Hi, welcome back…. After the last couple of weeks where we have all been consumed by the news regarding the bushfires to the North, I am back to writing about what is and always should be at the top of our minds; Fire Safety and the training that should accompany any Fire Safety process that any business enters into
Owners, managers and employees of all businesses, whether large or small, need to be prepared and capable of managing emergencies whilst we all understand that having an appropriate fire protection solution is essential, the impact of the fire protection solution will be limited if building occupants don’t understand their responsibilities and the processes they should follow in the event of an emergency. Business owners must ensure that all staff members are trained. E.g. staff must be aware of how to use the portable the fire protection equipment on site and how to effectively evacuate in the event of an emergency, this sounds like common sense doesn’t it but hey you would be surprised.
All Business owners are required to develop an effective fire prevention plan in accordance with the Australian Standard, AS 3745 – 2010 “Planning for Emergencies in Facilities”. Emergency related training is an important part of your fire prevention plan. This Standard outlines the minimum requirements for the development of the emergency plan and can provide direction for the implementation of an effective Emergency Control Organisation (ECO) as well as emergency response procedures.
The ECO provides guidance to business owners and their staff, which sets them up to be in the best position to respond to a real or potential emergency. The ECO members are responsible for ensuring that all relevant personnel are trained for their role in an emergency and could manage the situation until emergency services arrive.
An amendment to AS 3745, which came in to effect in late 2011 make it mandatory for training to be completed by at least one member of the ECO and for the facility occupants. And it is also mandatory now for ECO members to attend skills retention training every six months.
There are a wide range of fire safety training courses such as warden training, emergency awareness training, evacuation training and fire extinguisher training on offer these days and it would be a wise move to pursue this type of training.
Finally, Fire safety is an important responsibility for the business owner and yes, it can be daunting to keep abreast of all the changes to legislation, the codes and standards whilst understanding exactly what the responsibilities are, however working with a fire protection specialist can help minimise the stress and worry.
My last point ……. Well-maintained fire protection equipment and systems on site can mean the difference between a minor fire and a disaster
……….. ‘Til the next time Greg