Fires destroy property, cause injuries, and take lives. A fire in the workplace can also mean the termination of jobs, as many of the offices and factories destroyed by fire in Canada are never rebuilt. One of the key strategies to maintaining a safe workplace and preventing fires is fire safety training.

With proper training workers can eliminate fire hazards and respond quickly and efficiently if a fire breaks out. Without proper training a small occurrence can quickly grow to become a major incident with devastating outcomes.

Everyone is at risk if there is a fire. However, there are some workers who may be at greater risk because of when or where they work, or because they’re not familiar with the premises or the equipment at the work site.

Fire safety training can teach workers how to recognize fire hazards, conduct a fire safety risk assessment, prevent a workplace fire, and respond if a fire occurs.

Recognizing Fire Hazards

Fire safety training begins by identifying the basic properties of fire. All fires start when heat (a source of ignition) comes into contact with fuel (anything that burns) and oxygen is present. To prevent a fire the goal is to keep sources of ignition and fuel apart.

Fire Safety Courses

This regulated qualification is aimed at anyone involved in the management of fire safety in any workplace. This includes managers, supervisors, team leaders, fire wardens (marshals) and staff working in any area where there is a potential risk of a fire.

Those gaining this qualification will know that fire safety is the responsibility of everyone in the workplace and will recognize the consequences of a fire in any premises.

This qualification provides employees with essential knowledge about fire safety in the workplace including how to prevent fires from starting and what action to take when the fire alarm sounds.

All employees undertaking induction training, including those with no specific fire safety role

This qualification provides employees with the knowledge to help them carry out designated duties relating to fire safety and emergency procedures in the workplace. Employees who hope to develop their basic fire safety awareness in order to assist their employer by undertaking specific fire safety roles in the workplace, e.g. as fire wardens / fire marshals.

This qualification helps candidates to develop their existing knowledge of workplace fire safety. It provides a thorough understanding of the formal fire risk assessment process for non-complex, low or normal risk premises.

Responsible persons who wish to carry out their own fire risk assessment, or are appointed to assist with this duty.

It is particularly useful for business owners, managers and supervisors, but will benefit anyone contributing to the fire risk assessment process.