- Fire Warden Training Competence of the fire warden
- Fire Warden Roles The fire warden should take responsibility for local fire safety
- Fire Marshal Training The role of the fire marshal is to take control of the situation during an emergency evacuation
- Practical Use of Fire Extinguishers Should fire wardens and fire marshals be trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers?
Fire Warden Training Courses
Conducted by an MCFP experienced trainer and usually held at the client’s premises. The format is as follows:
1. Fire Training Course – Introduction
Outline the aims and objectives of the course; i.e. firefighting familiarisation.
2. Fire Training Course – Understanding Fire principles
The Fire current Fire Laws, understanding of the fire triangle, housekeeping in the workplace, ignition and spread of fire. Use of DVD to highlight the importance of fire induction and general fire safety.
3. Fire Training Course – Fire Risk Assessment
Explanation of what a Fire Risk Assessment is and how to carry one out in the workplace. Group discussion about company premises.
4. Fire Training Course – Portable Fire Extinguisher Theory
Classroom tutorial- The workings and selection of appropriate fire extinguishers. Different categories of fire and suitable types of fire extinguisher to use. Supported by DVD films and Powerpoint presentation.
5. Fire Training Course Portable Fire Extinguisher, Practical Demonstration
Practical use of portable fire extinguishers; outside in the car park or similar area. MCFP supply the fire extinguishers for discharging and use a real fire simulator for improved learning. It is our hope that all delegates use the extinguishers to get a real feel for how they work and how to use them.
6. Legislation and personal responsibilities
7. Role of the Fire Warden – Supported with DVD film
8. Summary
9. Questions
A Training Certificate is issued to each delegate on completion of the course. This Course lasts for approximately two and a half hours.
Fire Training Warden Roles
The roles the fire warden is likely to be required to undertake include:
Regular checks of the area to ensure that fire safety is not compromised like blocked exits, broken or wedged doors and missing equipment.
Checks to ensure that fire safety equipment in the area has been tested as required and is present and not obscured or otherwise compromised
Ensuring that people in the area are aware of the fire and evacuation procedures, in particular the means of raising the alarm
Undertaking the inductions of new persons
Ensuring that the area is clear in the event of an evacuation, eg. by sweeping it
Checking the adequacy of means of evacuation if a disabled person is in the area
Feeding back to the responsible person any defects in the fire safety procedures in the area
Fire Marshal Training
The fire marshal should be familiar with the emergency procedures and the roles of all the people. Most organisations have a business continuity plan, which is often the source of the emergency response procedures, and this information must be made known to and understood by the fire marshal. The key role and responsibilities of the fire marshal include:
Summoning the emergency services
Ensuring that the emergency vehicles are met and suitably directed on arrival
Accounting for everyone being out of the building (or not)
Taking control of movement or restriction of movement of people and vehicles to ensure safety
The procedures detailed to reduce the spread or effect of the cause of the emergency
Ensuring the co-ordination of the business continuity plan (if there is one)
Suitable liaison with the emergency services as required under article 13(3)(c) of the RRFSO.
Practical Use of Fire Extinguishers Course
Under Article 13(3) of the RRFSO, measures for firefighting must be in place, and competent persons should be trained to implement them. However, little detail is supplied regarding the use of the portable fire extinguishers and, as yet, there is no specific guidance for this. Therefore, current practice is to ensure that there is someone that can assess the danger and decide whether to use the extinguisher or not and if so, how to use the correct one properly. If all staff are instructed in the use of fire extinguishers, it may encourage ill-advised utilisation in an inappropriate situation, which could result in litigation or prosecution of the employer. On the other hand, not training anyone may be seen as a breach of article 13.
Therefore, it would be reasonable to provide practical training in the use of fire extinguishers only to those that can be relied upon to make a proper assessment, such as fire wardens, but particularly highlighting the limitations and the need to ensure the persons own safety first.
This is a shorter course tailored to meet your needs and involves general Fire Principles on Fire Prevention and Actions to be taken in event of fire. Portable Fire Extinguisher – Practical Demonstration of portable fire extinguishers; outside in the car park or similar area. MCFP supply the fire extinguishers for discharging and use a real fire simulator for improved learning. It is our hope that all delegates use the extinguishers to get a real feel for how they work and how to use them.
