Roles and responsibilities of a fire warden
Key fire safety regulations, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, place the responsibility for fire safety on the Responsible Person. To support this role in a workplace, fire wardens may be appointed to assist with day-to-day fire safety tasks. The roles and responsibilities of a fire warden typically include monitoring fire safety within the organisation, identifying hazards, enforcing safety measures and ensuring compliance.
If you’ve recently been appointed as a fire warden in your organisation, you may be wondering what your key roles and responsibilities are. To provide clarity, we’ve put together an overview of the roles and responsibilities of a fire warden, helping you understand how to maintain fire safety in your workplace.
But remember, the roles and responsibilities of a fire warden can vary significantly depending on the nature of the organisation, its size and the associated fire risks. For example:
- Fire wardens in care settings such as hospitals may need to manage the evacuation of individuals requiring Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).
- In high-risk environments like manufacturing, fire wardens’ roles and responsibilities may include overseeing additional safety measures, such as ensuring flammable materials are stored properly.
- In a small office, the roles and responsibilities of a fire warden may focus on keeping evacuation routes clear and ensuring fire drills are conducted.
- Larger organisations often have multiple fire wardens, each responsible for specific areas or floors. In such cases, duties may involve more coordination and teamwork.
Key roles and responsibilities of a fire warden
Conducting fire safety inspections
Fire safety inspections are an important part of a fire warden’s role. These involve checking that evacuation routes and fire exits are unobstructed, ensuring fire doors are functional and not wedged open and making sure fire extinguishers are in working order and have not been tampered with. Fire wardens should also ensure electrical equipment is well-maintained and combustible materials are securely stored away from potential ignition sources.
Maintaining fire safety equipment
A fire warden is responsible for ensuring all fire safety equipment is functional and accessible. This includes testing smoke alarms, fire alarms and heat detectors to confirm they are in working order. Emergency lighting systems must also be checked regularly to ensure they operate as intended. Fire extinguishers should be regularly serviced and correctly positioned, while fire safety signage should be reviewed to ensure it is clear and fit for purpose.
Monitoring fire safety compliance
Ensuring that fire safety legislation is followed is one of the key roles and responsibilities of a fire warden. This involves keeping fire exits and escape routes free of obstacles, reporting unsafe behaviours, such as using unauthorised heaters or smoking in prohibited areas and reminding employees of their responsibilities in maintaining a fire-safe workplace.
Organising fire drills
Fire wardens play a role in planning and overseeing regular fire drills. These drills are designed to familiarise building occupants with evacuation procedures, identify potential weaknesses in the evacuation process and ensure compliance with the organisation’s fire safety plan. Fire drills are generally conducted annually, although workplaces with high staff turnover or complex layouts may require more frequent drills.
Providing fire safety training
Education and awareness are important elements of fire safety. Fire wardens are responsible for delivering training sessions on the correct use of fire extinguishers and other safety equipment, briefing new employees on evacuation protocols and promoting fire safety awareness through communication tools such as signs.
Developing and updating emergency plans
One of the key roles and responsibilities of a fire warden is maintaining and improving emergency plans. This includes regularly reviewing evacuation procedures to ensure they remain effective and collaborating with management to update plans based on changes in the building layout or occupancy. They also assist in creating and updating Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for individuals who require additional support during an evacuation.
Keeping accurate records
Record-keeping is important for effective fire safety management. Fire wardens should log inspections and equipment maintenance checks, document the outcomes of fire drills and any issues that arise and maintain records of fire safety training sessions and attendance. These records ensure compliance and help identify areas for improvement.
Assisting with fire risk assessments
Fire wardens contribute actively to fire risk assessments by reporting hazards, such as faulty equipment or blocked exits and sharing observations from routine checks. They can also help implement fire safety measures outlined in the assessment, such as ensuring fire doors remain operational and escape routes stay clear.
Interested in our fire safety training?
Workplace organisations must provide the necessary training and resources to support the roles and responsibilities of a fire warden, this comprehensive training ensures fire wardens have the confidence and knowledge to handle their responsibilities effectively.
Our online Fire Marshal/Warden Training and face-to-face Fire Marshal/Warden Training cover essential topics such as the principles of fire safety, how fires spread, understanding fire safety regulations and the correct use of fire extinguishers.
Our customer service team are on hand to answer any questions about our fire safety training you may have before you buy.