What is fire warden training and why is it important?

What is a fire warden and what do they do?

As a business owner or building manager, it is vital to have appropriate fire safety precautions and procedures put in place at all times. An important part of fire safety is having trained fire wardens (also known as fire marshals) on the premises. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have taken the proper precautions to keep your employees and visitors safe from harm.

 

Fire wardens are the key to your business’s fire safety policy and plans. Some important fire safety duties that fire wardens may be responsible for include:

  • Carrying out fire drills and reviewing the results

  • Assisting with and maintaining a fire evacuation plan

  • Assisting with the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)

  • Giving fire safety

  • Regularly inspecting fire safety equipment to ensure it is in full working order

  • Reporting any faults or unsafe practices to the business owner/management

  • Evacuating the building and performing evacuation procedures in the event of a fire.

Is having a fire warden a legal requirement?

Yes! Not only is having trained fire wardens on the premises a sensible idea, it is also required by law. Different parts of the UK require different safety legislation, so you should consult the fire safety legislation relevant to where in the UK your business is located, however all fire regulations in the UK are similar when it comes to appointing fire wardens for your business.

How many fire wardens should my property have?

To put it simply, different businesses are required to have different numbers of fire wardens. There are a couple factors that are taken into account when deciding the number of fire wardens your business needs.

Some of these factors include:

  • The size of your property

  • Your businesses’ risk level

  • The type of workplace

  • Your property’s layout

  • The number of employees you have

  • The number of floors your property has

If you are unsure as to how many trained fire wardens your property legally needs, do not hesitate to contact us so we can discuss your circumstances with you. It’s also important to ensure you have sufficient personnel trained as fire wardens to be able to cover any absences such as holidays or sick leave.

What are common fire hazards in the workplace?

There are a variety of fire hazards in workplaces, but these depend on the type of workplace. Most workplaces have a couple fire hazards in common, which include sources of ignition such as:

  • Heaters

  • Lighting

  • Naked flames

  • Electrical equipment and overloaded plug sockets

  • Smokers’ materials (cigarettes, matches etc)

  • Anything else that can get very hot or cause sparks

  • Sources of fuel include wood, paper, plastic, rubber or foam, loose packaging materials, waste rubbish and furniture

what does fire warden training consist of?

Now that you understand the importance of having trained fire wardens on your business premises, you might be wondering how fire warden training works. You will need to hire a professional fire safety company, such as Prestige Fire Safety, to conduct your fire warden training. At Prestige, we provide fully comprehensive fire warden training across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. We ensure that your fire wardens are equipped with the relevant knowledge and confidence to perform their responsibilities at all times and at a moment’s notice.

Our thorough fire warden training is split into two sections, a theory section and a practical section.

In the theory section, we cover:

  • The characteristics of fire, smoke, and toxic fumes and how they spread

  • The roles and responsibilities of fire wardens

  • Common fire hazards in the workspace

  • Fire prevention and how to stop fires

  • How to raise the alarm and call the Fire Service

  • Current laws and legislation in the UK

  • Real life cases studies and film footage of fires

 

In the practical section, we cover:

  • How to use each fire extinguisher

  • How to contain and delay the spread of fire

Do you need fire warden training?

If you need fire warden training for your business, do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss your requirements. We have a team of friendly, qualified instructors at hand to help you out.