Fire Safety Training in The Workplace - By: Max Bartlett

Fire awareness at work training is for all staff: it’s the law and it makes sense. It’s not important to teach every worker to use a fire extinguisher and it’s certainly not a requirement that anyone finding a fire should try to put it out. What is important is that everyone knows how to act safely and responsibly in the event of a fire - everybody should know how to raise the alarm and how to evacuate calmly to a place of safety. And fire prevention is important too, all workers should know what dangers to look out for and how to reduce risk and lessen the chances of fire.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 gives firms a lawful obligation to take fire precautions and give staff fire awareness at work training. Fire remains the one biggest threat to businesses. Arson is a main reason behind fires, which is hard to protect against, but lack of care, attention and general safety are responsible for other top fire hazards. These include poor wiring of electrical appliances, accumulation of litter in work areas, smoking-related hazards - discarded cigarettes and matches, hazardous materials such as paints, adhesives and chemicals, poorly sited or overheating portable heaters and machinery such as soldering irons, blow lamps and cutting and welding equipment.

Office smoking restrictions across the UK from 2006/7 may have reduced smoking-related fires at work but the continual rise in electrical equipment in offices ensures that incidents relating to faulty electrical equipment remain high. When learning how to recognise potential fire hazards and risks it will help to know a little simple science about how fires start and how they can develop and spread, and this goes a long way towards fire protection. By understanding the behaviour of heat and smoke, you will understand why fire doors should be kept closed and what a hot door handle tells you.

This type of fire awareness at work training will increase safety should a fire break out. Practising evacuations, recognising safety signs and knowing what they mean, recognising fire hazards and knowing what to do on discovering a fire are all essential elements of a fire awareness at work training. How to use extinguishers and understanding classes of fire are also valuable things to understand, however taking on a fire is a matter of personal choice and risks may not be taken.

Good fire safety training should cover all the essential information in such a way that is easily understood and knowledge is readily retained, so lots of variety - film, pictures, description, illustration and interactivity to retain attention is critical. It’s all about fire awareness. Understanding the key points and procedures of fire action and evacuation could save a life - all workers at the very least should make sure they are aware where their fire exits are and where their fire assembly point is. Take a moment to look around your office or workplace, would YOU know what to do?

About the Author

iHasco can help you cope with your most important health and safety issues. They provide a range of programmes, including Fire awareness Training, Fire Warden Training, Manual Handling Training and Display Screen Equipment Training. iHasco are the easy way to a safer workplace.

For more information about Fire Awareness at Work Training, visit: http://www.ihasco.co.uk

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