Fire Safety Warden

A fire warden is a designated person within an organization who is allocated certain responsibilities to help support the ongoing management of fire safety, by contributing to the safety of people in the event of a fire.

Who can be a Fire Warden:

Staff member who is willing to accept the responsibility of managing emergency situations. Also:

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Must be able to calmly evaluate and respond in emergencies.

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Be able to provide leadership and guidance to individuals in emergency situations.

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Be able to calmly direct persons to safety and evacuate the space as is necessary.

Key duties of Fire Wardens include:

• to assist in implementing and improving effective emergency procedures in your workplace;

• to help prevent emergencies by monitoring the adequacy of the fire risk control measures;

• to raise awareness with other staff about the fire hazards that exist in your workplace;

• to instruct workers in how to respond in an emergency;

• to lead the fire drills and real evacuation procedures – they must be familiar with all escape routes and exits from their designated area;

• to ensure all workers are accounted for during an evacuation; and

• to assist all people in the workplace should an emergency occur, including assisting people with special needs, e.g. helping someone in a wheelchair to evacuate.

During an evacuation, Fire Wardens need to:

• direct everyone to leave the building using all the appropriate routes and exits (and not inappropriate exits such as lifts, elevators);

• check all accessible spaces in their area, including the bathroom, to make sure everyone has evacuated – this should be done on the way out of the building so that the fire warden isn’t putting themselves at risk by re-entering the evacuated area;

• close the doors to help to isolate the fire; and

• guide everyone to the assembly area and assist in checking that everyone has arrived safely.

Importance of Fire Wardens:

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Provide first response (while Fire Brigade is en route – if safe to do so)

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Ensure occupants evacuate the space, as is necessary

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Organise staff in a manner that minimises that probability of exposure of staff, patient, visitor to the fire