Commissioner's directive 345: Fire safety

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Assistant Commissioner, Corporate Services, in collaboration with the Director General, Technical Services and Facilities, will issue a Fire Safety Manual and ensure it is updated as necessary.


2. The Regional Deputy Commissioner will ensure fire safety procedures in operational units are supported, monitored and reported on in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual.


3. The Director, Engineering and Maintenance:
   1. is the designated senior official for fire safety within real property, pursuant to the Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Real Property
   2. is designated as the Departmental Fire Protection Coordinator (authority having jurisdiction) overseeing the fire safety program, pursuant to the Fire Safety Manual
   3. will designate national staff supporting the fire safety program, ensuring compliance with fire safety policies and reviewing construction project design drawings and specifications.

4. The Director, Capital Projects Implementation, will ensure fire safety officials are consulted during all project phases and fire safety features are incorporated in the design of any addition or modification to existing structures as well as in proposed new construction under their responsibility.


5. The Regional Administrator, Technical Services and Facilities, in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual, will:
   1. ensure fire safety officials are consulted during all phases of projects under their responsibility
   2. ensure fire safety features are incorporated in the design of any addition or modification to existing structures and in proposed new construction under their responsibility
   3. oversee regional delivery and support of facilities maintenance programs, including with regard to fire safety.

6. The Institutional Head/District Director will:
   1. ensure all components of the fire safety program applicable to the institution/district office are implemented in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual
   2. in collaboration with the Fire Safety Program Coordinator, ensure the development, implementation and maintenance of an effective fire safety program
   3. enforce all regulations and standards required by Part II of the Canada Labour Code.

7. The Assistant Warden, Management Services/Assistant District Director, Management Services:
   1. is designated as the Fire Safety Program Coordinator
   2. will ensure individuals designated as Fire Emergency Officers carry out the roles and responsibilities related to the fire safety program, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual.


8. The Assistant Warden, Operations/Area Director will ensure operational staff adhere to fire safety requirements, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual.

Procedures

9. Staff members will follow the procedures and practices related to the fire safety program in CSC facilities, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual.

Fire Safety Program

10. The Institutional Head/District Director will ensure the operational unit’s fire safety program contains, at a minimum, the following elements, in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual:
    1. fire safety planning
    2. fire safety training
    3. fire safety awareness
    4. fire hazard control
    5. inspections
    6. investigations and reporting of fires, fire alarms and false alarms
    7. maintenance of fire equipment and systems
    8. fire safety orientation for offenders.

Fire Safety Planning

11. The Fire Safety Program Coordinator will, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual, develop fire safety plans at all operational units to ensure effective responses in fire emergencies.

Fire Drills and Evacuations

12. The Assistant Warden, Operations/Area Director, in conjunction with the Fire Safety Program Coordinator, will conduct fire drills and mock evacuations at regular intervals, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual.

Fire Safety Training

13. The Fire Safety Program Coordinator will, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual, provide fire safety training at all operational units, for staff and offenders, to ensure their ability to respond effectively to a fire emergency.

Fire Hazard Control

14. The Institutional Head/District Director will ensure the procedures for maintaining fire hazard control, as outlined in the Fire Safety Manual, are adhered to by assigning responsibilities to line managers accordingly.


15. Correctional Managers, Community Correctional Centre Managers and Parole Officer Supervisors will regularly inspect:
    1. their functional area for fire hazards
    2. offender personal effects to ensure the authorized limits, as outlined in CD 566-12 – Personal Property of Offenders, are not exceeded in quantity or kind, in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Fire Safety Manual.

Fire Safety Inspections

16. In accordance with the procedures outlined in the Fire Safety Manual, buildings will be inspected at regular intervals as prescribed by:
    1. the National Fire Code of Canada
    2. regulations issued pursuant to Part II of the Canada Labour Code
    3. other applicable fire safety regulations.
       Such inspections will ensure fire hazards are corrected without delay and fire safety equipment and building features are in apparent good order.

Fire Loss Investigation and Reporting

17. Fires will be reported in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual, CD 041 – Incident Investigations and CD 568-1 – Recording and Reporting of Security Incidents.

Maintenance of Fire Equipment and Systems

18. The Regional Manager, Engineering and Maintenance, and the Chief, Facilities Management, in conjunction with the Fire Safety Program Coordinator, will ensure, in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual and pursuant to CD 320 – Facilities Maintenance Management:
    1. routine inspections, testing and periodic servicing of all fire protection and detection equipment and systems are scheduled and conducted as part of a preventive maintenance program
    2. malfunctions or deficiencies of fire protection or detection equipment and systems are reported and dealt with promptly, in accordance with the Fire Safety Manual.

Tampering, Malicious Damage and Negligence

19. Any person who tampers with, wilfully undermines, or negligently fails to maintain fire or life safety equipment, such as smoke detectors, fire alarm signaling devices, fire extinguishers, automatic sprinkler systems, and similar devices, may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to CD 060 – Code of Discipline and/or criminal proceedings pursuant to sections 219, 430, 433, 434, 435 and 436 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Annual Report

20. In accordance with the Fire Safety Manual, the Institutional Head/District Director will:
    1. make available on an annual basis:
       1. a summary of all fire occurrences investigations
       2. details of all simulations and fire drills held
       3. a summary of the results of fire safety inspections where further actions are outstanding
    2. submit the annual report to the Director, Engineering and Maintenance.


21. The Director, Engineering and Maintenance, in consultation with the National Health and Safety Policy Committee, will:
    1. review the annual report
    2. prepare national strategies to address concerns, as required.

ENQUIRIES

22. Strategic Policy Division
    National Headquarters
    Email: Gen-NHQPolicy-Politi@csc-scc.gc.ca

Commissioner,

Anne Kelly

Annex A - Cross-References and Definitions

Cross-References

• CD 041 – Incident Investigations
• CD 060 – Code of Discipline
• CD 228 – Information Management
• CD 254 – Occupational Safety and Health and Return to Work Programs
• CD 320 – Facilities Maintenance Management
• CD 564-6 – Business Continuity Program
• CD 566-12 – Personal Property of Offenders
• CD 568-1 – Recording and Reporting of Security Incidents
• CD 600 – Management of Emergencies in Operational Units
• CD 714 – Community Correctional Centre Standards

• Fire Safety Manual
• Canada Labour Code, Part II – Occupational Health and Safety
• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
• Criminal Code of Canada
• National Building Code of Canada
• National Fire Code of Canada
• Treasury Board Directive on Building Emergency and Evacuation Teams
• Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Real Property

Definitions

Fire hazard: any actions, materials, or conditions that might cause a fire to start, or increase the size or severity of a fire.

Life safety equipment: any building element designed to protect and evacuate the building population in emergencies.

Operational unit: a facility under the care, control and custody of CSC, or an entity contracted to act on its behalf, and includes correctional institutions, CORCAN operations, Community Correctional Centres, Healing Lodges, and parole offices.