Recommendation on safe means of escape at hospital buildings: users' perspective
List of Authors
  • Adnin Syaza Jaafar , Yuhainis Abdul Talib

Keyword
  • Fire Safety, Means of Escape, Hospital, Recommendation, Safe Escape

Abstract
  • A healthcare facility is a place for the patient's treatment. However, in the event of a fire, it will cause injuries, deaths, and losses for the hospital administration and facility. The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia reported an average of 31 hospital fire breakouts in Malaysia between 2012 – 2019. The obstructions along the means of escape routes in the hospital building are one of the causes of the fatalities. The obstructions will lead to overcrowding during the evacuation. Therefore, this research intended to provide recommendations to achieve safe means of escape based on a user perspective. A quantitative approach was used for data collection using a questionnaire survey. Ninety questionnaires were distributed to the users of hospitals. The data is being analysed using statistical analysis with the use of SPSS as the tool for analysis. The research found that the highest recommendations recommended by the respondents are (i) more signage for the means of escape routes should be displayed and (ii) means of escape routes shall be well maintained to avoid any slippery. As this paper only provides recommendations for safe means of escape in the hospital building, further study is needed to identify the means of escape requirement in other buildings.

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