Fire safety is a critical concern for businesses of all sizes. Whether your business operates on a smaller scale or a larger scale, it is always recommended to have an expert, such as a fire warden, who could take charge when things get out of hand. In the event of a fire, having the right fire safety measures in place can make all the difference in an emergency. This can be in the form of preventing injuries, saving lives, or maintaining a safe and secure environment in the workplace.
Having designated fire wardens among the staff is a vital fire safety measure, and it helps businesses to meet the law of Regulatory Reforms (Fire Safety) 2005. In this blog, we will look at how to calculate the number of fire wardens your business requires and the elements that influence this decision.
What is a fire warden?
A fire warden is an individual who is responsible for implementing fire safety measures and procedures within a workplace. Fire warden has certain responsibilities upon their shoulders, one of which is to assist with emergency evacuations or accidents to ensure that people around them are safe. To be specific, fire wardens are trained to identify potential fire hazards, conduct regular fire drills, raise the emergency alarm in the event of a fire, and direct people to safety.
However, your concern regarding having a fire warden present at your business might not be that big. By providing your employees with the appropriate fire warden training, you can educate your competent staff on gaining the skillset of being an effective fire warden. So, whether you want one or two fire wardens for your business, it is important to remember that sufficient training is all you need.
The legal requirement for fire wardens
The legal requirements for fire wardens vary depending on the size and type of business. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) states that businesses must have a sufficient number of competent people to assist in implementing the necessary fire safety measures. Although this law does not dictate how many specific fire wardens your business should have at the moment.
The guidance from the government recommends that businesses have at least two fire wardens on each floor of a building. However, the actual number of fire wardens required will depend on several factors, including the size of the building, the number of employees, and the nature of the business.
How many fire wardens?
Well, actually, there is no set amount for how many fire wardens your business might require. It mostly depends on the size and shape of your premises. The first and foremost step to getting an answer to this question should be to conduct a risk assessment to evaluate how fire can impact different types of people in your building. However, the experts say that it is recommended to have one trained fire warden for every ten members in the building, but this could vary depending on your business’s risk of a fire accident.
The most efficient way to carry out an effective fire risk assessment in your workplace is to get properly trained! By having your staff trained in fire risk assessment training, you could train your employees on how to properly analyze and identify the workplace and what people are affected by a fire and how. Doing so would allow you to figure out how many fire wardens your business might need.
How do I calculate the number of fire wardens?
It doesn’t matter how competent a fire warden can be or how much training they have received, it is proven that at one point in an emergency, a single fire warden can only do little, which might put businesses at a higher risk. So, it is important for you as an employer to not hesitate to provide your employees with proper fire warden training.
Getting an answer to how many fire wardens your business might need is pretty straightforward. So long as you are aware of all the risk factors present in your workplace and how your business normally operates.
The following factors should be considered when calculating how many fire wardens you need:
- The number of buildings and floors—you might require at least one trained fire warden for each floor. If your business’s building consists of three or more floors, then it is recommended to have one or two fire wardens on each floor.
- The number of occupants—your business might need enough fire wardens to guide everyone out safely. A single fire warden would only be able to deal with a limited number of people, guiding them to safety. The higher the risk in the workplace, the more fire wardens would be required. If the risk is low, then there should be one fire warden per 50 persons; if medium, then 1 per 20 persons; and if high, then 1 per 15 persons.
- The types of occupants – Those that are at greater risk in case of a fire event are the elderly, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities. It is vital that you also consider these people and set your fire warden number accordingly.
- The number of shifts – The more shifts there are at your business, the more fire wardens would be needed. It is important that you plan out your shift accordingly so that there are sufficient numbers of fire wardens available at the time of shift.
- Holiday sickness cover – Designated fire wardens should take different holidays. It is crucial to have more than one designated fire warden in an area. Just in case one is absent, then the other could come in handy in case of an emergency.
- The type of workplace – This is a crucial step in determining the level of risk that your business is at. You should take into account the following:
- The quantity of combustibles and flammable materials present in your workplace. For example, a storage warehouse would be at a higher risk than an office.
- Sources of ignition. Workplaces that operate with naked flames, electricity, and other sources of ignition in their daily work task would be at a higher risk. Such as restaurants and workshops.
- The fabric of the building – Most modern buildings are made out of wood which is low resistant to fire than workplaces that are built on concrete and stone.
- The nature of people’s work – Some activities might hinder the people’s evacuation from the building, such as working with large machines or vehicles that must be turned off. Furthermore, a task that involves working with ignition sources, such as cooking or welding, can generate a higher risk.
- The size and design of the layout of the building. Larger rooms, such as halls or complex layouts, can take longer to scout and evacuate
- The number of shifts – The more shifts there are at your business, the more fire wardens would be needed. It is important that you plan out your shift accordingly so that there are sufficient numbers of fire wardens available at the time of shift.
- Holiday sickness cover – Designated fire wardens should take different holidays. It is crucial to have more than one designated fire warden in an area. Just in case one is absent, then the other could come in handy in case of an emergency.
- The type of workplace – This is a crucial step in determining the level of risk that your business is at. You should take into account the following:
- The quantity of combustibles and flammable materials present in your workplace. For example, a storage warehouse would be at a higher risk than an office.
- Sources of ignition. Workplaces that operate with naked flames, electricity, and other sources of ignition in their daily work task would be at a higher risk. Such as restaurants and workshops.
- The fabric of the building – Most modern buildings are made out of wood which is low resistant to fire than workplaces that are built on concrete and stone.
- The nature of people’s work – Some activities might hinder the people’s evacuation from the building, such as working with large machines or vehicles that must be turned off. Furthermore, a task that involves working with ignition sources, such as cooking or welding, can generate a higher risk.
- The size and design of the layout of the building. Larger rooms, such as halls or complex layouts, can take longer to scout and evacuate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the number of fire wardens required in a business will depend on several factors, including the size of the building, the number of employees, and the nature of the business. While the RRFSO does not specify the exact number of fire wardens required, it is the responsibility of the business owner or responsible person to conduct a fire risk assessment and determine the appropriate number of fire wardens.
Having an adequate number of fire wardens on the premises can help minimize the risk of fire, ensure that everyone can be evacuated safely, and prevent injuries and property damage. By providing fire warden training and ensuring that fire wardens are properly trained and qualified, businesses can help to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees in the event of a fire.