HospitalInspections.org

Based on interviews conducted during the days of Tuesday 07-5-2022 and Wednesday 07-06-2022 with the special projects manager, the facility director and the hospital CEO, this facility has had portions of their fire alarm system out of service dating back to August 2020. On 12-21-2021 the entire fire alarm system was turned off and powered down. This information was confirmed when I interviewed City of Odessa Fire Marshal on Wednesday 07-06-2022.

Based on visual observation made of the fire alarm panel on the west campus building during the investigation on Tuesday 07-05-2022 and Wednesday 07-06-2022, it was observed and noted that the entire fire alarm system is out of service, powered downed and not functioning for a period of 30 weeks, dating back to 12-21-2021.

Based on interviews taken during the days of Tuesday 07-05-2022 and Wednesday 07-06-2022, it was observed and noted that initiation devices are not functioning. After a visual inspection of the fire alarm system, the initiation devices are not functioning because the fire alarm system is powered down and out of service.

Based on a visual observation of the fire alarm panel during the investigation on Tuesday 07-05-2022 and Wednesday 07-06-2022, it was observed and noted that all notification devices on the fire alarm system are not functioning. After a visual inspection of the fire alarm system, the notification devices are not functioning because the fire alarm panel in the west campus building is powered down and out of service.

Based on several interviews of the facility employees and the City of Odessa Fire Marshal during the days of Tuesday 07-05-2022 and Wednesday 07-06-2022, it was observed that at this time and for the past 30 weeks that the control functions of the fire alarm system are not operating properly. After a visual inspection of the fire alarm system, the control functions are not functioning because the fire alarm panel in the west campus building is powered down and out of service. To help mitigate this problem the City of Odessa has required the facility to complete 1-hour fire watches every 60 minutes every day in the west campus building.

Based on several interviews with the facility employees and interviews with the City of Odessa Fire Marshal during the days of Tuesday 07-05-2022 and Wednesday 07-06-2022 ,the fire alarm system has not been tested or inspected in the west campus building since August 2020. There are no blue inspection tags at the fire alarm panel, just one red tag dated 03-21-2022 and one red tag dated 03-22-2022. Based on interviews with the City of Odessa Fire Marshal on Wednesday 07-06-2022, the Fire Marshal's office has not been notified of the red tag deficiency at the fire alarm panel..

Based on review of the fire watch log documentation and interviews with the facility employees and the City of Odessa Fire Marshal, a 24- hour fire watch, as directed by the Fire Marshal, has not been properly conducted.