Abstract For the DHSS, who are involved in providing a life-saving and cost-effective health care service, fires in hospitals, which can destroy this service, are a cause of great concern. Improving fire safety in the NHS is dependent on achieving the right balance for each Health Authority, between function, safety and cost, and it is here that the real problem lies. The DHSS are devoting their efforts at improving fire safety to issuing. guidance and recommended standards, based oh rigorous research and covering a wide range of related factors. These are in three areas: (1) The structure of the building, whether a new project or existing stock. (2) The furnishing, fittings and fire detection and control equipment. (3) The people who live and work in the hospital, the working practices, routines and policies. This paper reviews these efforts and concludes that in ergonomics terms, in the NHS as we know it, it is not possible to produce a totally safe working environment. However, the nearest possible alt...