| Companies and businesses now have a legal | | | | Once again however if it is not possible to |
| responsibility to ensure a competent person is on | | | | remove any disabled persons it is essential to |
| site at all times should a fire happen to break out. | | | | inform the fire service of the whereabouts of |
| A competent person is also termed as a fire | | | | any of these vulnerable persons. It is not just |
| warden, that is; a person who has had sufficient | | | | disabled persons that are classified as vulnerable, |
| training to ensure the safety of staff members | | | | the elderly also fall into this category and should |
| and anyone else who may be on the premises. | | | | be given as much importance as the disabled. The |
| The fire warden must have an understanding of | | | | warden's training should also make them aware |
| the risks of fire on any part of the premises and | | | | that in the event of a fire the elevators in tall |
| actions to follow in the event of a fire. In addition | | | | buildings should never be used, the stairs are the |
| they should also have had enough training to | | | | best way to exit, even if assisting the disabled |
| competently use the fire fighting equipment on | | | | and elderly. |
| the premises. But what are the responsibilities and | | | | Once the warden has managed to evacuate the |
| duties of the legally required warden in a business | | | | building to the best of their ability they will have to |
| or residential property? The following information | | | | congregate them in the fire assembly point. This |
| attempts to clarify this issue. | | | | area will have been defined by the legally required |
| The warden's training comes in most useful once | | | | fire risk assessment and should be clearly marked. |
| a fire has been started. In accordance with law | | | | Normally it must be at least one hundred feet |
| there are a number of predefined jobs that they | | | | away to avoid the dangers of falling objects or |
| must fulfil to ensure people's safety. One of the | | | | even explosions. Once the residents or members |
| most important tasks of the warden that they | | | | of staff are in this area, it is the warden's |
| will have instilled in them during training is that | | | | responsibility to converse with the fire service's |
| during their exit they must ensure that the fire | | | | representative on their arrival, ensuring they are |
| doors are shut behind them. This prevents the | | | | fully informed of any people remaining in the |
| spreading of smoke and gives other people in the | | | | building, and other issues they should be aware of. |
| building a safer exit. | | | | Through effective training the fire warden should |
| In residential areas the warden must also knock | | | | have the knowledge to perform this task |
| on resident's doors and ensure they are aware of | | | | efficiently, minimising the risk to anyone inside the |
| the fire; while it may not always be possible to | | | | building. Being a fire warden takes a great deal of |
| convince them to leave their homes, it is a vital | | | | responsibility and should always be taken seriously; |
| constituent of the training that wardens are | | | | after all, the people in any premises are |
| aware of the necessity to take not of the | | | | dependent upon the speedy and rapid evacuation |
| location of anyone left in the building. | | | | in the event of a blaze. By being thorough a |
| In addition to these responsibilities the fire warden | | | | warden can reduce the instances of injury and |
| is entrusted with the duty to help any disabled | | | | death and make the job easier for the |
| people on the premises with exiting the building. | | | | professionals once they arrive. |
