Fire safety is a crucial set of precautions and practices designed to prevent the outbreak of fires, minimise their destructive potential, and ensure the safety of individuals and property. It also helps early detection, and effective response strategy in the event of a fire emergency. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional analytical design, with 384 participants selected using a proportional quota sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of fire safety. This questionnaire covered various aspects of fire safety, including fire prevention strategies, early detection methods, and effective response strategies. The primary objective was represented by frequency and percentage, while the secondary objective was analysed using a chi-square test. This rigorous methodology ensures the reliability and validity of the study's findings. The results showed that most participants (77.1%) had good to very good knowledge, with 48.2 percent having good knowledge and 28.9 percent having average knowledge. Only 13.3 percent needed improvement. The study also found a statistically significant association between the level of understanding of fire safety and certain demographic variables. The fire safety interventions implemented at JIPMER, including periodic fire drills and comprehensive training, have been proved highly effective. Additionally, the annual fire safety training for healthcare workers, which covers fire safety regulations, evacuation procedures, and fire extinguishers, has contributed to the high level of knowledge among most healthcare workers at JIPMER, Puducherry.
Keywords: Fire safety, Health care workers, Knowledge of fire safety