You’ve heeded the advice given in these monthly blogs, implemented all the recommendations of your last audit, brought the leadership team on board, and committed a lot of time and effort to implementing everything in your H&S Manual.
Nothing can now go wrong in your workplace Health & Safety systems, right?
Well certainly you may have minimised the risks, however there are always factors outside your control that could impact your business.
Expect the unexpected!
Suppose unsound building modifications had been carried out a few years previously, or a fire starts within neighbouring premises or, on rounding a corner, someone comes across a body prostrate on the floor, turning blue at the lips?
At times like these you need a
well-rehearsed emergency plan led by an emergency response team – predominantly fire marshals and first aiders.
Fire Marshals
The term
Fire Warden is interchangeable, the job description very simple.
Essentially, the incumbent -
- Is the last to leave the department during an evacuation, performing a sweep of designated areas to ensure that everyone has evacuated.
- This involves checking toilets, meeting rooms, etc, closing doors behind, and if necessary instructing staff to leave their desk when they insist on continuing that important phone call.
- The Fire Marshal then reports to a designated incident controller to confirm that his/her section is clear.
Firefighting
Some employers instruct their staff never to attempt to fight fires, but rather to leave it to professionals within the fire brigade, and instead to evacuate on hearing the fire alarm.
If that is your policy, then so be it – but it does beg the question:
Why hang up fire extinguishers near workplace exits?
My own personal view is that all fires start small, and that it might be better for a trained member of staff to extinguish the fire rather than allow it to flashover into a major conflagration. Clearly the employee will need to make a judgement call as to whether it is safe to do so, but your fire risk assessment might want to evaluate training a group of individuals in basic fire-fighting techniques.
First Aiders
Your
risk assessment should indicate the number of First Aiders that would be appropriate to the level of risk, remembering the need to provide cover during holiday absence, sick leave etc. by other First Aiders.
I have seen many organisations identify First Aiders by displaying names and even photographs on noticeboards.
This is all very well, assuming that staff know who Mary on the second floor happens to be, and where her desk is situated –
but what about contractors or visitors who may not be conversant?
Remember that moments count during a critical medical emergency, and people might need to summons a First Aider urgently.
The best technique I have seen is to suspend a “First Aider” sign from the ceiling above a First Aider’s workstation, visible across the whole floor. Where hot desking is prevalent, a portable sign on a tall moveable stand can suffice (think restaurant table numbers here).
Eyes and Ears
There is nothing to stop Fire Marshal and first aid duties being carried out by the same individual, especially where staff numbers are limited, but you need to consider whether a First Aider would be able to assist a casualty at the same time as overseeing a departmental evacuation.
Fire Marshals and First Aiders often provide a useful additional pair of eyes and ears, and can be encouraged to augment the existing housekeeping, defect-reporting etc. routines. Some even make an active contribution to the Health & Safety Committee, where one exists.
I am sometimes asked whether First Aiders and Fire Marshals should receive payment for their additional duties.
Unless you already have a policy on this, my preference would be to answer no, as you may attract volunteers for the wrong reasons.
An injured employee of one company I worked for asked his nearest First Aider to treat a small cut – but was turned away on the grounds of being too busy and directed to another First Aider.
Also, try to avoid making first aid kits readily accessible throughout the workplace, as this will encourage pilfering and self-treatment of injuries without the requisite report being made out. Better to place kits under First Aider control.
Further Information
Arinite can arrange workplace training in any of the above topics
See also:
Contact Us
Arinite clients appreciate we provide practical, no-nonsense advice about what you need to do to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment. Our team of health and safety consultants take pride in keeping health and safety simple.
If you need to call upon our expert assistance, or just for an informal chat, please call our office
0207 947 9581, or type an enquiry to:
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Jan Mirkowski