How Often Should Fire Warden Training Be Carried Out?

Fire Wardens play a crucial role in the workplace when dealing with fire risks and emergencies; managing evacuation drills, deploying firefighting equipment, and liaising with the Fire Brigade.

Given how vital Fire Wardens are to the business it’s important that they are given the training they need for these emergency situations.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

According to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, “All Employees must be given adequate Fire Safety training (during normal working hours) when they commence employment and receive refresher training as appropriate, or when circumstances change which affect Fire Safety.”

Under law any staff in your employment must be given fire safety training and, evidently, Fire Wardens are expected to have a greater degree of skill and knowledge.

However the frequency of their training and what it entails is not specified, leaving it up to you as the employer and Responsible Person to decide.

What Training Is Appropriate for a Fire Warden?

The kind of training required for Fire Wardens in your employment may differ from those in other businesses. The risks of fire may vary depending on where your premises are located, the type of business you run, and what safety measures are already in place throughout the property.

In order to decide what training is appropriate for your staff it is recommended that you have your company’s needs assessed by an independent expert to identify the specific fire risks for your business that your Fire Warden will need to take into account.

Ideally the training that your Fire Warden takes should include the following:

• A breakdown of their role and responsibilities both day to day and in the case of an emergency.
• The causes of fires in the workplace and differentiating between the various types of fires.
• The differences between fire extinguishers and other fire fighting equipment and knowing which is needed for the situation.
• Practical experience using firefighting equipment.
• How to safely evacuate staff and visitors on the premises during a fire drill or a genuine emergency.
• How to liaise with the fire brigade and other main authorities.

How Often Should Training Take Place?

It can be difficult to assess how often your Fire Wardens will need to be trained when the legislation set out in The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is rather vague.

Any time you appoint a new Fire Warden they should be given the training required. They will also need to top up their training if any new fire risks are introduced to the property or there are repeated fire safety incidents at work.

Fire Warden training certifications in the UK don’t normally expire after a set period of time however most training course providers recommend that Fire Wardens have refresher training every three years.

Find out more about Red Box Fire Control’s Fire Warden training course on our website or contact us today for more information.