How Fire Wardens Use Their Fire Safety Training
Nominating yourself for the role of Fire Safety Warden at your new job may have seemed like an easy way to score brownie points with your new employer, but it’s important to realise the responsibility you need to take on in your new role. Of course all companies will be slightly different and numbers of employees will vary dramatically but effectively, you are responsible for the lives of your colleagues and will be the first point of call before the fire brigade arrive. Upon nomination, you will need to be put through some fire safety training by your company and so it’s essential you realise what is involved and what will be expected of you during your training programme.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order of 2005 was a statutory instrument, placing the onus on individuals to carry out risk assessments on certain types of property and submit them to their local fire authority. Under this order, fire safety training was made a legal requirement for staff members meaning fire marshals must learn certain skills in order to perform their role effectively. The focus will be on a wide range of procedures such as the chemistry of fire and how fires spreads, common causes of fire, safety features within buildings and what your action should be on discovering a fire. Fire Safety training will take you through the moment you need to call the fire service, how to spot and reduce hazards, evacuation procedures, liaising with the fire service, daily and weekly fire checks, record keeping and perhaps if appropriate to your particular company, you may look at dealing with bomb threats. All people learning to be a fire warden will most definitely learn the theory and practise behind using a fire extinguisher.
The purpose of this training will be to allow employees to fully assume the duties of Fire Marshals or Fire Wardens at their place of work and allow them to feel confident should their duties be required in an emergency.
While it sounds like a lot to learn, many fire safety training courses are able to cover all these key pointers within half a day, so you can easily squeeze it in to a normal working day. Upon completion, those who take part in the fire safety training will receive an IFE approved certificate of attendance (Institute of Fire Engineers). The IFE is at the heart of the fire community, and a recognised qualification from the institute will ensure you are well prepared in the heat of the moment.
Having the skills that will help you deal with a fire is also incredibly useful out of the workplace. Like learning how to do first aid, having the option to do fire safety training is incredibly rewarding. It’s strongly advisable to listen and learn and take on board all the fire services teach you. It could help to save a life.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the health & safety industry.
Find out more about Fire Safety Training and how important this training is for fire wardens at work.