Fire safety training

It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that their staff are adequately trained on what to do in the event of fire. Training should be given upon induction and preferably a second time within the first month of employment. Refresher training should be given at least once a year.

Training should be undertaken by a competent person and a record kept in some form of logbook 539Kb It can be carried out in house, or by a reputable company. Fire instruction should be given to staff in respect of the following:-

•Discovering a fire
•Hearing the fire alarm
•Assembly points
•Calling the Fire and Rescue Service
•Use of fire extinguishers

Discovering a fire
Personnel should be made aware of the method of raising the alarm in a premises, this should include the position of manual fire alarm call points and their method of operation.

Hearing the fire alarm
Personnel should be made aware of the evacuation procedures in their workplace. They should be shown escape routes and final exits, they should also be made aware of fire doors and their purpose in protecting escape routes.

Assembly points
Personnel should be shown their ‘Fire Assembly Point’ and made aware of the need to ensure they have been accounted for.

Calling the Fire and Rescue Service
Personnel should be made aware of the method of calling the fire and rescue service and the location of telephones.

Use of fire extinguishers
Personnel should be trained in the safe use of fire extinguishers. It is not acceptable to say ’employees are not expected to use an extinguisher and therefore they don’t need to know’.