| Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order | | | | disabled people |
| 2005, all UK businesses have to carry out a Fire | | | | - Training in action to take with regard to |
| Risk Assessment on their work premises, to | | | | evacuation of people on the premises who are |
| ensure the safety of staff and anyone else likely | | | | not regular staff, such as visitors, contractors, etc |
| to be in the workplace. Another requirement of | | | | An essential part of any fire training programme |
| the Order is that the findings of your Fire Risk | | | | is the fire drill. You will never really know if your |
| Assessment have to be communicated to your | | | | emergency evacuation plan will work in reality |
| staff and you need to ensure that all staff are | | | | unless you try it out and give your staff the |
| trained in the action they need to take in an | | | | opportunity to practice it. Your staff need to feel |
| emergency. | | | | comfortable with all the action they will need to |
| The responsibility for these duties falls to what | | | | take in an emergency. A real emergency is not |
| the legislation calls the 'Responsible Person'. This is | | | | the time to find out that some detail of your |
| the business owner or person mainly responsible | | | | emergency plan does not quite work in practice. |
| for the work premises. Several people may share | | | | Your staff will be far more relaxed and efficient in |
| this role. | | | | a real emergency if they are used to going |
| One of the key things your Fire Risk Assessment | | | | through the motions in practice. Ideally you should |
| will lead to is an Emergency Plan, which will include | | | | carry out fire drills regularly, but not so that they |
| action to take in an emergency, including any | | | | are predictable. The most effective use of fire |
| special duties required of particular staff. Your | | | | drills is if you can do them as a surprise when |
| emergency plan is not worth having unless your | | | | most people are not expecting them. This gets a |
| workforce know and understand what it says and | | | | more realistic reaction, which is the most useful |
| have practice in putting it into action. This should | | | | for you to make judgments about whether |
| be the first focus for your staff fire training. | | | | anything needs changing. |
| Legislation highlights some key areas to pay | | | | In order to carry out a fire drill you need to |
| attention to when it comes to staff training. | | | | activate the fire alarm to replicate a real |
| These are primarily the need to provide training | | | | emergency. The best way to activate the alarm |
| for new staff and when an employee has a | | | | is usually by a special test key that activates a |
| change of duties or work environment. | | | | call point. Before you carry out a fire drill you |
| Your Fire Training ought to include the following: | | | | need to make sure you warn the alarm |
| - Full details of the contents of your Emergency | | | | monitoring company if your fire alarm is |
| Plan | | | | monitored, and any neighboring premises that are |
| - Information on the need to keep escape routes | | | | linked to your alarm. |
| free from obstructions at all times | | | | A useful thing to do in a fire drill is to block off |
| - Training in the use of fire fighting equipment | | | | one possible escape route. In a real emergency |
| Your Emergency Plan may include special duties | | | | the fire may be blocking one of the obvious ways |
| for some staff, who will be designated as Fire | | | | out, forcing people to use alternative exits. |
| Marshals. These people will almost certainly require | | | | Blocking off different exits gets people used to |
| additional training relating to their particular | | | | using alternative means of escape. |
| responsibilities. This training might include: | | | | - As the Responsible Person you should try to |
| - More specific or detailed training in the use of | | | | observe the fire drill yourself and take note of |
| fire extinguishers | | | | how effective the drill is, and whether there are |
| - More detailed information about the layout of | | | | any lessons to be learnt for the future. Your |
| the premises | | | | Emergency Plan should be something that is open |
| - Information about dealing with people with | | | | to constant amendment as circumstances change. |
| special requirements during an evacuation, such as | | | | |