No matter the industry or location, being aware of how to act in the event of a fire is vital for all employees. Whilst Fire Wardens and the Responsible Person have particular obligations when a fire alarm sounds or a fire is discovered, the remaining employees must be sure what to do in an emergency.

The risk of fire can be heightened in locations of significance, such as a listed building being used as a city town hall or government building. Staff may be involved in ensuring the safe evacuation of members of the public and activating certain measures to prevent the spread of fire, for example in a location that houses sensitive government data.

WHAT IS FIRE SAFETY TRAINING?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, employers must provide staff with suitable and sufficient instruction on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken in the event of a fire.

Fire safety training courses from Churches Fire & Security aim to equip learners with the clear understanding of how they can help to prevent a fire (through vigilance in their working day) as well as how to act if a fire occurs.

They are designed to be informative and to encourage discussion within the group about fire safety. If a fire were to start in the work place, the priority would be to evacuate everyone on site as quickly and safely as possible. By providing comprehensive training, you are working to ensure people will act correctly without the need for panic or confusion.

WHY DO I NEED FIRE SAFETY TRAINING?

This essential training must take place when staff are first employed. It should be followed up when staff responsibilities are changed, if they are reassigned to a different location (where the layout and evacuation plan may well be different), and when changes in the building could affect the fire safety risks.

Being prepared for an emergency in a location of importance can help to lessen the fire damage. It could be that a council building is classed as a ‘heritage’ building and extra attention would be required. This might involve changing the fabric of the structure, and businesses may consider salvage plans as part of their overall staff training.

It’s worth considering the location and surroundings of a business, asking:

• Are the risks heightened due to the type of activity taking place on-site?
• Is the building listed and more likely to require additional levels of protection?
• Are the electrics tested regularly for safety?
• Is there a significant threat from arson, or is the building a possible target for protestors?
• A team of Fire Wardens could be necessary to ensure all areas are adequately covered in the event of an emergency, and to make sure sufficient levels of staff are available on site at all times.

As with any training, it’s important to provide continual updates to staff so actions required of them are not forgotten.

EXPERT FIRE SAFETY TRAINING

Fire safety training is not only fundamentally important to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the building itself, it also ensures compliance to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Churches Fire & Security are experienced providers of fire safety training. Our trainers have in-depth knowledge and the necessary level of teaching qualifications to deliver quality training which has been accredited by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM).