Fire Safety Management (ii)

• Training
• Testing & Maintenance
• Record Keeping
• Fire Risk Assessment

Regular staff training and evacuation drills are a legal requirement for any business. This should usually be carried out every six months, though in some professions such as healthcare it is normal to train night staff every three months. Different levels of training will of course be required for staff with different levels of responsibility, and at least some staff should receive practical training in the use of fire fighting equipment.

All training and drills should be recorded in detail, as should testing and maintenance of fire safety equipment and systems. This information should be kept carefully in a Fire Log Book, ideally stored with the Fire Risk Assessment, and be readily available for inspection by a local authority fire officer or other authorised person.

The policy must make provision for carrying out, and reviewing, the Fire Risk Assessment as required under Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

An effective fire safety policy will result in well informed management and staff, avoidance of fire damage and disruption, and a 'culture of fire safety' at all levels of the business.