Emergency situations can be incredibly panicked and full of mass confusion. Even individuals familiar with fire safety protocols may find themselves overwhelmed in the case of a real evacuation, and this is where a fire warden comes in. Fire wardens are specifically trained to help instil order during an emergency, facilitating a smooth evacuation to reduce the risk of injuries.
Any business will likely have many questions regarding fire wardens — how many fire wardens does your premises legally require? And what are the main responsibilities of a fire warden? Luckily, the team at Firepoint Services is here to help with this useful guide, compiling all the info you need to know.
What responsibilities does a fire warden have?
The role of a fire warden is multifaceted and encompasses numerous responsibilities. These duties can be split into two sections — standard daily responsibilities and emergency responsibilities.
What are the day-to-day duties of a fire warden?
- Regularly checking and testing all fire safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, fire doors, emergency exits and emergency lighting
- Ensuring the correct fire safety signage is visible and clearly displayed
- Conducting regular fire drills
- Performing periodic fire risk assessments
- Checking all emergency exit routes to ensure they remain clear
- Training new employees and making sure they’re familiar with fire safety procedures
- Maintaining accurate records of all fire safety measures
What are the emergency duties of a fire warden?
- Activating the fire alarm and alerting the emergency services
- Ensuring all fire doors are closed to prevent the blaze from spreading
- Assisting in the evacuation of all occupants and making sure everyone has left the building
- Helping with the evacuation of vulnerable people, utilising their Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) if applicable
- Extinguishing the fire with the appropriate fire safety equipment, such as fire blankets or fire extinguishers, but only if it is safe to do so
- Carrying out a roll call to ensure everyone is accounted for
- Liaising with emergency services
Are fire wardens legally required?
The short answer is, yes, fire wardens are needed in all businesses throughout the country. This is stipulated in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and it is the duty of the designated ‘responsible person’ for the building to appoint the right people for these roles. There are severe penalties if your business is found to be non-compliant, with substantial fines and even custodial sentences handed out in cases of extreme negligence.
How many fire wardens do I need?
Now we’ve established that fire wardens are required in all non-domestic premises, you may be wondering just how many are needed. The simple answer is that this varies depending on the unique requirements of your property. Numerous factors influence the amount of fire wardens required, such as:
- The size of your premises
- The risk level, layout and number of floors in your building
- The number of employees
- The number of vulnerable people who will require assistance
If your company operates on different shift patterns, it’s also important to ensure that there is the correct number of fire wardens present on each shift.
Does a fire warden need training?
As highlighted above, fire wardens have significant responsibilities and their presence is vital in the event of a real fire. Therefore, proper training is key to ensure they are equipped to handle these crucial duties. When you choose an accredited professional, like Firepoint Services, to carry out your fire warden training, you can rest assured that your staff members will be learning from the very best. Our fire warden training courses cover a comprehensive range of topics, including:
- The action you should take upon discovery of a fire
- The location of evacuation routes and assembly points
- The main responsibilities of a fire warden
- Information on the different classes of fire
- Explanation of potential hazards and how to reduce them
- Training in how to use the different types of fire extinguishers
- And much more!
Firepoint Services has been operating in commercial premises across Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and beyond for over 30 years. If you’re looking to enhance the knowledge of your fire wardens, get in touch with us today to discuss our comprehensive fire safety training courses. We also supply a range of other fire safety measures to ensure your workplace is compliant with all legislative requirements.
