Fire Safety Training Programmes
Should Be Refreshed
When it comes to the workplace,
staff should receive fire safety training in order to know how to deal with a
blaze. The training might take the form of learning about different signs, what
to do in case of a fire, or how to use an extinguisher. Not only does fire
safety training prepare staff for the worst case scenario, it enables them to
become accustomed to the layout of a building.
The person trained should have a
clear understanding of the overall duties and responsibilities. This will
include: what action they should take on the discovery of a fire, know the
difference between different fire classes, which extinguisher to use for which
fire and what the evacuation procedure is. The person should be at-list 5yr in FSAI under valid individual membership or NFPA member. If person is ex service men
of fire brigade or Fire protection officer that may consider extra.
But
there comes a time when the fire safety training policy needs to be refreshed.
What is fire safety training?
If a fire breaks out in
your workplace, the highest priority is to get everybody out of the building as
quickly, efficiently and carefully as possible. However, no matter how many
times people have been informed of the evacuation procedures and methods of
fire protection and combat, the sound of a fire alarm can cause chaos and all
sense of cognitive, reasonable action can be forgotten.
This is usually put down to the fact that an emergency
situation unknown feelings and reactions that are stressful, intense and
require an immediate response. However, fire safety experts believe that
training, knowledge and practical experience can cause behaviour to be
modified, preparing people for how to deal with a fire, and they suggest that
this will lead to the best chance of a safe and methodical evacuation being
conducted.
Understanding the Fire Triangle
A fire needs 3 elements in order for
it to ignite – oxygen, fuel and heat – and a fire can be extinguished by
removing one of these elements. For instance, covering a fire with a fire
blanket removes the oxygen supply, therefore putting the fire out.
Discovering a fire (alarm and
assembly points)
On discovering a fire,
the first thing you should do is raise the fire alarm so everybody on the
premises is aware there is a fire in the building. You should then ensure
everyone safely exits the building and gathers at the appropriate assembly
point.
Types of fires
Being a fire trainer / warden also entails
having a basic understanding of the types of fires there are:
1) Class A fires involve solid
materials such as wood, paper, rubber, plastic and cloth.
2)
Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids, such as petrol, oil and
paint.
3)
Class C fires involve flammable gases, such as propane, butane and methane.
4)
Class D fires involve flammable metals, such as potassium, aluminium and
titanium.
5)
Class F fires involve cooking oils and fats.
Types of extinguishing agents
1) Water (Red): Suitable for wood, fabric
and paper.
2) Foam (Cream) : Suitable for
flammable liquids, wood and paper.
3) Powder (Blue): Suitable for flammable
liquids, gas, electrical hazards, oil and chemicals.
4) CO2 (Black): Suitable for flammable
liquids and electricals.
5) Wet chemical (Yellow) : Suitable for
cooking fat and oils.
Identification of which fire
extinguisher to use for which fire
1) Water: Ideal for class A fires and
office, shop or warehouse environments.
2) Foam: Use on class A or B fires on
electrical or material based fires.
3) CO2: Perfect for Class B fires like
those caused by flammable liquids or electrical appliances.
4) Wet Chemical: Ideal for kitchen
related fires with cooking oils and fats involved.
How to use a fire extinguisher
1) Pull the pin out.
2)
Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
3)
Squeeze the lever slowly.
4)
Keep at a distance and sweep the nozzle from side to side, moving closer as the
flames decrease un till the fire is completely out.
People with disabilities
The Disability Equality
Duty highlights that disabled people should not be discriminated against under
any circumstance. Therefore, they should still be given an evacuation plan
despite any differences in mobility. As such, the fire warden should be aware of
those who may need extra assistance when evacuating and allow extra time for
this so they are not exposed to any discrimination.
These steps outline some simple stages to training your
staff in fire safety; however official training is required in order to
guarantee a legitimate qualified fire warden will be on hand in the case of an
emergency. The courses are available on-site or off-site, dependent on
location, and the names of those who attended the course should be kept in a
log book. It’s also recommended that you go on a refresher training course a
year later to remind yourself of the procedures to ensure absolute safety to
your fellow staff members.
We’ve listed five reasons why this should happen.
New staff
When you hire someone new, don’t assume that they
understand basic fire safety. This should be included in the induction process,
so it may be necessary to carry out a new training programme.
Fire safety training certificate
expiration
Fire safety
training certificates don’t last forever, so there will come a time when
they’ll need to be updated. Refreshing the training programme will keep your
staff up to date with the latest policies.
Building change
If you’ve
moved to a new premises then it may have a different layout to the previous
building. This will require you to carry out a new safety plan, safety
assessment and training. The new building may also come with a different set of
hazards, so knowing where the exits are should be included in the training.
New equipment
If new
equipment has been installed then it’s recommended you re-train employees in
how to use it, especially if the equipment differs from the previous technology.
Industry incidents
If an
incident happened within the industry that applies to your business, then
refreshing the fire safety programme may be relevant. Extra training could be
provided to ensure that staff is up to date. As a general rule, fire
safety training programmes should be refreshed every 12 months. We provide
a range of fire safety services designed to help businesses.
Example Fire Safety Training Programme
All employees will receive
adequate fire safety training and all fire safety training sessions will be
delivered by a competent person.
There will one fire drills per
year to test the fire safety training.
Fire Safety Training Sessions
New Employees: Induction Programme
Current Employees: One training session per year
Managers: One training session per year specific
to their duties and including fire safety risk assessment, responding to fire
hazards, fault reporting procedures, liaising with the fire service, record
keeping, induction of new staff, fire safety policies and procedures.
Fire Safety Training Topics
-
The significant findings from the fire risk assessment and fire safety
policies;
-
What to do on discovering a fire;
- How to raising the alarm, including the locations of fire alarm call
points (break glass points);
-
The action to take upon hearing the fire alarm;
-
The evacuation procedure for alerting guests, residents and visitors
including, where
-
appropriate, directing them to exits and assembly points at a place of
total safety;
-
The arrangements for calling the fire and rescue service;
- The location and , where appropriate,
the correct use of portable fire extinguishers and fire-fighting
equipment;
-
Knowledge of escape routes including stairways and especially those not
in regular use;
-
How to open all emergency exit doors;
- The appreciation of the importance of fire doors, keeping them closed and
not wedged open to prevent the spread of smoke and heat, keeping escape routes
unobstructed;
-
Where appropriate, isolating electrical power and gas supplies and
stopping machines and processes;
-
The reasons for not using lifts (except those specifically constructed as evacuation
lifts);
-
The safe use of and risks from storing and working with highly flammable
and explosive substances;
-
General fire precautions, fire awareness and good housekeeping
practices;
-
The no smoking policy (where applicable);
-
Special provisions for assisting disabled people and any training needed;
-
Identifying fire hazards and fire incidents reporting procedures; and
-
Equipment fault reporting procedures.
Fire Safety Training Records
All fire safety training will recorded to
include the date of
instruction; the duration, name of the person giving the instruction, names of
persons receiving the instruction; and the nature of the instruction and / or,
drill.
