Module 5 Learning Outcome
Objectives-
- The role of the fire warden
- Duties day to day
- Duties in the event of a fire
The role of the fire warden
The role of the Fire Warden can be broken down into two categories:
- Duties day to day
- Duties in the event of a fire (including their role in evacuation)
DUTIES DAY TO DAY
The main duty for you as a fire warden is to keep an eye on the general fire safety of the area, buildings or floor you have been allocated.
This can be achieved by:
- Checked combustible materials are not stored in walkways and corridors
- Checking escape routes and fire exit doors are kept free of obstructions
- Checking fire doors are not tied, propped or wedged open where they should not be
- Checking extinguishers are where they should be, no obvious misuse or defects has occurred and they are not obstructed
- During fire alarm tests ensure that the alarm can be heard in all rooms and all parts of their allocated area
- Possibly assisting with fire risk assessments
- Reporting any evidence of smoking inside buildings
- Checking break glass call points are visible and have a break glass point sign and emergency fire action notice adjacent to them
Evacuation plans will need to be tested to ensure that they are effective. This can be achieved through fire drills.
Generally, fire drills should be conducted annually, however the actual frequency should be determined by the fire risk assessment.
Records of fire drills, learning points and follow-up actions should be kept.
During the event of a fire, you as a fire warden will need to ensure that:
- The alarm has been raised
- The whole allocated area, including toilets have been evacuated, check any refuge in their area in case someone is waiting for assistance to evacuate
- The emergency services have been contacted
- All windows in rooms and corridors are closed
- You direct staff to safe available exit routes
- Plant and machinery are shut down wherever possible and other actions are taken to minimise the risks posed by these
- You liaise with the emergency services to provide information on access, trapped people that need assistance and any special hazards in the area.
- Fire doors are closed to prevent the spread of fire
- A roll call is carried out at the assembly point and the result reported to the person in charge of the evacuation
- Ensure people do not enter the building until it has been confirmed that it is safe to do so
The duties that a Fire Warden performs during an emergency are clearly very important. But your health, safety and welfare, along with those around you, is paramount.
So, remain calm and do not take any unnecessary risks while performing your duties.
Duties in the event of a fire
The fire warden has a very large role in evacuation, you must:
- Alert everyone
- raise the alarm
- Alert the emergency services
- Search the area
- Search the whole allocated area, including toilets and ensure they have been evacuated, check any refuge in their area in case someone is waiting for assistance to evacuate
- Minimise the risks
- Ensure fire doors are closed to prevent the spread of fire
- Ensure plant and machinery are shut down whenever possible
- Ensure all windows in rooms and corridors are closed
- Fight the fire
- If the fire is at a stage where it is small, manageable (ignition stage), and an appropriate extinguisher is available and you have been trained in its use, you could attempt to extinguish the fire
- Work with others
- Report to the person in charge of the evacuation the results of the roll call
- Liaise with the emergency services to provide information on access, trapped people that need assistance and any special hazards in the area
- Go to the assembly point
- Carry out a roll call
- Ensure people do not enter the building until it has been confirmed that it is safe to do so
We have covered here the general duties that fire wardens typically perform.
It is essential that you are made aware of the fire safety arrangements that apply to your workplace and if you have any specific duties to perform.
Always remember, at no point should you take any unnecessary risks while performing your duties as a Fire Warden.
This link provides a copy of the legislation – The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
This link is guidance from the HSE on the above legislation – Signpost to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations
Advice on the use of fire safety signs can be in the Guidance documents for business
An excellent reference handbook for fire safety signs is produced by the Fire Protection Association. – Guide to Fire Safety Signs – FSB36 – ISBN 0 902167 87-1
See the detailed guidance Safety signs and signals: Guidance on Regulations – The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 HSE Books.
British Standards are available from British Standards Online
HSE priced publications are also available from good booksellers.
