A Quick Guide To Being A Fire Warden
In the United Kingdom, it is a legal requirement for every workplace to have at least one Fire Warden, depending on the size of the company in question. Being a Fire Warden is a crucial role for every business, as alongside the workplace manager, they are responsible for upholding fire safety procedures in the event of an emergency.
Read on to find out more about this position, the duties it entails, and how Thameside Fire Protection could potentially help.
Risks Assessment
In managing a safe evacuation of everyone in the workplace during an emergency, a fire warden must check for both any risks of a fire taking place, as well as issues relating to the efficiency of the manner in which the building and its occupants empty out. A Fire Warden should check that all the exits of the building are in working order, ensuring that the signage is clearly visible whilst also looking out for obstructions on the route.
For larger workplaces, the warden must also consider whether the functionality of the exits changes when the entire office vacates - smaller corridors and stairwells might complicate a building's escape. The warden should ask the entire workplace if they have an issue or need some help exiting the building.
With regular checks and monitoring, the warden should have a controlled and methodological fire escape plan that will ensure safety and prevent the risks that come about through fire and its effects.
Maintain Equipment
Having fire extinguishers, alarms or other suppression systems in place is only the first step of a workplace’s safety procedure. It is the responsibility of the Fire Warden to regularly verify that the measures in place are fully functioning and effective. Testing fire alarm systems, servicing fire extinguishers, and organising the maintenance of sprinklers, are all under the jurisdiction of the Fire Warden.
Fire alarm systems should be tested regularly and made sure to be following regulations: fire drills are a great way to see how well the fire protection equipment functions. Fire drills should also inform the fire evacuation plan which should be adapted in light of any office changes, such as the number of employees or layout.
Fire Safety Training
In order to clearly educate and inform those in the workplace on what to do if a fire takes place, Fire Safety Training is an excellent method of familiarising people with fire prevention and solution. In a Fire Safety course, employees will learn about the risks that can lead to fires, how to use fire protection equipment, and how to keep calm under pressure if the worst happens.
Thameside Fire Protection offers Fire Safety courses in Fire Warden training, emergency
situation training, and first aid training. By educating a workplace on the risks and preventive measures of fires you can ensure such an event is unlikely to happen - and if it does, employees will be able to work quickly and efficiently to keep safe.
Contact Us
Thameside Fire Protection are a family-run, nationwide fire safety company that has been preventing fires for almost forty years. Whether you need a fire suppression system installed or a training course, contact us today at 0800 975 4888 and enquiries@thamesidefire.co.uk.
