What fire training does my team need?
Every employer in England and Wales has a legal duty to give their staff fire safety training, but the law says surprisingly little about what that training should look like. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 asks for training that is "adequate" without defining the word. For a business owner or manager trying to get it right, that leaves a fair amount of room for interpretation.
In this post we set out what the law requires, where the grey areas lie, and how to plan training that suits your premises, your people and the risks identified in your fire risk assessment.
What the law says
Article 21 of the Fire Safety Order places the duty on the Responsible Person, who is usually the employer. Staff must receive suitable and sufficient instruction on the precautions to take and the actions to follow to keep themselves and others safe. This training must be given when someone first joins, and again when they are exposed to new or increased risks, such as a move to a different role, the introduction of new equipment or a change in the way work is done.
The Order also requires training to be repeated periodically where appropriate, to be adapted when risks change, and to reflect the risks identified in the fire risk assessment. It must take place during working hours, so staff should not be expected to complete it in their own time.
Why "adequate" causes difficulty
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Home Office ran a call for evidence on how well the Fire Safety Order was working. Many respondents said that the lack of a clear definition of adequate training allowed poor practice to continue. Several felt that training should go beyond online learning to include practical exercises tailored to the building where people actually work. Respondents also noted that staff in larger organisations tended to be better trained than those in smaller ones, largely because bigger employers have more money and resources to put into it.
A simple example shows the problem. Suppose a company decides that a few members of staff should be able to use fire extinguishers. Good practice would give them hands-on experience, so they know how heavy the extinguisher is, how to pull the pin, how to aim the hose and how to squeeze the handle. If they only watch a video and answer a short quiz, it is hard to argue that they are ready to tackle a real fire. Newer options, such as virtual reality training where learners go through the physical motions without a real extinguisher, sit somewhere in between. The law does not settle where the line falls, so the decision rests on the employer's judgement and the findings of the fire risk assessment.
Planning training for your team
Working through the following steps will help you decide what your staff need and check that they are getting it.
- Start with your fire risk assessment. A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment identifies the hazards in your workplace and the people at risk from them. It should also set out any actions relating to staff training, which gives you a sound basis for deciding what your training needs to cover.
- Work out who needs what. Every member of staff needs basic fire safety awareness training. This should cover how fires start and how to prevent them, what to do on discovering a fire, how to raise the alarm, the escape routes and the location of the assembly point. Some people will need more, such as fire wardens, staff expected to use firefighting equipment and those who help others to evacuate.
- Tailor the content. Training should reflect your building, the activities that take place in it and each person's role. A commercial kitchen, a warehouse and an office present very different fire risks, and generic material is unlikely to cover all of them well.
- Use competent trainers. Whether training is delivered in-house or by an external provider, the person delivering it should have sound knowledge of fire safety, practical experience of it and the skills to teach. They should also be able to adapt the session to the people in the room.
- Check that it has worked. After training, make sure staff can show the knowledge and skills they need. Regular fire drills help with this, as they give people the chance to practise the evacuation and help to stop skills fading over time.
- Refresh it when things change. Training should be reviewed and updated when risks change, for example when new processes are introduced, staff change roles or the layout of the building is altered.
The risk of diluted training
One common practice deserves particular caution. An employee attends a course and is then asked to pass on what they learned to colleagues, who later pass it on to new starters in turn. Each time the material is handed on, some detail is lost or changed, and after a few rounds the training may bear little resemblance to the original course. The person passing it on may also lack the knowledge to answer questions or correct misunderstandings. Sharing knowledge between colleagues can help to reinforce good habits, but it should sit alongside training from a competent trainer and never replace it.
For most organisations, the right approach combines awareness training for all staff, practical training for those with specific duties, and regular drills so that everyone stays familiar with what to do. Keeping that training matched to the risks in your premises, and updating it as those risks change, is the surest way to meet your duties under the Order.
Need help planning your staff fire training?
Our fire safety training can be delivered on site and tailored to your premises and the roles of your staff, or through our CPD-certified online course. We can also review your fire risk assessment to make sure your training reflects the risks in your workplace. To find out more, please get in touch.
View our fire safety training Fire risk assessmentsThis article provides general guidance and draws on published guidance from the Fire Protection Association. It does not replace a fire risk assessment or professional advice specific to your premises. Legislation referred to applies in England and Wales unless otherwise stated.