Fire Safety Awareness

Fire safety awareness means everyone on the premises knows how fires start, how to prevent them, how to raise the alarm and how to get out safely. In England and Wales, the law is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It places duties on a "responsible person", including a duty to give staff fire safety information, instruction and training.

Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety

GOV.UK explains that you are the responsible person for business or other non-domestic premises if you are the employer, the owner, the landlord, an occupier, or anyone else with control of the premises, such as a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor. Where there is more than one responsible person, for example in shared premises, they must work together.

Non-domestic premises include all workplaces and commercial premises, all premises the public can access, and the common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different fire safety rules.

What the Law Requires

According to GOV.UK, the responsible person must:

• carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly
• tell staff or their representatives about the risks identified
• put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures
• plan for an emergency
• provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training

The fire risk assessment must be recorded in writing. GOV.UK sets out five steps: identify the fire hazards, identify people at risk, evaluate and remove or reduce the risks, record findings and prepare an emergency plan and training, then review and update the assessment regularly. The assessment should consider escape routes and exits, detection and warning systems, firefighting equipment, dangerous substances, the evacuation plan and the needs of vulnerable people.

Article 15 of the Order requires procedures, including safety drills, for serious and imminent danger, and the nomination of enough competent persons to carry out evacuation procedures.

Local fire and rescue authorities inspect premises and can issue fire safety notices. GOV.UK warns that you could be fined or go to prison if you do not follow fire safety regulations.

What the Law Says About Training

Article 21 of the Order says employees must be given adequate safety training when they first start, and again when they are exposed to new or increased risks, such as a change of role, new equipment, new technology or a new system of work. The training must:

• include suitable and sufficient instruction on the precautions and actions to take to keep themselves and others safe
• be repeated periodically where appropriate
• be adapted to take account of new or changed risks
• be provided in a way that suits the risks identified in the risk assessment
• take place during working hours

Who on Site the Training Is For

Everyone who works on the premises needs basic fire safety awareness. That includes new starters, part-time and temporary staff, and people who change role or move to a different site. People nominated to help with evacuation, often called fire wardens or fire marshals, need more. The Order says they must have sufficient training and experience or knowledge to carry out the evacuation procedures properly.

What an Awareness Course Covers, and What It Does Not

An online awareness course is a good way to give every member of staff a consistent grounding. It typically covers:

• how fires start and common causes in workplaces
• good housekeeping, such as keeping escape routes clear and not wedging fire doors open
• what to do on discovering a fire and how to raise the alarm
• evacuation and assembly points
• the main types of fire extinguisher and when not to tackle a fire

An awareness course does not replace the fire risk assessment, your site's own emergency plan, practical drills, or the extra training needed by nominated fire wardens. Staff also need site-specific information, such as where the exits, alarms and assembly points are in their building.

Common Mistakes

• Treating the fire risk assessment as a one-off document that never gets reviewed.
• Not briefing new starters on day one.
• Forgetting visitors, contractors and people who may need help to evacuate.
• Propping open fire doors or blocking escape routes with stock.
• Assuming the landlord covers everything in shared premises.

Refreshing the Training

The Order says training must be repeated periodically where appropriate, and adapted when risks change. Sensible trigger points include a change of premises or layout, new equipment or processes, findings from a drill, and changes to the risk assessment. Many organisations also refresh on a regular cycle so that knowledge stays current.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is the Responsible Person for Fire Safety?

Usually the employer, owner, landlord or occupier, or anyone else with control of the premises. In shared premises there may be more than one, and they must coordinate.

Does a Fire Risk Assessment Have to Be Written Down?

Yes. GOV.UK says you must keep a written record of your fire risk assessment.

Can We Do Our Own Fire Risk Assessment?

You can, with the help of standard guides. If you do not have the expertise or time, GOV.UK says you need to appoint a competent person to help.

Does This Apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

No. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety rules.

Training works best when it is short, relevant to the job and refreshed when things change. If you are planning compliance training for a team, you can book a call to talk it through, or see our courses.