What is Legally Required for Fire Safety Awareness Training in 2024?
You need to provide fire safety training for everyone
Whilst those with specific responsibilities such as a fire warden may need specific training relating to their duties, what is the legal requirement for fire safety training when it comes to employees who do not necessarily have any specific responsibilities?
As a minimum, if you are a responsible person, you will need to implement induction and refresher training for all staff [1].
Who does everyone include?
There’s no getting around it, ‘all staff’ literally includes everyone who you employ, or who works on your premises, including:
- Full-time and part-time staff
- Employees on zero-hours contracts
- Security staff
- Cleaners
- Contractors including those who are classed as self-employed.
- Volunteers
How often does fire safety training need to take place?
As best practice, refresher training will take place at least once a year. However, it may be done more frequently if any circumstances change e.g. new or increased risks, a change in job role, or a change in work environment, to name just a few examples.
The RR(FS)O 2005 states that training must:
- Include suitable and sufficient instruction and training on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in order to safeguard himself and other relevant persons on the premises;
- Be repeated periodically where appropriate;
- Be adapted to take account of any new or changed risks to the safety of the employees concerned;
- Be provided in a manner appropriate to the risk identified by the risk assessment; and
- Take place during working hours.
What counts as ‘suitable and sufficient instruction’?
The London Fire Brigade recommends that ALL staff be trained in these four keys areas:
- Prevention, rules, and regulation
- What to do if there is a fire
- Equipment and good practice
- Fire alarms
What is ‘suitable and sufficient’ may vary from one workplace to the next, so you will need to think about your own fire risk assessment when planning out training opportunities for your employees and contractors.
Training can take place in the form of a simple toolbox talk, or it can be formally recognised training.
The Level 1 Award in Fire Safety Awareness is a short-course qualification (4 hours in total) aimed at individuals who want to gain formal recognition of their knowledge and understanding of fire safety. This course is especially ideal for new employees and those who do not necessarily have any specific fire safety role. However, it can also be a good starting point for those planning to progress to further qualifications.
All learners will cover the essentials of the causes of fires, their own responsibilities and those of fire wardens, how to respond to fire emergencies (including raising the alarm), fire risk management and prevention, safely using portable fire-fighting equipment and how to check that equipment is serviceable and safe to use.
