Fire safety training is a crucial part of workplace health and safety, ensuring employees know how to prevent fires, respond effectively in an emergency, and comply with legal obligations.
No matter if you’re running a small office or managing a large industrial site – fire safety training can save lives and protect your business from costly damage and disruption.
A key part of this is conducting a fire risk assessment, which helps identify potential hazards and helps your business make sure it has the right measures in place to protect staff, visitors, and the premises.
According to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, employers need to provide adequate fire safety training to staff. But what does this actually involve, and how can you make sure your business is staying compliant with these rules?
In this guide we’ll walk you through the essentials, from legal responsibilities to practical steps like evacuation drills and fire safety policies.
What employers need to do
Employers are legally required by fire safety regulations, as well as part of their Health and Safety obligations, to provide information, instruction and training to employees about fire precautions in the workplace.
The basic fire safety training should include:
- how a fire can start
- what action to take in the event of a fire
- how to prevent a fire occurring
- What their responsibilities are
We offer FREE basic online fire safety training (with every fire risk assessment), which all of your employees can access and complete. This is available for up to 12 months from your fire risk assessment.
The training covers details about How fires start, what to do in the event of a fire, equipment and its correct use and how to prevent fires. There is a short test and if they achieve 75% or more, they can also print out a certificate.
Fire evacuation drills and policies
In addition, you also need to ensure you carry out Fire evacuation drills at least once a year. We would recommend bi-annually, to ensure no employees miss a drill through absence/shifts etc.
As an employer, you also need to ensure you have produced a Fire safety policy and Emergency plan for your employees.
You may also need to consider producing a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). This is for any employees who may require additional help to escape in the event of a fire.
If you’re the owner of a premises which has members of the public visiting on a regular basis, you may also need a General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) in place. This is so employees are aware how to recognise and aid members of the public who may require assistance to evacuate.
Not sure if you need a PEEP or a GEEP? Read our simple guide!
This can all seem like a lot of work, so to help employers to comply with their obligations, we offer a fire safety policy template, emergency plan, and logbook, which are sent out as part of our fire risk assessment process.
Expert fire warden training from FireRiskAssessments.com
Every fire risk assessment from FireRiskAssessments.com offers free, basic fire safety training.
However, if you need designated fire wardens who can take charge in an emergency, our expert fire warden training is the perfect solution.
This is an additional, separate service which is designed to give your team all the skills and confidence they’ll need to manage fire risks effectively.
What’s included in fire warden training?
At FireRiskAssessments.com, our comprehensive 3–4-hour fire warden training sessions cover must-know information for fire safety and emergency situations, including:
- Understanding fire risks and how to prevent them
- What to do in an emergency – from raising the alarm to evacuation
- How to use firefighting equipment safely
- The role and responsibilities of a fire warden
We offer flexible training options, including interactive and practical sessions, as well as online webinars and workshops. At the end of the course, there’s a short assessment, and if you pass, you’ll receive a certificate to prove you’re ready to take on the role of a fire warden.
Want to book a session? Visit our expert fire warden training page to get started!
Why choose FireRiskAssessments.com?
Fire safety can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to make it simple.
From fire risk assessments to training and compliance support, we take the stress out of meeting your legal fire safety obligations – so you can focus on running your business!
Reach out to us to get a free quote for your premises and find out how we can help keep your occupants protected from fire today.