INFORM AND INSTRUCT Clear, relevant information and appropriate instructions must be given to staff and other people working on site, such as contractors, informing them what they need to do if there’s a fi re. The information and instructions you provide must be in a form that’s easily understood and should take into account those with disabilities, learning diffi culties and those for whom English is not their fi rst language. Staff should be given training on induction and regularly thereafter, depending on the level of risk.
The information and instruction you give should be based on your emergency plan and must include: • Your risk assessment fi ndings • Measures you’ve put in place to reduce the risk of fi re
• What staff should do if there’s a fi re • Clear identifi cation of the people in the organisation who have fi re safety responsibilities (such as fi re marshals)
In small premises where no signifi cant risks have been identifi ed, information and instruction could simply involve an explanation of the fi re procedures and how they’re applied. This could include showing staff escape routes, how to use fi re extinguishers and where they are located. In bigger premises, you should make sure that written instructions are given to those people who have designated tasks. Co-operate and co-ordinate: where a premises
is owned by someone else or there are multiple occupiers, it’s important that you inform others of any signifi cant risks that you’ve identifi ed. By talking to other occupiers, you can co-ordinate your resources so that your actions and working practices don’t place others at risk, and so that a co-ordinated emergency plan operates effectively.
FIRE SAFETY TRAINING You must provide adequate training for your staff. The type of training will depend on the premises but should: • Refl ect the fi ndings of the fi re risk assessment • Explain your emergency procedures • Explain the duties and responsibilities of staff • Take place in normal working hours and be repeated periodically
• Be easily understandable by staff • Be tested by fi re drills
The responsibilities of staff will include, for example, a weekly test of a fi re detection and alarm system by operating a manual call point.
In small premises, showing new staff the fi re exits and giving basic training on what to do if there’s a fi re should be adequate. However, in larger premises with a high staff turnover and shift patterns, your staff training should involve: • The general fi re precautions in the premises • What to do on discovering a fi re • How to raise the alarm • What to do when you hear an alarm • Procedures for alerting members of the public and visitors
• Arrangements for calling the emergency services • Evacuation procedures • Location and use of fi re fi ghting equipment • The location of emergency exits • The importance of keeping fi re doors closed
All staff identifi ed in your emergency plan that have a supervisory role (such as fi re marshals) should be given details of your fi re risk assessment and receive additional training.
22 | BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO FIRE SAFETY | BEST PRACTICE GUIDE T
FIRE SAFETY
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