Posted By CFT
Brenda

Have a read of the RRFSO section 13 (3) a & b; for a start.

CFT

Posted By Jimmy R
Hi Brenda,

Within the RR(FS)O it really does place the onus on the employer to assess their individual workplace and decide for themselves whether FE training takes place or not.

In our large office blocks we train staff in fire safety but not in the use of fire extinguishers as priority is given to evacuating the building. That said our most recent Fire Risk Assessment suggested that we train our Fire Wardens in the use of FE's as they would be last out of the building. This is something which is being discussed and a decision will be made in due course.

Once your Fire Risk Assessment has been carried out there should be mention of training along with recommendations for additional training 'where necessary'.

Posted By Lloyd Cole
Have a look at what CFT says, then look at devising a Fire Emergency Plan, you should have one, but if you havnt email me and i will forward a copy of one I have completed that satisfies the requirements.

Posted By GeoffB4
Not being flippant Shaun (honest) so is the solution not to provide fire estinguishers? That would seen to follow on logically from a number of comments.

Posted By Sean Warburton
The previous threads are correct that point to risk assessment as being the answer. We are providing training, at the end of the day if you have extinguishers then you should train. People will only pick them up and use them anyway, the training could just save someones life.

Posted By Sean Warburton
Didt mean to sound like one of those "know it all's then" it's just what we do, your work places will be different from mine of course. :)

Posted By Ashley Wood
I stayed at an Express by Holiday Inn hotel recently. At breakfast someone had pushed a pastry into a toaster and it caught fire. I sat eating my breakfast watching the entertainment. This is what happened;

1) Staff stand and look at the smoke.
2) Staff stand and look at the flames and the smoke.
3) The fire alarms did not go off!
4) One member of staff went off to get an extinguisher.
5) Member of staff came back with 2, 1 Co2 and 1 water.
6) All three members of staff stood reading the extinguisher labels.
7) One staff member operated Co2 and immediately dropped it on her foot as the sound scared her!
8) Fire alarm goes off and restaurant is cleared.
9) As I was leaving I picked up the Co2, unplugged the toaster and extinguished the fire in about 5 seconds.

The worrying thing was that all staff members had been on a fire safety course but not a fire extinguisher course. They were told to 'get out and stay out' by the company. Human behaviour had told them to tackle the fire especially as there was a group of them. Two of the staff members could hardly speak English and could not read the instructions!

My opinion is this, if you have got them in the building train your staff to use them because human nature says 'have a go'.

Posted By Ashley Wood
Geoff, I did not report it to head office but did take it up with the manager. He told me that they did awareness training but not actual extinguisher training. I obviously left my card with an expression of interest if they wanted to do something..

Posted By Tabs
I think you also need to realise that many in the hotel chains are transient, working there for a few months before getting a better paid, better appreciated position (I have friends who have done this work)...

So the cost of training a succession of people really mounts up, hence why I think it is missed out.

In an office situation, I like training and I like it on real fires - difficult to forget when you've actually done it for real, because it is quite simple.

CO2 is very noisy, and cold, and I am not surprised she was shocked into dropping it. Once used though, it is easy to remember.