headed by a Minister (Both Portfolios) Social Department Headed by a Principal Secretary Health Services Agency H. S. A Headed by a Chief Executive Officer Public Health Department Headed by a Commissioner for P. Health Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Victoria Hospital Main hospital: Victoria Hospital (Head Quarter H. S. A & Public Health Department), office blocks & health care facilities with wards and Specialise Care Units, to name a few: • • • Administration • Surgery Hospital • Blood Transfusion Dentistry • Intensive Care Unit Oncology Physiotherapy • Psychiatric Gynecology • Clinical/ Public H Ophthalmology Lab Accident / Emergency Internal Medicine • Nephrology Paediatric • Public Health Lab Maternal Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development Derek Samson,

H. S. A Health Care Facilities Associated Health and Safety Issues • Hospitals, • biological hazards • Health Centres, (blood borne pathogens) • Dental Clinics, • potential chemical / • Surgical/Medical drug exposures Wards • clinical/domestic waste • Pediatric Wards • respiratory hazards • Emergency Rooms • ergonomic hazards • And others… (lifting & repetitive tasks) • Forms of physical hazards • hazards associated with laboratories, radioactive material & x-ray hazards.

Health Care workers are exposed to : Health and safety hazards Biological Chemical Physical Psychological Nurses and Physicians- infectious diseases Maintenance workers - to solvents, falls, and electrical hazards. Housekeepers -detergents and disinfectants + waste All workers- stress and shift work (Less obvious) Some how clients/patients may be directly or in directly be exposed or involved to such Health

Health sector RISK ASSESSMENT Health Sector’s Emergency Response Plan can wisely be developed by exploring the results of a Risk Assessment within the Health Sector. (Its Health and Safety condition) Safe and healthy health facilities with healthy and fit staff will somehow reduce the chance of calamities to occur. On the other hand the staff will be secure and safe knowing that there are enough available provisions in ensuring their safety and healthy wellbeing. Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

VICTORIA HOSPITAL RISK ASSESSMENT • September 2008 , 03 rd to 25 th (22 days) • Part of 2008 International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction programme activities • International Disaster Risk Reduction Day Organising Committee Meeting • Department of Risk Disaster Management, Seychelles Fire Brigade • Public Health Department and • Health Services Agency -Red Cross Society of Seychelles, -UNDP, -Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation -Nurses Association of Seychelles, -WHO Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Objectives of the Risk Assessment - To identify the level of risk and the extent of vulnerability of Victoria Hospital and Network of its functioning system - To propose short, medium and long term mitigative solutions - To start the eventual development of a hospital facilities emergency response plan - To identify training needs in terms of response, mitigation and preparedness Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Scopes Of Assessment The assessment covered the following hazards: 1) Fire 2) Landslide(Rock Fall ) and floods 3) Strong winds (Cyclones) 4) Common aggravating factors Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Fire § § Electrical wiring system Fire exit /Fire doors Fire safety training Fire equipments: § Fire extinguishers / fire hose reel/ fire blankets § Fire alarm § Smoke detectors § Fire hydrants § Other Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Strong Winds (Cyclone) § Surrounding trees § Roof / ceiling structure § Loose materials Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Land Slide (Rock Fall) And Flood - Floor location - Drainage - Potential aggravating environmental factors Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Common Aggravating Factors - Storage / waste disposal - Building maintenance - Emergency Response Procedure - Poor housekeeping (Staff practices) - Occupants at risk Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Recommendations (Fire) Fire Exit / Fire Doors - Have fire doors brought up to standard - Have enough signage and exit lights affixed - Keep doors clear from obstruction and fire doors closed at all times Fire Equipments - All existing equipments should be serviced and made operational as scheduled Electrical Wiring System - Proper maintenance and good housekeeping Fire Safety Training - Fire fighting course. / Patient evacuation Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Recommendations (Cyclone Landslide And Floods) -Potentially dangerous trees need to be felled or lopped - Roof and ceiling needs to be properly maintained and fixed accordingly to withstand strong winds - Doors and windows needs to be kept shut preventing wind currents -No loose materials should be left on the roof - Drainage system should be kept clear of all debris and obstructions Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Recommendations (Common Aggravating Factors ) - Initiate proper storage - The building maintenance should be done on a more regular and thorough basis - Develop Emergency Response Procedure and staff training - Initiate and encourage good housekeeping (Staff practices) Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Risk Assessment Tool FIRE LOCATIONS Maternity 1 Maternity 2 Delivery Suite Paediatric Ward Neonatal Intensive Care Hermitte Ward D’Offay ward Female Medical ward Male Medical ward Psychiatric Ward & Day Unit Intensive Care Unit Haemodialys is Unit Oncology Unit LANDSLIDE / FLOOD CYCLONE COMMON AGGREVIATING FACTOR 3 3 3 3 Fire Alarm Syste m 3 3 3 3 0 0 1 3 3 2 3 0 3 3 3 0 0 3 1 3 1 3 1 1 3 3 3 0 1 3 3 1 3 0 3 3 3 3 0 1 3 3 3 1 1 3 2 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 0 2 3 3 1 3 0 3 3 3 1 1 2 1 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 2 3 1 3 3 3 1 1 0 1 3 3 3 1 1 3 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 0 1 3 3 1 3 Electric Fire Smoke al Door detector system /Exit Fire fighting Equipments Surroundi ng Trees Roof / Ceilin g Floor Location Waste Disruption Disposa of l Services 3 3 3 0 0 0 1 3 Safety Exits Building Maintenan ce Evacuatio n Plan Staff Practice s Occupancy At Risk 3 3 1 1 3 3 0 0 3 3 0 = OKAY – SAFE 2 = SERIOUS PROBLEMS 1 = MINOR PROBLEMS 3 = CRITICAL Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Conclusion Taking into consideration the hazards and the secondary effects involved, the hospital services will be highly at risk. Disruption involve loss of: -Staff -Important medical equipments -Necessary care materials : medicine, food, furniture Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Systemic Measures of Health & Safety for the Seychelles Health Sector - Devise a Health and Safety Management System for the Health Sector - Make provision for the post of a Health and Safety Officer within the Health Sector - Draw up and implement a Health and Safety Action Plan - Make provision for the creation and implementation of a Health Sector’s Health and Safety &Policy. Ministry of Health & Social Development Derek Samson, Health Safety Officer,

Cont. . Systemic Measures of Health & Safety for the Seychelles Health Sector - Creation of a Health and Safety Committee for the Health Sector. - Create an emergency response plan for the evacuation of the Victoria Hospital - Training of staff in the important subjects of Health and Safety in the context of the Health Sector -Establish and adopt Standard Operating Procedures in support to Health & Safety measures in the Health Sector Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development

Thank you Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development