Roles and Responsibilities of a Fire Warden / Fire Marshall

A Fire Warden or a Fire Marshall is competent person that an employer needs to appoint in the workplace. In United Kingdom the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires every business must have a designated ‘Responsible Person’ whose job it is to makes sure certain
duties are carried out, and that action is taken to both prevent fires and prevent injury or death if a fire actually occurs. The Order identifies the ‘responsible person’ in the workplace as the employer, if the workplace is to any extent under their control.

The responsible person must, where necessary, nominate competent persons to implement those measures and ensure that the number of such persons, their training and the equipment available to them are adequate, taking into account the size of, and the specific hazards involved in, the premises concerned.

The roles & responsibilities of a Fire Warden or Fire Marshall include, but are not limited to:

Assessing fire risks in the workplace
Spotting and reporting fire hazards in the workplace.
Ensuring corrective actions and preventive measures with fire safety are taken.
Taking appropriate action in the event of fire.
Trained to fight a fire safely in its early stages.
Playing a leading part in fire/mock drills.
Ensuring safe evacuation of the workplace in the event of a fire.
Conducting a head count in event of emergency muster.
Liasing with fire & emergency services regarding the fire incident.
Performing regular safety inspections of the workplace.

The Fire Warden along with the employer must ensure that the following fire safety measures (Organizational arrangements) are put in place with regard to fire safety.

Measures to reduce the risk of fire on the premises and the risk of the spread of fire on the premises
Measures in relation to the means of escape from the premises
Measures for securing that, at all material times, the means of escape can be safely and effectively used
Measures in relation to the means for fighting fires on the premises
Measures in relation to the means for detecting fire on the premises and giving warning in case of fire on the premises
Measures in relation to the arrangements for action to be taken in the event of fire on the premises, including
Measures relating to the instruction and training of employees
Measures to mitigate the effects of the fire

Further, the responsible person must:

Take such general fire precautions for safety of any and all employees
Take such general fire precautions for safety of any and all contractors and visitors on premises
Take such general fire precautions to ensure that the premises are safe
Undertake a Fire Risk Assessment of the workplace, which must be suitable and sufficient in the workplace.