Fire Safety Training: Compliance with the Fire Safety Order

The training must also be:

*suitable and sufficient instruction on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in order to safeguard themselves and other relevant people on the premises

*repeated periodically where appropriate

*adapted to take into account any new or changed risks

*provided in a manner appropriate to the risks identified by the risk assessment

delivered during work hours

How, though, do organisations ensure the quality and adequacy of their fire safety training in order to comply with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order?

Planning fire training for staff

Fire risk assessment

A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment helps to identify the specific hazards and risks within the workplace. Specific actions for staff fire training should be incorporated. Understanding and communication of those hazards and risks can be addressed through the tailoring of content.

Identify who needs training

All staff need fire training and this will vary depending on their role. As a minimum, all employees will need generic fire safety awareness training to help protect themselves and others. Fire safety awareness training should include topics such as fire prevention, action in the event of a fire, evacuation procedures and escape routes, the location of assembly points and sounding a fire alarm. Some employees will require specific training such as fire wardens or those with specific duties related to firefighting equipment or evacuation.

Ensure the right content

The training must be adapted to the setting, the risk of fire within that setting and the role of all employees.

Engage qualified and competent trainers

Training is most effective when it’s delivered by qualified and competent trainers, either internally or externally. It’s important that the training course delivery can be adapted to meet the needs of the learners.

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness

Post-delivery, organisations should look to evaluate the effectiveness of any staff training by ensuring that all employees can demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills in fire safety. Training should also be repeated periodically and practiced through drills to avoid ‘skills fade’.

Adapt, change and refresh where necessary

As per the requirements of the Fire Safety Order, training should be adapted, changed and refreshed to take into account any new or altered risks such as changes in processes, alterations in personnel or building layout and use.

Delivering staff fire training

Any trainer (either internal or external) that’s appointed by the ‘Responsible Person’ to deliver fire safety training must be competent as per Article 18 of the Fire Safety Order. For a trainer, this means that they should have a general knowledge of fire safety, experience of fire safety and skills in training, presentation and delivery.

Organisations must be aware of the danger of ‘diluting’ training and Best Practice, which can occur when employees are tasked with ‘teaching’ others what they have learned. This practice continues from employee to employee until the training is so diluted that it no longer reflects the content of the original course completed by the original employee.

Level 3 Certificate

The Fire Protection Association offers its Level 3 Certificate in Fire Safety Training. Delivered over an interactive four days, this ‘train-the-trainer’ programme equips the learner with a Level 3 teaching qualification and the knowledge, skills and resources to move from delegate to trainer, in turn enabling the individual to deliver basic fire safety and fire warden training.

Whether delivering mandatory staff induction training in fire safety or supporting the organisation’s fire wardens (marshals) to fulfil their duties, this course supports the training delivery journey and provides Level 3 competencies in education and training.

*Further information is available online by visiting the Fire Protection Association’s website

Luke Ventura is Senior Trainer and Curriculum Lead at the Fire Protection Association (www.thefpa.co.uk)