| Everybody is talking about fire prevention, fire | | | | layout of the organisation and the emergency |
| safety, tips and hints and whatnot ever since the | | | | exits. It is advisable that each employee is given a |
| increase in fire accidents. But is that all that we | | | | hard copy to refer to in terms of an emergency. |
| need? Well, they are not exactly all that we need. | | | | This should include the emergency escape route |
| There is more to it. | | | | and the assembling area. |
| No matter where it is, be it at home or in the | | | | Apart from the layout briefing, staff should also |
| workplace, we need some form of orderliness. | | | | be trained on how to use the fire fighting |
| When somebody sees the fire or hears the | | | | equipment. Although the operations manager and |
| alarm, they go into a momentary state of shock. | | | | team would already be equipped with this |
| It is normal. However, what you did not know is, | | | | knowledge, teaching more people could save even |
| if you are not trained on what to do, you could | | | | more lives. They should be educated on the |
| actually panic and be in a permanent state of | | | | different types of fire fighting equipment and their |
| shock. | | | | purpose. This is to ensure that they use the |
| Can it be avoided? Of course, it can be avoided. | | | | correct fire fighting equipment. |
| According to the UK Fire Rules and Regulations, | | | | What we have just covered relates to acquiring |
| each organisation is supposed to conduct a fire drill | | | | knowledge. To ensure that your employees really |
| to train its employees on fire safety. If you are | | | | know what to do, a false alarm should be set. It |
| an employer, I am sure you are panicky now. | | | | is called a table top exercise whereby the |
| Well, here is the good news. We are going to | | | | operations team will test the employees' readiness |
| take you through the basics of a fire drill. | | | | and responsiveness. Based on this exercise, |
| It is recommended that every member of staff | | | | analysis can be drawn and improvements can be |
| are involved in this fire drill. However, if this is | | | | made during future fire drills and table top |
| impossible, there should at least be half of each | | | | exercises. |
| department present. For example, if there are | | | | Practice makes perfect. As such it is important to |
| only two people in a department, it is compulsory | | | | carry out these exercises once every six months. |
| for at least one staff member to attend. | | | | Nobody knows when a fire will break-out. Stay |
| During this fire drill exercise, the employer or the | | | | vigilant always! |
| operations manager should brief the staff on the | | | | |