Ottawa, 12 May 2009 – Federal departments do not comply with key requirements of the Treasury Board Standard for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Emergency Organization, says the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, in her Report tabled today in the House of Commons. Over 230,000 public servants work in more than 1,400 buildings administered by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) in all regions of the country.
“Many of the federal departments we audited did not clearly understand their roles and responsibilities for fire safety planning,” said Ms. Fraser.
The audit found that in 18 of 54 buildings covered by the audit, departments could not demonstrate that they have held fire drills as they are required to do every year. However, many of the departments took corrective action during the audit when informed of the serious nature of the deficiencies identified.
The federal government’s technical authority on fire safety—Human Resources and Skills Development Canada—does not properly administer and enforce the government’s standard for fire safety planning.
The Report also notes that PWGSC has clear policies and guidance for managing the condition and operation of the office buildings it administers. However, it could not demonstrate that it consistently corrects high-priority deficiencies in these buildings in order to reduce risks to the health and safety of building occupants.
“The federal government has an obligation to protect the health and safety of its employees,” said Ms. Fraser. “It has appropriate policies in place, and it should ensure that departments follow them.”
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The chapter “Health and Safety in Federal Office Buildings” is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
For more information, please click here.
