First Aid & Fire Marshal Posters

[Siblo]

Hi All,

Not posted here for ages, but gut an issue I'm not sure about.

We have First Aiders names listed next to first aid kits at all locations, also stating where the first aiders can be found or are usually located.

During an internal audit (by our German Head office), they have suggested that fire marshals should also be listed in the same way, (on noticeboards, not next to every fire extinguisher)

I feel like listing names would hinder any evacuation, with people checking lists and looking for the fire marshal rather than just raising the alarm and getting out.

Thoughts Please.

[Blackstone]

Not sure it would really be helpful.

I would say Employees should know who the fire marshals are for the area they work in.

I also guess it might depend on how an evacuation works at your company. I've been in places where they don't sweep the building but have a rollcall at assembly point and the other way where they sweep buildings but then don't do a roll call at the assembly point.

In an evacuation people should just be leaving not checking anything!

[Messy]

To be fair, its not something I would die in a ditch about. If my HQ wanted it - German or not - I would let them have it

I sort of understand the need identifying 1st Aiders. (Mind you, if the procedure for accessing first aid is by searching for one desk by desk, I think that is poor)

But identifying Fire Marshalls - for most workplaces - really isnt necessary as they should make themselves known to you during an emergency using hi viz and loud hailers etc.

For a small undertaking or where there is an exceptionally high risk of rapid fire spread or explosion it might be a good idea, but for most places, its a bit excessive.

In my last role, we had 430 Marshalls at Head Office. They constantly moved office, got promoted, got pregnant , resigned or died (not necessarily in that order ) so maintaining the photo list would be a nightmare

If you had an intranet or joint filing systems, you could keep it electronically - but honestly, who would look at it?

[witsd]

When I worked in M&S, we had a card system showing who was in or out. If a person was a first aider, their name had a green background. If a fire marshall, it was red. Some were half and half, and all normal staff were yellow.

Now while this system was utterly useless for its primary purpose of being a role-call checklist (people being the idiots they are), it did mean that you could quickly ID staff with those abilities and also gain some level of day-to-day familiarity without forcing anyone to look at a long list.

It was also helpful for the person labouring to do the role-call - the red names weren't going to be at the assembly point, as they would be investigating or whatever.

[stephen1974]

How many people do you think would run off to the notice board to see who their fire marshal is? If you do drills properly your staff will know what to do.

Put the sign up. IMO its neither a help nor a hinderence, so keep the bosses happy.