Fire Safety Training Tips For The Workplace

Fire Safety Training is so important because any type of fire in the workplace can be catastrophic for business, regardless of where it is located or its size. Many businesses never recover after a fire, which is why prevention is so important. Good awareness and in depth training will help to reduce the risks and promote good practice with your employees. Your training should be tailored to your workplace and cover strategies and techniques to help reduce the threat of fire. In addition to this, training would allow you to:

Develop good fire detection systems
All businesses are legally obliged to install suitable fire detection systems which are suitable to your place of work. They should be tailored to suit the specific layout and requirements of the business and all employees should know their location. The person responsible for fire safety should have some input in where fire detection systems are placed and staff should be trained in their use and where they are located so they can raise the alarm if necessary. Some alarm systems can trigger automatically when a fire is detected while others are manual, and they need activating manually if a fire is discovered. For manual systems your fire safety training should include how to activate this type of alarm.

Implement Emergency Plans
Good fire safety will start with a strong plan of action. This will include specific information on the steps that employees should take if they discover a fire. The emergency plan should also include the different types of warning systems that are in place and what the evacuation procedure is. Plans should detail the desired assembly point and the route clearly marked with suitable signage. Emergency Plans should:

Follow strict protocol relevant to the workplace and incorporate clear guidelines to optimise the health and safety of employees. Each team member should understand the procedures and rules that relate to emergency situations.

Ensure that smoke alarms and sprinkler systems are installed and suitable for the workplace. These systems should be maintained and inspected regularly

Include provisions for fire drills including when they will be carried out.

Fire Extinguishers
All fire safety training needs to include education on the various types of fire extinguisher because it can be very dangerous to use the wrong extinguisher. Those responsible for fire safety should ensure that employees are sufficiently educated in the types and correct use of fire extinguishers. Specifically, fire safety training should cover the different types of extinguisher and when they can and cannot be used. Employers should:

• Detail clear fire escape routes on every floor of the building
• Deliver training to employees on emergency procedures, the locations of emergency exits, where fire alarms are located and how to use fire extinguishers if needed
• Check that safe escape routes exist for those who are disabled

Good Housekeeping
Safety training should cover good housekeeping practices such as the storage of flammable materials and what types of things can cause a fire hazard. Materials such as paper and cardboard boxes should be disposed of as soon as possible, sockets should not be overloaded, and electrical equipment should be stored correctly to reduce the likelihood of the equipment deteriorating.

• Use approved electrical products that have the required approvals
• Any hazardous equipment that you identify should be replaced. Regularly inspect equipment and be alert for things such as overheating, strange smells or equipment that gives you an electric shock
• Old, frayed or damaged wires should be replaced as soon as possible
• Only use three pronged plugs in three slot outlets
• Where you work with equipment that generates a substantial amount of heat, this machine should be well away from any combustible materials or surfaces
• Heating appliances should include a thermostat facility