The Minnesota State Fire Marshal (SFM) Healthcare Inspections team has posted several forms that nursing facilities can use to document required inspection of certain life safety features in your buildings. During our Institute last week, SFM inspector Roy Kingsley presented a session on commonly-cited life safety code deficiencies. As part of that, he emphasized the importance of thorough documentation.

These forms and resources address such topics as:

• Above ceiling inspections
• Fire alarm annual inspection
• Fire door assembly inspection
• Fire drill report
• Fire extinguisher maintenance report
• Receptacle testing
• Sprinkler system inspection

The SFM site also includes a link to a Fire/Life Safety Code documentation guide posted by the Minnesota Department of Health, Engineering Services Division, which addresses additional topics, including smoking, kitchen hoods, portable fire extinguishers, and others.

As the Minnesota Department of Health has resumed re-certification surveys for care centers, this would be a good time to review documentation of your life safety inspection efforts. Mr. Kingley's presentation will be available on-demand next month for those who attended Institute but could not participate in his session.