Warden Training

[toecutter]

Hi folks

Just a quick one to gauge opinion regarding training for Fire Wardens. Got a fairly low-risk site (office, marine servicing workshop), about 70 - 100 staff and 7 Fire Wardens. Our safety procedure says refresher training should be done at least every 3 years, which I'd probably consider sufficient, and the wardens have all done the training within the last 3 years. Their certificates, however, have a 12 month decay on them and have all expired. From what I can tell (only been with the company for a few months) the training, although "RoSPA approved" was an online course so obviously won't have involved any practical extinguisher training or anything like that. My instinct is to send them all on a course with a local provider and start the 3 year cycle from scratch. Am I going over the top? I wouldn't really expect them to be tackling anything but the smallest isolated fires, if that, and their main emergency duties really will be to sweep their areas on the way out and report to the Site Manager at the muster point.

Thanks

[Messy]

You are right to mention the risk level of your site as this would be part of an assessment to determine the frequency of training refreshers and perhaps staff turnover. Your Fire Risk Assessment should help you determine your training needs

The frequency of 3 years seem a little high if that is all your company provide. I would hope that there would be intermediate in-house 'top up' sessions, perhaps provided by a manager or better still, the most experienced warden. It might be useful to hold these short meetings prior to the routine fire drill so that staff can be reminded of their role at the meeting before they put what they have discussed into place on a practical basis during the fire drill - perhaps the next week

Why 7 wardens? Seems a curious number? I am not criticising it, but it shone out as unusual- especially as wardens should always sweep in pairs.

I totally agree that your wardens should receive hands on training rather than e-learning. Please do not get to focused on certificates & paperwork, as it is your fire risk assessment that should determine frequency and not a third party training company set on drumming up repeat business. Please do make sure you use a competent person to deliver the training though and obtain full details of their experience and the course content before training any staff or paying a penny.

If you can spare all 7 staff to attend training together and have access to a meeting room, why not get the trainer to visit your site? Any additional expense can often be recouped by offsetting expenses and downtime into the equation. I used to offer a service where I would suggest the emergency plan and fire risk assessment be forwarded to me a couple of weeks before the on-site training and I would alter my presentation to building a lecture bespoke to the company's needs. It was quite well received and got me lots of work (I am no longer self employed so this is not an advertisement!!!!)

Good luck

[toecutter]

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I thought 7 was a bit odd, too, I think it's just a legacy thing from when before this part of the business was brought into the company - it was a family-run thing until we bought them and moved here from a leased building. The three-year minimum refresher period is from a generic company document, we encourage the individual sites to take a risk-based approach where appropriate. I definitely think we need to get some proper training done here as a starting point.

Thanks again

[Samsagepk]

Hi All,
Similar to the above post,
I have recently had a visit from our safety advisor on his yearly visit to tell us what we are doing wrong and right, He has mentioned that none of our fire wardens are trained and I tried arguing that we tell all of our wardens that we do not fight fires and to evacuate the building once everybody else is out, he said HSE may catch us on that if we should ever have a visit, I Personally don't feel training is necessary as we have around wardens/marshalls who escort staff/visitors away from the building and they are not to return to the building even in the event of a small bin fire and wait for the fire brigade which automatically know that our alarm has gone off and we have to tell them if its real or a drill.

Thoughts on this ? Do we need training if our policy is to evacuate and leave the fire to the professionals ?

Look forward to the replies!

Sam

[Messy]

What sort of premises are you as the HSE rarely enforce fire safety?? (mainly nuclear site, shipbuilding & construction sites)

I am afraid if you are in England or Wales , the training requirement is not something you can opt out of (Scotland & NI have similar legislations)

Article 21 of the Fire Safety Order states that employees receive adequate training - not just wardens! And that it must be repeated periodically.

However, do not fret as it also states 'The training must be provided in a manner appropriate to the risk identified by the risk assessment'

So if you have a low risk premises, a low level of training is necessary. It might be just a be a briefing.

Our train strategy uses annual e-learning for all staff and joiners, plus an annual presentation and extinguisher 'show and tell' for wardens.

[bernicarey]

He has mentioned that none of our fire wardens are trained and I tried arguing that we tell all of our wardens that we do not fight fires and to evacuate the building once everybody else is out,.....
...... even in the event of a small bin fire and wait for the fire brigade which automatically know that our alarm has gone off and we have to tell them if its real or a drill.

Thoughts on this ? Do we need training if our policy is to evacuate and leave the fire to the professionals ?

Look forward to the replies!

Sam

I have to question any company where this is policy.

Reality Check Time.

How do the Wardens know what to do if they have no training?
How do they know how to enter a room?
Do they know about the risks of a fire behind a closed door?

Have you got Fire Extinguishers, if so why, if your policy is to get out no matter how small, no matter what?
Are your staff trained in using an extinguisher?
Are your staff trained in fire prevention?
Are your insurance company aware that you are going to let the business burn down while you wait 10 minutes for a fire appliance, all because of a small fire in an electrical appliance (PC, heater, vacuum cleaner, desk fan, etc, etc..)
I think they might review your premiums!