Are you prepared for an unexpected fire? The role of a fire warden

SAFETY

YOU MAY EXPECT staff and visitors to behave in certain ways during an emergency evacuation, but this won’t always happen. What factors should be considered when training fire wardens to anticipate unexpected behaviour?

The need for fire warden

Although the risk from fire is generally well controlled, it’s still a major hazard causing property damage and threat to life. A well-trained fire warden will play a key role in ensuring a successful evacuation. They will need to ensure that everyone evacuates a building when there is a fire and that no one re-enters until it has been deemed safe.

Misperception

A common percep tion is that people panic when faced with a fire, leading to irrational and unpre dictable behaviour. In fact, quite the opposite is true. The reality of behaviour in emergen cies is often:

● Slow and delayed movement

● Following predictable behaviour such as continuing with work or phone calls

● Stopping to collect belongings

● Leaving a building by a familiar exit and ignoring closer exits

Recognition of fire threat

When confronted by signals which indicate a possible fire, people may:

● Ignore the warning or wait to see if it’s for real

Go and investigate and fight the fire

Raise the alarm and instruct others

Flee from the situation, fail to respond, or even freeze

Those who have experienced a fire before may recognise the threat as serious and take immediate action. Those who have never experienced a fire may be more subdued or even curious which can delay their evacuation and put them and others in danger.

Those responsible for others

People who are responsible for others, such as directors and some managers, will generally not evacuate a building willingly if they believe that the person(s) they’re responsible for is still inside the building and in danger. It’s imperative that this side of human nature is accounted for in a risk assessment and suitable control measures considered.

Fire Wardens

It is essential that you have well-trained fire wardens who will react quickly and decisively upon hearing an alarm. Without this authority figure during an emergency, staff and visitor behaviours can become unmanageable, putting people and your business at risk.

TIP: When faced with the threat of fire, people do not always behave as you expect. Train fire wardens to act decisively in the event of an emergency. Their behaviour will influence others and ensure everyone reaches a place of safety, protecting your business. If you would like to know more about how Safety Aide can provide Fire Warden Training for your business, please get in touch on 08000 806 801.

Don’t underestimate the importance of prioritising your brand over the brands you represent!

MARY PERRY Owner

THE MACHINERY BRANDS that you represent are an important part of your make-up, and associating with them will bolster your reputation as a company, BUT you need to be known for who you are to differentiate yourself from the competition!

Great customer service, expertise and fantastic customer experiences are associated with your brand because that’s who the customer deals with and who they will return to. We know that customers will firstly buy based on a great experience – and that customer experience lies with you, the dealership. The product is secondary. When the customer thinks of a great local dealership, you want your name to be remembered, not to be known as ‘the local (insert brand) dealer’.

Making sure that company branding and message is kept consistent across your marketing will help establish an identity. This goes for all your marketing touch points, whether