I appreciate your problem (poor culture following redundancies) but I have never quite understood the criteria for volunteer fire marshals or first aiders. How does a random amount of people volunteering meet your requirements? For example in your FRA one of your control measures is that you will provide a suitable number of trained Fire Marshals IF we get enough volunteers??????

I have always been of the opinion that such posts are appointed, as part of someones job role, and then ensure the appropriate training for the people in these roles. 

Given that your site is open 24/7 I can see you will have a bit of a headache already trying to cover the sheer amount you would need.

Could you assign the task to the departmental managers / supervisors. Look at who is in charge of the staff and assign them, if part of thier contract already is to manage a team then they have a responsiblity to thier team in an evacuation. 

Hopefull this helps?

Ok, but if the two assembly points are both reachable externally... it would be a case of the site manager walking round to check off. Obviously the responsvbility of checking areas on an evacuation is down to the fire marshall so is that feasable with one person?

Can management pick up - ultimately they are responsible for H&S in the workplace... ? 

 I have dealt with organisation where everybody is trained as a fire marshal and the first person to the assembly point is “it” and picks up the Hi-Viz and the megaphone and collects the register.  But if morale is so low it might be difficult to get anybody to contribute, let alone everybody.

You have my sympathies   

Why not reduce the number of Muster points to a singular point? negating the requirement for additional marshalls. I have never been a fan of multiple muster point for the same company, a Human error can end up putting the lives of rescue personnel in danger. Just make a singular muster point based on the engineering design of the plant etc to make 1 suitable point.

What are your fire marshalls required to do? fighting fire or checking areas are evacuated or both?

It sounds like you have more of a lone worker problem than anything. Do you have any radio communication, if so can people be required check in at muster points. Is there cctv that can help with an overview of the site or fire detectors etc? What are you dealing with that is so flammable and covering such an area?

sorry about the questions but it sounds like it need a fresh look at it.

I note you are unionised therefore your trade union members may have safety reps.  Do they have meetings, they are entitled to hold a meeting when there is more than one safety rep.

I suggest you arrange a meeting of your trade union safety reps and form a committee, with you at the Chair.  Hold these meeting monthly, take minutes and distribute to appropriate people.

You can then request assistance from them in appointing Fire Marshals.

I am sure they will appreciate you looking at the safety of their members being a priority, and may actually thank you.

You need to sell it in a different way if there is no trust in the company, you have to sell it that this is about people employees and colleagues and not fixtures and fittings although they need to also realise they will have no job if the place burns down.

I never sell anything regarding safety as a company requirement (although it is and a legal requirement) I always use that as a last resort. I sell it on the basis it keeps us safe, appealing to them as people, I will get the odd 'who grassed' and I reply no-one but if you continue to act in that way I will be forced to take it further this often gets the required results but sometimes I am firced to go the whole hog..

It's also difficult to advise without knowing if it is a low or high risk work place.

You could always wait until it is raining have an evacuation and walk around to the next point after reading the register and have everyone wait outside inthe rain until both are called by you.