Fire marshals play an important role in ensuring that buildings and other premises are safe from the risk of fire. In this article, we will outline the fire marshal requirements in the UK that members of staff must meet to become fire marshals. We will also explain what the legal obligations of business owners regarding the number of fire marshals within the workplace are.
What is a fire marshal?
All businesses should have at least one designated fire marshal. This person is responsible for ensuring the safety of employees and customers in the event of fire. The fire marshal should also carry out regular fire safety checks, ensuring that fire exits are not obstructed, fire extinguishers are working properly etc.
To turn your chosen staff members into competent fire marshals, they will need to undergo training. Fortunately, that is easy to arrange. With Portland Training’s online courses, your staff can learn everything they need to know in one handy, short course! This course can be completed in the employee’s own time, so there is minimal disruption to business.
When choosing a member or members of staff to be your designated fire marshal, choose someone with good communication skills and who can keep calm under pressure. These skills will be essential for giving evacuation instructions in the event of a fire.
The benefits of having a fire marshal
There are many benefits to having a fire marshal within a workplace, including:
– Reduced risk of fire: You might think it would never happen to you, but there are nearly twenty thousand commercial fires in the UK each year! Each of those businesses probably thought it would never happen to them too. By having a dedicated individual responsible for fire safety, the consequences if a fire took place are softened, and the likelihood of a fire starting in the first place is sharply reduced.
– Improved employee safety: Fire marshals can play a vital role in ensuring that all employees are aware of the dangers of fire and the importance of following safety procedures. This can help to create a safer working environment for all.
– Enhanced reputation: Companies with effective fire safety systems in place are often seen as being more reputable and trustworthy. This can be beneficial when competing for new business.
What are my legal obligations as a business owner?
It’s not always easy to separate what is only recommended and what is a legal requirement. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should give you a good overview of what is required by law.
By law, you must have a Fire Risk assessment carried out on your business. This involves hiring a fire assessor to come out and inspect your workplace. They will classify your business level as low, medium or high risk. The level of risk will affect what other legal obligations you have.
By law, you must have fire safety signs. These include fire action signs (what to do in case of fire), signs locating the fire alarm and fire exits, and Fire Extinguisher ID signs which explain how to use the fire extinguisher.
By law, you must provide “appropriate fire-fighting equipment”. For most businesses that means fire extinguishers. For particularly high-risk businesses, you might need sprinklers and hosepipe too. Ask your fire assessor about this.
If your business does not get a lot of light from external sources, then you must also have ’emergency lighting’ in case power is cut due to a fire. This prevents panic, allows people to exit safely, and allows any dangerous equipment to be shut down.
How many fire marshals does my business need?
How many fire marshals you need exactly will depend on the size of your building and its fire risk level. For example, a small shop with low risk of fire may need only fire marshal, while a very large store or office might need as many as 13. This may seem high, but you don’t want to be caught short when some of your fire marshals take days off or leave the business. When you get your fire risk assessment done, the assessor can help you figure out how many fire marshals your business needs.
Conclusion
Fire marshals are an indispensable part of any business. They reduce the risk of fires and ensure the safety of everyone in the event of a fire. Training your staff to be fire marshals has never been easier, so ensure your business has enough fire marshals to account for staff absences and coverage of the entire workplace.
