Fire Safety Training

Information and instructions for employees:

It is important that employees know how to prevent fires and what they should do if a fire occurs. They should all be given information about the fire precautions in the work place and what to do in event of a fire. Employees working in the premises outside normal working hours also need to be included, such as cleaners or shift workers.

Ensure that training and written information is given in such a way that employees can understand, and take account of those with disabilities such as hearing or sight impairment, those with learning difficulties and those who do not use English as their first language.

On their first day, all employees should be given information about:

• the location and use of the escape routes from where they are working; and
• the location, operation and meaning of the fire warning system where they are working.

Fire Action Notices complement this information and should be prominently posted in key locations throughout the workplace. However, they are not a substitute for formal training.

Note: The Fire Action Notice may also incorporate a simple plan indicating the route to a safe place. Where appropriate, the notice should include a translation into other languages.

Training employees:

The type of training should be based on the particular features of the workplace and:

• should explain the emergency procedures
• take account of the work activity, the duties and responsibilities of employees;
• take account of the findings of the risk assessment; and
• be easily understandable by all employees.

All employees (and contractors) should be told about the evacuation arrangements and be shown the means of escape as soon as possible after attending the premises.

Training should be repeated as necessary (usually once or twice a year) so that all employees remain familiar with the fire precautions in the workplace and are reminded about what to do in an emergency-including those who work in the premises outside normal hours, such as cleaners or shift-workers. It is very important that all employees are told about any changes to the emergency procedures before they are implemented.

Training should preferably include practical exercises, e.g. fire drills, to check people's understanding of the emergency plan and make them familiar with its operation. In small workplaces, this might consist of making sure that employees are aware of details of the Fire Action Notice.

Fire Awareness Training should include the following:

• the action to take on discovering a fire;
• how to raise the alarm and what happens then;
• the action to take upon hearing the fire alarm;
• the procedures for alerting members of the public and visitors including, where appropriate, directing them to exits;
• the arrangements for calling the fire brigade;
• the evacuation procedures for everyone in the workplace to reach an assembly point at a safe place;
• the location and, where appropriate, the use of fire-fighting equipment;
• the location of the escape routes, especially those not in regular use;
• how to open all escape doors, including the use of any emergency fastenings (employer's responsibility);
• the importance of keeping fire doors closed to prevent the spread of fire, heat and smoke;
• where appropriate, how to stop machines and processes and isolate power supplies in the event of fire (employer's responsibility);
• the reason for not using lifts (except those specifically installed or adapted for evacuation of disabled people); and
• the importance of general fire safety and good housekeeping.

In addition to the training in general fire precautions, employees should be informed of the risks from flammable materials used or stored on the premises. They should also be trained in the precautions in place to control the risks, particularly their role in reducing and controlling sources of ignition and fuel for the fire. Those working in high-risk areas should receive specific training in safe operating procedures and emergency responses. Where appropriate, training should cover:

• standards and work practices for safe operation of plant and equipment and safe handling of flammable materials (especially flammable liquids);
• housekeeping in process areas;
• reporting of faults and incidents, including leaks and spills of flammable liquids;
• emergency procedures for plant or processes in the event of fire, spills or leaks; and
• Relevant legal requirements.

Specialist Roles

All the employees identified in the emergency plan who have a supervisory role in the event of fire (e.g. heads of department, fire Wardens or wardens and, in some large workplaces fire-fighting teams) should be given details of the fire risk assessment and receive additional training.