Fire safety training compliance with the FSO

Ensuring adequacy of fire safety training in compliance with the FSO

Article 21 of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) states that the Responsible Person must ensure that all their employees are provided with adequate safety training. It is a legal requirement that training must be provided from the time the employee is first employed and subsequently if they are exposed to a new or increased risk. The training must also be:

• suitable and sufficient instruction on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in order to safeguard themselves and other relevant people on the premises
• repeated periodically where appropriate
• adapted to take into account any new or changed risks
• provided in a manner appropriate to the risks identified by the risk assessment
• delivered during work hours.

But how do organisations ensure the quality and adequacy of their fire safety training in order to comply with the requirements of the FSO? Luke Ventura, Senior Trainer and Curriculum Lead at the Fire Protection Association explains:

Planning fire training for staff

1. Fire risk assessment. A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment helps to identify the specific hazards and risks within the workplace. Specific actions for staff fire training should be incorporated, and understanding and communication of those hazards and risks can be addressed through tailoring of content.
2. Identify who needs training. All staff need fire training, and this will vary depending on their role. As a minimum, all employees will need generic<> fire safety awareness training to help protect themselves and others. Fire safety awareness training should include topics such as fire prevention, action in the event of a fire, evacuation procedures and escape routes, location of assembly points, and sounding a fire alarm. Some employees will require specific training such as fire wardens or those with specific duties related to firefighting equipment or evacuation.
3. Ensure the right content. The training must be adapted to the setting, the risk of fire within that setting and the role of all employees.
4. Engage qualified and competent trainers. Training is most effective when it is delivered by qualified and competent trainers, either internally or externally. It is important that the training course delivery can be adapted to meet the needs of the learners.
5. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness. Post-delivery, organisations should look to evaluate the effectiveness of any staff training by ensuring all employees can demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills in fire safety. Training should also be repeated periodically and practiced through drills to reinforce and avoid ‘skills fade’.
6. Adapt, change and refresh where necessary. As per the requirements of the FSO, training should be adapted, changed, and refreshed to take into account any new or altered risks such a changes in processes, changes in personnel, or building layout and use.

Delivering staff fire training

Any trainer (either internal or external) that is appointed by the Responsible Person to deliver fire safety training must be competent as per Article 18 of the FSO. For a trainer, this means that they should have a general knowledge of fire safety, experience of fire safety, and skills in training, presentation, and delivery.

Organisations must be aware of the danger of ‘diluting’ training and best practice which can occur when employees are tasked with ‘teaching’ others what they have learnt. This practice continues from employee to employee until the training is so diluted that it no longer reflects the content of the original course completed by the original employee.

Level 3 Certificate in Fire Safety Training

When considering the competency of your internal trainers, the FPA is pleased to offer its new Level 3 Certificate in Fire Safety Training. Delivered over an interactive four days, this train-the-trainer programme equips you with a Level 3 teaching qualification and the knowledge, skills, and resources to move from delegate to trainer; enabling you to deliver basic fire safety and fire warden training.

Whether delivering mandatory staff induction training in fire safety or supporting your organisation’s fire wardens (marshals) to fulfil their duties, this course supports your training delivery journey and provides Level 3 competencies in Education and Training. 

For more information visit : https://www.thefpa.co.uk/