Fire extinguisher - DHSS properties

Summary

A request for information regarding fire extinguishers on DHSS properties was partially refused because the Department of Infrastructure does not hold specific data for individual departments and lacks the ability to confirm inspections across the entire government portfolio.

Key Facts

• Requests for specific departmental properties must be directed to those departments separately.
• The Department of Health & Social Care employs its own Fire Officer.
• The Isle of Man has no specific legislation for fire extinguisher inspections, relying instead on the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
• The Department of Infrastructure cannot confirm that all extinguishers have been inspected due to the size of the property portfolio and lack of day-to-day management.
• The department is currently reviewing service contracts to ensure they cover all locations.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-06-16
• 2017-07-11
• 1974
• 2003
• 3
• 1

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3) practical refusal reason (a) - Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Any request for information, specific to properties occupied by individual Departments would need to be directed to those Departments separately. For information, the Department of Health & Social Care has its own Fire Officer.

1. The Isle of Man does not have legislation specifically relating to fire extinguisher inspections or fire risk assessments. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 2003, Regulation 17 Schedule requires employers to have suitable and sufficient arrangements in place to protect employees and people who enter our buildings and states that equipment should be “maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”

In relation to fire extinguishers we work to ensure we have comprehensive arrangements in place to carry out servicing in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions and British Standards but also expect occupiers to carry out the visual inspections that are also important. We are in the process of reviewing these contracts to ensure they are robust and cover all locations. Given the size of the government property portfolio and the fact that we do not manage the day to day running of the buildings we will never be in a position to confirm that all extinguishers have been inspected.

Under sections 11(3) practical refusal reason (a) of the Act, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find any specific information to answer your question.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your Freedom of Information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically to foi.doi@gov.im or by delivery/post to Mr Ian Harris, Department of Infrastructure, Sea Terminal Buildings, Douglas, IM1 2RF. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/

Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on;

1 Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; or

2 Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.

In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your rights to review is on the Information Commissioner’s website at: www.inforights.im/

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information about Freedom of Information requests can be found at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/