Today the world seems to have gone health and safety mad, it is an understandable response to an increase in lawsuits and the diminishment of responsibility on the part of the individual. In the world of business this is especially true where in the modern age the business owner is now more liable than any other member of staff. This is why, both legally and morally managers are obliged to ensure that members of staff are given at least an elementary understanding of fire safety procedures, this can be easily achieved however with effective training. Not only will training give certain legal assurances but will actively work towards reducing the chances of fire within premises.



Despite the acknowledgement of this situation it is still an unfortunate fact that many workers still die in fires due to inadequate or non-existent training procedures. The costs of fire for a business can be extremely large; not only is there the human element to consider but in terms of lost stock and especially the loss in trade whilst a business rebuilds itself, the financial implications can be catastrophic. Loss of life is clearly the most important of the effects of fire but for many managers the financial aspects are almost equally important. This is why fire safety training courses are a required and necessary part of running a modern business. They can help staff members realise how their actions can cause fires whilst also giving them the knowledge of how to contain fire before it spreads.

Any efficient safety training program will give inductees an idea of the three key elements that will cause fire. These three elements are ignition, fuel and oxygen; all three can be controlled to reduce the chance of a fire breaking out. The first element, ignition can be eliminated by ensuring that electrical components are checked regularly and by ensuring all smokers are aware of the need to completely extinguish spent cigarettes. The fuel that feeds fire, whilst a necessary evil on many business premises can be controlled through effective safety procedures that ensure storage is safe and secure; once again training can help achieve this. The final element; oxygen while being the hardest to control can be effectively managed; for instance the use of fire doors is an efficient way to reduce the oxygen available to a fire; hence the importance of keeping these doors closed.

Legal regulations force companies to regularly undertake a fire risk assessment. This typically includes looking at the business operations and how they can be improved to make fire less likely. In addition to making recommendations on how operations should be carried out, the risk assessment should also include some form of safety training for staff members, so that they are brought up to date with the assessment's findings and are instructed on how to implement any procedural changes.

Most businesses will have a fire warden on the premises who is responsible for every person in the event of the fire. The responsibilities of this position should not be taken likely as in the most extreme circumstances people's lives may be at risk. This is why the conscientious fire warden will give other members of staff a brief safety training course to ensure that all are aware of items such as the escape routes and the gathering point. In order to carry out the role of fire warden effectively it is necessary for the fire warden to have undergone additional training courses so that they are able to pass on the knowledge gained.

It is hoped that this article has given some idea of the importance of fire safety training in the world of business. Not only do managers have a legal responsibility to ensure safety procedures are followed but as previously stated a large moral obligation is also evident.