Why is Fire Safety Training So Important?

Fire Safety Training serves as a tool and legal requirement. Fire training creates a proactive, fire-safe culture by educating staff on fire prevention, the proper use of fire safety equipment and the necessary steps for safe evacuation.

1. Awareness: Enhancing knowledge of fire hazards and the methods to prevent them.
2. Preparedness: Teaching individuals how to prepare for a fire emergency, from responding to a fire alarm to locating fire extinguishers. This step also includes creating and practicing an evacuation plan.
3. Response: Equipping individuals with the skills to effectively respond during a fire emergency. This includes using fire extinguishers, evacuating safely, and assisting others.
4. Compliance: Ensuring adherence to fire safety regulations, including building codes and workplace safety standards.

Remember, fire safety training should never be done just to box tick. Regular fire training ensures staff are equipped to handle fire equipment and stay safe in a fire. Ultimately, fire training can save lives.

What Are the Legal Requirements for Fire Safety Training?

In the UK, fire safety training is a legal requirement for businesses. Alongside the responsible person conducting regular Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs), fire safety training must be provided to all staff, with refresher courses available as needed.  

Which Environments Require Fire Safety Training?

Fire safety training is crucial in all environments to ensure knowledge is accessible to everyone. However, certain settings require tailored training:

Care Sector:

Hospitals, care homes and other environments for vulnerable people require specialised fire training for staff to meet the needs of vulnerable and sick people.

Education Sector:

Teachers and staff in schools must be trained to evacuate children safely, minimise panic and respond effectively during a fire.

Office Space:

Businesses must ensure thorough fire safety training for all staff, especially given frequent turnover, so everyone knows how to keep themselves and their workspace safe.

Commercial Spaces:

Commercial spaces like shopping centres, cinemas and bars are constantly accessible to the public. Staff must be trained to ensure the safety of those who are unfamiliar with the environment.

Industrial Spaces:

Industrial spaces may have additional fire hazards such as flammable liquids or hot machinery which require specialised fire safety training.

Rented Accommodation:

Airbnb properties or rental accommodations must receive adequate fire safety training. Fire safety training for landlords of holiday homes is also crucial to protect tenants.

Boats:

Boat owners must be trained to handle fire risks such as overheating engines and to know how to respond if a fire arises at sea.

What is Covered in Fire Safety Training?

Fire safety training, led by a professional, educates workers in three main areas: preventing fire hazards, identifying potential risks, and responding safely during a fire.

Prevention: Staff are taught how to correctly store any chemicals (flammable liquids cause Class B fires if stored incorrectly), how to safely dispose of combustible materials and establish smoking areas to prevent cigarette fires. Emphasis is also placed on not overcharging electrical equipment to minimise the risk of electrical fires. Essentially, the first stage of fire training is being proactive with how workers use the space, avoiding fire threats caused through careless behaviour.

Hazard Identification: Workers are trained to proactively assess their workspace for fire risks. Workers will also be familiarised with fire alarms and fire alarm call points (both are crucial to communicating danger and maintaining fire safety in the workplace). Understanding where these points are and how to activate them minimises fires from burning unnoticed. Information on where to access firefighting equipment will also be provided.

Response: The final phase teaches staff how to safely respond to fire hazards. This may be by sounding an alarm or evacuating calmly once a fire alarm has been triggered. How to safely use fire extinguishers will also be demonstrated although workers must remember that fire safety is not about being a hero but staying safe. If a fire does become too dangerous workers can then revert to safely evacuated from the affected area. The goal of fire safety training is to promote fire prevention but also to help workers understand how to keep safe during a fire.

Different Types of Fire Safety Training

There are two primary types of fire safety training: in-person and online.

Whilst both types of fire training offer an important framework of fire safety knowledge, at OHEAP our team of professionals recommend in-person training.

In-Person Fire Safety Training

In-person fire safety training allows up to 15 staff members an hour-long session to sharpen their knowledge of fire safety.

Led by an industry professional, in-person training provides employees with hands-on experience. Staff will have the opportunity to see fire safety procedures in action within their own workspace, making the training more relevant and effective. This training can accommodate up to 15 employees in a 1-hour session. After completion, each participant receives a certificate to demonstrate their fire safety competency.

Online Fire Safety Training

Online training courses are industry-specific fire safety courses that last between an hour to 45 minutes.

OHEAP offer a wide range of training courses from fire warden training to first aid awareness training. All participants have an unlimited number of attempts and will receive a certificate upon completion. An online course provides the flexibility of the fire training being from any location. Workers also have 60 days to complete the course so there is no worry of the training being rushed.

Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Safety Training

Fire Risk Assessments and fire safety training are both tools that educate workers to proactively detect and respond to developing fire threats. FRAs and fire training should be used tangentially to maximise the fire safety of a space.

Whereas an FRA is used to identify potential fire hazards and communicate the equipment or safety steps needed to be taken to combat this, fire safety training teaches workers to physically deal with the fire threat. Only those with sufficient fire safety training may conduct an FRA. OHEAP’s team of professionals is ready to assist with both FRAs and fire safety training.

What is the Difference Between Fire Safety Training and Fire Marshal Training?

While fire safety training is mandatory for all workers, fire marshal or fire warden training is specifically offered to 1-15 workers.

Fire safety training equips all workers with the basic knowledge needed to stay safe in a fire. However, during an emergency, fire marshals and fire wardens are responsible for coordinating evacuations, using fire extinguishers, and managing the fire alarm system.Fire marshals receive specialised training, including the use of fire safety equipment and evacuation procedures. They also wear high-visibility uniforms, such as waistcoats or armbands, to be easily identified during an emergency.

What Fire Safety Training OHEAP Offers

OHEAP offer a range of fire safety training courses, including fire marshal training, evacuation training and evacuation chair training. This combination promotes fire safety alongside accessibility.