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Completing a Workplace Fire Risk Assessment

Conducting a Fire Risk Assessment is more than common sense or a good way to protect your business premises and employees from harm.  It is the law.  However, ensuring that your assessment runs smoothly and correctly, and that you adequately identify all hazards can be problematic for some.  How exactly do you go about this?

The first step is to identify potential fire hazards.  Fire requires three things to be present in order to start – oxygen, fuel and an ignition source.  To identify potential fire hazards, look at your premises in terms of these three things.  One of the most important considerations is the ignition source.  This can be almost anything, from matches to cigarettes, heaters, lighting, faulty wiring, electrical rooms and more.
The second step is to identify people that might be at risk in the event of a fire.  While a fire will certainly pose a risk to all people on the premises, there are those who are at a greater risk than others.  For instance, those who work in out-of-the-way places, those unfamiliar with the layout of your premises (visitors, vendors, etc.) and disabled workers.  People who do not speak the language fluently can also be at risk.
The third step is to evaluate your risks realistically.  You need to consider both potential fire hazards and people at greater risk from the threat of fire.  All fire hazards should be corrected, eliminated or managed.  People at risk should be managed or educated to reduce the risk here.  Consider the possible escape routes for those at risk – how can they easily reach a safe location without putting themselves at greater risk?  Staff training, proper fire alarm systems, fire signs and emergency lighting are also requirements here.

If you have five or more employees, you are required to record the results of your Fire Risk Assessment.  You also need to develop emergency plans and instruct your employees in the proper precautions to take if a fire were to start.  Proper signage is also necessary for those visiting your premises who might be at risk if a fire were to occur.  All staff should know the following:

• What to do if a fire occurs
• Specific duties required in the event of a fire
• The risks that were identified during the assessment
• Management measures taken to mitigate those risks
• How to use the fire alarm system
• The location and use of any fire equipment on property

How Essential Is Fire Marshall Training to Your Business?


How secure is your place of business against the insidious threat of fire?  Fire poses an enormous risk both to your property and to your employees.  Ensuring that you protect lives and property begins by having a Fire Risk Assessment completed and recorded.  However, it does not end there.  Your business will likely require a fire warden and/or fire marshal.

A fire marshal can take the place of a fire warden in all instances, but in the case that your business has more than one warden, a fire marshal will oversee all of these individuals.  A fire marshal has many different responsibilities, many of them similar or identical to those of a fire warden. For instance, a fire marshal has several principal responsibilities when a fire is not an imminent threat.  The marshal needs to ensure that all fire escape routes are clear of debris and easily accessible to all people on the property, including disabled persons.  The marshal should also conduct regular inspections of the property to search for potential fire hazards.  Any hazards or areas of concern should be recorded and then remedied, with the remedying action being noted in the final report.


If a fire were to break out, then the fire marshal has other duties.  First, the fire marshal needs to ensure that the alarm has been sounded and that all employees are aware of the current threat.  The marshal must also make certain that all business process have been secured or terminated.  All visitors, vendors and other people unfamiliar with the premises must be evacuated as quickly and orderly as possible, as well.
In addition, it is the marshal's responsibility to make sure that all disabled persons are safely evacuated from the building and/or property.  Reporting the fire, details of the size, scope and location of the fire to the property authorities is also something that the fire marshal must do.  The marshal should also conduct roll call at the designated assembly point, or appoint a fire warden to do so if the marshal is engaged in fighting the fire.


As you can see, the fire marshal is a very important individual for your business.  Ensuring that you have at least one fully trained fire marshal not only makes good common sense, but is the best investment you can make toward protecting your employees and your business from the ravages of fire.

The Importance of Proper Fire Warden Training in the Workplace


The threat that fire poses to your business is considerable.  It can decimate your workplace in a matter of minutes in some cases, and can take a toll in lives damaged and destroyed as well as in damaged property.  One of the most important things that you can do to mitigate the damage of a potential fire is to have a fire warden on staff.  A fire warden is really nothing more than a volunteer from your business who has undergone fire warden training.


Why is this important?  Fire warden training is an essential consideration for several reasons.  The fire warden will be the person who acts as an interface between professional fire fighters and regular personnel.  This will involve communicating with official authorities, as well as with regular staff about important matters, safety concerns, procedures and more.  The fire warden also has several other important jobs, including ensuring that regular fire drills are carried out within the workplace, that all fire fighting equipment is clearly marked, accessible and known by staff and other duties.


Finally, the fire warden is also responsible for ensuring that, in the event of a fire, all building personnel are doing what is required of them, and expected by fire fighters.  This helps to avoid misunderstandings, lost personnel and considerable damage in terms of injuries and lost lives. To become a fire warden, a representative of your business must undergo the appropriate training at a licensed training facility.  Such a facility should be accredited and staffed by professionals – either current or ex-fire fighting personnel. Nominating a fire warden but not ensuring that he or she is properly trained is not a good idea, either.  Proper training is required to ensure that not only does the fire warden know what must be done in the case of an emergency, but that he or she actually does it.  Training usually requires only about a day, but the investment for your business is immeasurable.  There is simply no better protection for your business than having a fire warden and a Fire Risk Assessment.


As you can see, having a properly trained fire warden in your business at all times is not a luxury – it is a necessity.  This helps to ensure that the chance of loss is mitigated, that employees are as safe as possible and can even help to prevent a fire in the first place.