An interview given by the director of the Civil Protection Department to The Malta Independent on Sunday has opened up issues that need to be addressed.
Emanuel Psaila says he is not worried about high-rise buildings per se; what concerns him is high-rise buildings without the proper safety features.
"Unfortunately, in Malta we have a tendency to disregard fire prevention and safety if we need to spend some money," he said. "If only people understood the amount (safety precautions) can actually save you, beyond saving your life and your future. The lack of evacuation points, assembly points, sprinkler systems and emergency doors is what worries me."
These words cannot be disregarded. With so many high-rise buildings sprouting all over Malta as the construction industry booms while the population continues to grow, it is important that developers, engineers, architects and all those involved in the planning stages of high-rise projects give great attention to security matters.
It would be wrong if safety issues are not given the utmost importance just to save some money. People's lives are at stake here and the Planning Authority should make sure that, before it gives the green light to any high-rise project, it is convinced that the necessary safety precautions are in place.
Unlike the CPD director, however, we do have our concerns about high-rise buildings per se, simply because we are not too convinced that the so-called first responders are well-equipped to deal with emergency situations that develop and whether they are sufficiently trained for this purpose. And it's certainly not their fault if this is so. We all know the dedication of these people who are the first to risk their lives to save that of others. For this, they should be commended and praised.
They need all the support they can get, but judging from what Psaila said in the interview, this is not always forthcoming.
First of all, human resources seem to be lacking, as Psaila himself admitted that Malta needs to have 400 people employed with his department, when at present we only have less than half of that – just 155. A recruitment drive is in the pipeline, and we do hope that the government sees to this matter with urgency.
Secondly, we raise questions on whether the department has enough tools to tackle emergencies in high-rise buildings. Psaila speaks of the need to have fire engines equipped with 70-metre ladders. These trucks should be brought over sooner rather than later, largely because as we all know we already have buildings higher than that.
Thirdly – and this links the first two items – the first-responders must be given serious training in their handling of emergency situations in high-rise buildings. It is easy to understand that a fire in a 20th floor apartment poses more difficult logistics to CPD officers than a fire on the second floor.
In a nutshell, apart from enforcing on high-rise developers the need to have safety measures in place irrespective of the cost, the CPD should be given the tools and trained to use them just in case emergency situations develop. Simulation exercises should be carried out to establish procedures that need to be followed should it become necessary, and mistakes should be pointed out and addressed.
It is only by doing this that the public is assured that no stone is being left unturned to see that safety is being given the attention it deserves.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2InJ5mK
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