Fire Warden Training Course

A Fire Warden helps support fire safety within the workplace by assisting with fire prevention and the procedures that should be followed in an emergency.

As part of their role, a Fire Warden may help identify and report potential fire hazards, encourage good fire safety practices and become familiar with the workplace's evacuation procedures. If the fire alarm sounds, they may also help direct people towards a safe exit, check their designated area where it is safe to do so, and help ensure people make their way to the appropriate assembly point.

The exact duties of a Fire Warden will depend on the workplace, its fire safety arrangements and the responsibilities assigned to them by the employer or Responsible Person.

A Fire Warden's responsibilities can include helping to identify and report fire hazards, monitoring fire safety within their designated area and supporting the workplace's emergency and evacuation procedures.

Depending on the workplace and the duties assigned to them, a Fire Warden may also help to:

• Keep escape routes and fire exits clear.
• Report potential fire hazards or unsafe practices.
• Encourage employees to follow workplace fire safety procedures.
• Support fire drills and become familiar with evacuation arrangements.
• Direct people towards appropriate escape routes when the fire alarm sounds.
• Check their designated area, where it is safe to do so, to help ensure people have evacuated.
• Direct people to the designated assembly point and assist with the workplace's arrangements for accounting for occupants.

The exact responsibilities will vary depending on the premises, its fire risks and the workplace's emergency arrangements. Fire Wardens should understand the duties assigned to them and the procedures they are expected to follow.

The terms Fire Warden and Fire Marshal are often used interchangeably in the workplace, and both can refer to a person appointed to help support fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures.

Some organisations may use the titles differently or assign particular responsibilities to each role. However, UK fire safety legislation does not prescribe separate legal roles called a Fire Warden and Fire Marshal. Instead, it requires the Responsible Person to nominate a sufficient number of competent people to help implement procedures for serious and imminent danger, including evacuation.

Whether your workplace uses the term Fire Warden or Fire Marshal, what matters is that the person understands the responsibilities assigned to them, has appropriate training and is competent to carry out their role.

Not every workplace is legally required to appoint someone with the specific title of Fire Warden or Fire Marshal. However, employers and other Responsible Persons must have appropriate fire safety and emergency procedures in place and, in staffed premises, nominate a sufficient number of competent people to help implement evacuation procedures.

In many workplaces, particularly larger or more complex premises, these competent people are appointed as Fire Wardens or Fire Marshals. In a small, low-risk workplace, the arrangements may be different depending on the premises and the findings of the fire risk assessment.

The number of people needed to support an evacuation should therefore reflect factors such as the size and layout of the premises, the number of occupants, the fire risks present and the workplace's emergency arrangements.

There is no single legally prescribed expiry period for Fire Warden training. Fire safety training should be repeated periodically where appropriate and reviewed when changes in the workplace could affect fire safety or the responsibilities of the Fire Warden.

Refresher training may be appropriate when there are changes to the premises, fire risks, evacuation procedures or an individual's responsibilities. It may also be needed where a Fire Warden's existing knowledge or understanding of workplace procedures is no longer considered sufficient.

Employers and Responsible Persons should therefore review their fire safety arrangements and training needs regularly to help ensure that Fire Wardens remain competent and understand the procedures they are expected to follow.