Summary
Following a reported death, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) commissioned the Health and Safety Executive to undertake fire hazard testing with white soft paraffin on a variety of bandages, dressings and clothing. The results showed the ability to reproduce the fire hazard in a controlled environment. This risk was not previously well recognised.
Content
This document is accompanied by:
- general advice and advice for hospital inpatients
- supporting information for healthcare staff including background and findings
- posters in English and Welsh
- Health and Safety Laboratory report FS/06/12 ‘Fire hazards associated with contamination of dressings and clothing by paraffin based ointments’
- examples of products containing paraffin
- warning / hazard stickers for products
- a patient safety video
- leaflets in English and Welsh.
Although the deadline for actions has passed, this guidance remains best practice. It should be followed to prevent future patient safety incidents.
National Patient Safety Agency: Fire hazard with paraffin-based skin products (Nov 2007)
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20171030131014/http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/type/alerts/?entryid45=59876&p=3
0
reactions so far
0 Comments
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now