Whatever the organisation or premise, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires employers to have a fire safety strategy, which will allow all occupants to evacuated safely in the case of a fire.

In order to build this strategy, a responsible person (usually an owner or employer) has to carry out a risk assessment, decide on appropriate fire precautions and maintain a fire management plan.

As a way of ensuring the effectiveness of their strategy, many businesses are appointing a fully-trained fire warden as part of the emergency evacuation strategy.

It is this important role that is the focus of this elearning course.

Key Roles of the Fire Warden or Fire Marshal

Having a designated fire warden at your workplace will help ensure your business is prepared for a fire emergency and can conduct a safe evacuation of the business premise.

The Fire Marshal role is also to identify potential workplace fire hazards and report any hazards found to the appropriate person. Also to assist in the implementation of fire safety best practices and improving effective fire emergency procedures in your workplace.

In the event of a fire or fire alarm is triggered Fire Marshal or Fire Warden need to ensure that the premises get evacuated and searched in a timely. The Fire Warden could be the person most at risk during the evacuation process, because they may be the last person to evacuate the building after completing a search of the affected building.

During an evacuation a Fire Marshal should go directly to their assembly point and manage the evacuation from outside the building in a fire emergency.

The Fire Marshal is responsible for ensuring that everyone who exits the building is accounted and makes sure that all Fire Wardens are accounted for after completing their search of the business premises.

A Fire Marshal’s main duty is to assist in the prevention of fires in the workplace by:

· Identify fire hazards at their workplace

· Report hazards to the appropriate person

· Emergency exits are kept clear at all times

· Fire extinguishers are in place and serviced

· Fire doors are in good working order and kept closed

· Perform weekly fire alarm test

· Fire signs are in place

· Electrical devices are PAT Tested

· Perform regular fire drills

· Conduct regular fire risk assessments

This course will provide people at any level, in any sector, with guidance that will help them to understand the role of the fire marshal or warden.

By completing this course, you will be able to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of:

· The day-to-day role of the fire warden

· The role of the fire warden when the alarm sounds

· The fire warden’s responsibility in terms of fire safety briefings

· The key points the fire warden needs to know and understand