Fire Marshals/Wardens - what does the law require from organisations?
17th September 2015
Fully trained fire marshals/fire wardens are needed to be responsible for maintaining calm and discipline in an emergency. Each storey should have one fire warden/marshal for each exit on that storey.
Extract DCLG Fire guide for existing workplaces:
Staff expected to undertake the role of fire wardens/marshals require more comprehensive training.
- Helping those on the premises to leave
- Checking the premises to ensure everyone has left
- Using firefighting equipment if safe to do so
- Liaising with the fire and rescue service on arrival
- Shutting down vital or dangerous equipment
- Performing a supervisory/management role in any fire situation.
Training for this role may include:
- Detailed knowledge of the fire safety strategy of the premises
- Awareness of human behaviour in fires
- How to encourage others to use the most appropriate escape route
- How to search safely and recognise areas that are unsafe to enter
- The difficulties that some people, particularly if disabled, may have in escaping andany special evacuation arrangements that have been pre-planned
- Additional training in the use of firefighting equipment
- An understanding of the purpose of any fixed firefighting equipment such as sprinklers or gas flooding systems
- Reporting of faults, incidents and near misses.
Extract BS 9999 Managing Fire Safety guide for existing workplaces:
