As a business owner, it is your legal responsibility to ensure that your premises are as safe as they can possibly be. You may not deem this to be an issue you now, but you will once an employee hurts themselves and you are facing a huge amount of fines and your reputation is in tatters. A few basic procedures and risk assessments implemented now can make a monumental difference in the future. One of these procedures is undoubtedly fire warden training. There are lots of fire training companies who offer this service. Read on to discover why you need to take advantage of their offering.
By Team Savant
Image: Piotr Chrobot
The first reason why you need to book fire warden training is that it is now actually considered to be a legal requirement. That’s right; if you fail to do so then you will be seen as breaking the law. In fact, it has been a regulation for many years now — since 2005 to be precise. The Fire Safety Order was released a few years ago. If you navigate to section 21-1 then you will be able to see this with your own eyes. It states that the responsible person must give their employees adequate fire safety training. Considering you are the owner of the business you are unquestionably deemed to be the responsible person.
Of course, you also need fire warden training so that you know what to do should a fire breakout, this is especially the case when the fire has been sudden. There is no time to think. You and your employees must know what to do straight away. Yet you will only know this if you have been given the proper training. You will be able to act with a cool head and get everybody outside safely. Nevertheless, without training, you will all be scrambling and panicking and this only heightens the issue.
You should also remember the fact that every business is different. Your potential for fire breakout and your plans for acting safely and effectively will be entirely different from the company down the road. If you seek professionals offering a high level of fire training then they will come to your premises, carry out a fire risk assessment and set up a plan which is completely bespoke to you and your business. This is the only way to ensure that optimum levels of safety are in place.
And finally, your employees will feel a lot more comfortable and at ease once they have taken the necessary training. They will appreciate the effort you have gone to in order to protect their safety. This will create a happy and more comfortable working environment as a result, something that is also positive for productivity levels too.
Fire Marshals — A Closer Look At Their Duties And Responsibilities
Every business should have fire marshals in place. These tend to be employees who have simply been given increased responsibility. If you have been chosen then your employer obviously believes that you have a responsible head on your shoulders, the ability to be a leader, and that you can stay calm if an emergency arises. You should see this as a great compliment. This article will reveal more about your duties and your responsibilities so you know what you expect when you undergo your fire marshal training. So, what will your new responsibility encompass?
Risk Assessment
You will be required to carry out regular risk assessments. This will involve you going around the business premises and making note of any potential risks or hazards. Hopefully, you will have none to report, but if you do then you will need to fill out a form and report it to your employer. They will then need to take it upon themselves to do something about it – this is not your responsibility. Nonetheless, if you have noted a risk then it is recommended that you tell your employees about it so that they can be mindful whilst working until the issue is sorted.
Guide Fellow Employees To Designated Exits
You should have thorough knowledge regarding where all the safety exits are should a fire occur. It will then be your duty to ensure that all of your fellow employees are escorted out of the exits in an orderly fashion. If a fire outbreaks, it can be quite easy for people to panic and start rushing for the nearest door. It is important that you keep the situation in control. Make sure you calm the situation, tell the employees what escort they can use, and ensure they leave in a collected and organised manner. If everyone is rushing around and pushing each other, this can easily make the situation worse.
Make Sure Everyone Waits In A Safe Place
Once everyone has safely left the building you need to ensure you stay in a safe place until the fire brigade come. Make sure you do a headcount in order to guarantee that everyone has left the building. Don’t allow anyone to walk away or go for a wander. It is important that everyone sticks together.
The three points mentioned are your main duties. A lot of people think that they are responsible for putting the fire out if they become a fire marshal. Nevertheless, this is not the case. If you have been next to an extinguisher and you know how to put the fire out effectively, then go ahead and do so of course. But don’t put yourself in danger; your job is to make sure everyone is safely escorted. It is not your job to suddenly turn firefighter in the space of a mere five minutes. After all, people have to train for years and years in order to be given this title.