When will we learn?

I watched in disbelief the television news of a fire in Russia where 64 people were killed. It is reported that some doors were locked or barred.

Over the past few years, I have been researching fires in New York (The Green Triangle Shirt Factory, 1911), Chicago (the Iroquois Theater, 1903) and Singapore (Robinson Department Store, 1972) where similar circumstances led to legislation making it illegal to have fire doors locked, and not to have sufficient and adequate fire escapes, outward opening doors to all public buildings, and safety regulations around lifts.

Surely in the 21st century these should be world-wide regulations not to mention mandatory laws around sprinkler systems in public buildings such as the one involved here which looks from the photographs reasonably modern.

Even where we have regulations I often see fire escapes chocked open or stock or rubbish piled up in fire stairs or blocking fire doors.

Unlike the US cases where no one was convicted of an offence despite clear evidence they should have been, I hope there is an open and thorough investigation following this loss and if fire regulations have been breached that severe penalties are applied.

Meanwhile, it is a stark reminder that fire safety, and risk management in general, are an important issue for any employer and or organisation that invites the public onto their property.

Working cover of upcoming book on 6 crises that hit Chicago.

The research I carried out on the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago in particular I found extremely interesting and heart wrenching at the same time. Over 600 people perished in an over crowded theatre which had unfinished fire escapes, locked doors and inward opening doors. It is one of 6 events in Chicago that I have been researching with my daughter Susan. In the upcoming book, Lessons Learned from the Great City of Chicago, we look at the lessons learned from a risk management perspective, the part insurance played and some tough psychological questions that flow from such tragic events. If we can stop one such tragedy reoccurring it will be worth all the effort we put into the research.