What do you need to know as a fire warden or fire marshal?
Performing the duties of a fire marshal or fire warden in your office, company or organisation is a great responsibility, as there will be a whole building of people relying on you for their safety.
As the “responsible person” for fire safety in your office, you will need to have the knowledge to be able to carry out your duties properly. This is why it is crucial to undertake fire marshalling training; in fact, it is virtually impossible to become a fire marshal or warden without going on one of these courses.
What you need to know: the essentials
As a fire marshal, you will need to be familiar with:
- The causes of fire
- How fire starts – the basic chemistry
- The different types of fire
- How to prevent against fire
- Fire hazards to look out for
- How to carry out a fire risk assessment and what is included
- Fire detection systems such as fire alarms and smoke detectors
- How to fight fire and how to use fire extinguishers
- Emergency escape measures including evacuation assembly points, escape routes, emergency exits and lighting
- How to conduct fire safety inspections (and how often) and maintain a fire log
- Legislation relating to fire safety in the workplace and other environments
All of this you should be able to learn as part of a standard six-hour fire marshalling course.