Locked door and fire safety

[thinkningaboutit]

I was at the dentist yesterday and require a follow up. I waited a few minutes at reception as the desk was unmanned. When someone appeared he asked me to pay in advance as due to covid there isn’t always a receptionist; no problem, I paid and was given an appointment.

On leaving, the receptionist went to open the door but it was locked and they couldn’t find the key. I spotted it a minute or two later on the ground; the receptionist explained the nurse must have locked it behind her and posted it through.

I said from a fire safety point of view that was a bit worrying and had they carried out a risk assessment. He said yes there were always staff about. I asked if he could email the risk assessment to me which he was defensive about and it was a bit awkward, he then said he would look into it.

AIBU? Both issues can’t be true that due to covid they need to take payment in advance as there isn’t always someone on reception yet there is always someone about so it’s ok to lock the door.

For myself it’s too risky and I’ll likely change practice if they continue to lock the doors but just wonder if others feel the same?

I imagine there would be a practical solution. Departing receptionist puts key in envelope marked 'FRONT DOOR EXIT KEY' and posts it behind her. Each arrival is told of the system. Notice taped to door reminds everyone, with big arrow pointing to where the envelope will have landed.

or a 'break glass' thing with the key inside. Or panic bars. Or dozens of other common bloody sense systems.

You seriously asked the dentist to email you a copy of their risk assessment??

You are not being unreasonable. Their system is stupid and risky, not to mention inconvenient to clients. Hopefully you asking for the risk assessment will prompt them to have a rethink of their procedures.

You can't have a fire exit locked, even if there is a key on the floor. In a fire, the building fills with smoke and people panic. The door should be openable from the inside without needing a key.

was that the only door in the building?

was there a fire exit?

They aren't required to send any risk assessments over as they're their internal documents, however, I would also have an issue with the locked door if it was a fire door. If there are other doors nearby it's probably ok, depending on distance and the number of people in the building.

We had a similar issue in my old workplace and our insurers weren't comfortable with anyone locking a fire door, and the issue was easily fixed by sticking a push bar on the door. Maybe send some feedback to the practice of you are concerned?

You want them to email you their fire safety policy risk assessment?
Away!

No others doors

I suspect they just hadn't given it much thought but hopefully will now and put in place a push bar or a suitable alternative.

The potential smoke and panic was in my mind when trying to locate the key.

how do you know 'no other doors' have you walked the entire building?

Paying in advance for dental treatments is pretty standard and a non issue.
They will be using a locked door policy in the clinic, this is to prevent people wandering in and to maintain social distancing.
Many surgeries still have the locked door policy in place.
The other exit may well have been via a kitchen, another surgery or any other exit that unless you have seen a floor plan you are unaware of.
Fire risk assessments are undertaken annually by law in dental surgeries, give them a break eh?

If there was another exit the OP should have been aware by way of signage.

I’ve been many times and am not aware of any other doors so patients would be unlikely to be able to find one in the event of a fire.

Definitely don’t need to see the risk assessment so happy to be unreasonable on that point. I only asked to see it in response to me suspecting it didn’t exist.

@thinkningaboutit

I’ve been many times and am not aware of any other doors so patients would be unlikely to be able to find one in the event of a fire.

Definitely don’t need to see the risk assessment so happy to be unreasonable on that point. I only asked to see it in response to me suspecting it didn’t exist.

It is a legal requirement to have a fire risk assessment, and trained fire marshals on site, and to perform a bi annual fire drill evacuation exercise. It's not common practice to instruct every patient on this. Call and chat with the practice manager for reassurance, in my opinion this is a huge overreaction on your part, dental practices are highly regulated, it's a requirement of CQC to have this in place, and evidence to show protocols followed.