Mareeba Hospital a 'fire trap'
AN audit of Mareeba Hospital and its nurses' quarters has exposed a litany of fire safety breaches that could force it to close.
The Weekend Post can reveal Queensland Health has been given until June 20 to make urgent repairs on the buildings described as fire hazards.
Safety problems identified by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service include faulty smoke doors in the hospital and inadequate fire safety signs, problems with locks and the lack of a fire safety management plan at the nurses quarters.
Of most concern is the nurses’ quarters, with a source telling The Weekend Post maintenance problems in the 60-year-old building breached the Building and Other Legislation Amendment Act, which was brought in as a result of the Childers Backpackers fire in 2000.
Fifteen backpackers were killed in a horrific arson attack after they were unable to exit the burning building.
"The accommodation for the nurses was not up to regulation," the source said.
"It’s a fire hazard."
QFRS assistant commissioner Mark Roche said a meeting was held with Queensland Health yesterday to review progress and to make sure outstanding issues were being
addressed.
"During a recent inspection at the nurses’ quarters at Mareeba Hospital a number of items relating to the safety of occupants were assessed, with a specific focus on safe egress in case of fire or emergency incidents," he said.
"Following (an) inspection, a number of issues were identified which require minor maintenance and upgrades."
The Weekend Post can reveal Queensland Health has been given until June 20 to make urgent repairs on the buildings described as fire hazards.
Mr Roche said the department was confident the problems would be fixed shortly.
A Queensland Health spokesman said the Tableland Health Service was working closely with QFRS to ensure all fire safety problems were addressed properly.
"An action plan has been developed to address the issues in the nurses’ quarters," he said.
"Some of the items, including problem locks, already have been rectified."
The spokesman said in the hospital, the routine fire inspection had identified some issues with the smoke doors not functioning properly.
"These smoke doors and their operating mechanisms were upgraded only two years ago at a cost of around $34,000," he said.
"The initial estimate of the cost of the work needed to rectify the problem with the doors is around $28,000.
"The Tablelands Health Service has been in contact with the company that did the upgrading work and is awaiting a response."
