SECURITY & LIFE SAFETY
TAKING FLIGHT
Requirements for the safe operations of hospital helipads By Jon Acorn & Jeff Young
H
ospital-based heliport operations pose a unique and sometimes overlooked healthcare safety and security risk. Helicopter crashes are rare but do occur and most often at the point of take off/landing. In the past year, there have been two serious helicopter crashes on hospital rooftop heliports. One case involved the medical transport of an organ; the other, a paediatric patient. Fortunately, in both cases, no significant injuries were incurred and the organ was later successfully transplanted. There have been year-over-year increases in the number of hospital heliport landings across the country. Urban traffic impacting the patient to hospital transfer timeframe and the centralization of specialized services, such as cardiac and trauma, are primary contributors. Obviously, the time to critical care is a significant factor in a posi-
32 CANADIAN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
tive patient outcome, which underscores the importance of ensuring hospital heliports remain operational and safe. Transport Canada has oversight of heliports, including those hospital-based. Heliports must abide by legislated aviation regulations, specifically Transport Canada standards 305 and 325. Hospitals should be acquainted with all regulations and standards, and ensure compliance as Transport Canada performs official program validation inspections supported by ad hoc unannounced inspection visits. Hospitals are required to appoint responsibility and accountability for the organization’s heliport management program (HMP). In most instances, this role is delegated to the facilities team or, in some larger organizations, ‘protection services.’ Regardless of who is responsible, a compliant HMP will ensure standardization of safety procedures to
meet Transport Canada’s requirements and keep heliports open and operational. Many standards and regulations pertaining to safety focus on the physical heliport environment. Common safety risks include general heliport surface conditions (ice/snow); debris; inadequate lighting; absence of a functional windsock; lack of communications between the helicopter and site; and non-operative fire suppression systems. The HMP must identify all potential risks. For each one, mitigation strategies must be put in place, which, in many instances, require a facilities-related response. The HMP should include a daily documented physical inspection. An additional inspection should be carried out upon notice of an incoming landing to ensure the heliport is safe for operations. The HMP should also clearly detail the heliport’s operational procedures and asso-
