Fire Safety Instruction

Educational guidance on how workplace induction and safety instruction generally work — connected to workplace safety, occupations, industries, employment documents and company types. Informational only — not certified training, not an official qualification and not a substitute for mandatory workplace instruction; employers remain responsible for required training, competence and authorisation.

What this instruction covers

This page outlines, in general educational terms, the safety information around fire at work — how fires start, how they are prevented, and what everyone should do if a fire is discovered.

It is awareness material, not a substitute for the employer’s fire risk assessment, the site-specific evacuation plan or any role-specific fire training.

How fires start & the hazards

• Fire needs fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition brought together.
• Common ignition sources include electrical faults, hot work, heaters and smoking materials.
• Common fuels include waste, packaging, flammable liquids and stored materials.
• Smoke and toxic gases, not just flame, are a major cause of harm in a fire.

Who this is for

• All workers, who need to know how to prevent fire and what to do if one occurs.
• Fire wardens and marshals as a general awareness reference.
• Supervisors who manage fire precautions in their area.
• New starters before site-specific fire instruction and evacuation arrangements.

Preventing fire

• Keep ignition sources away from fuels and control hot work with a permit where required.
• Keep the workplace tidy, control waste and store flammable substances safely.
• Maintain electrical equipment and report faults that could cause fire.
• Keep fire doors, escape routes and firefighting equipment clear and available.

Fire precautions & equipment

• Detection and alarm systems, and clear, unobstructed escape routes and exits.
• Fire extinguishers and other equipment suited to the risks present.
• Emergency lighting, signage and assembly points.
• Fire doors kept closed or on hold-open devices that release on the alarm.

Pre-task & everyday checks

• Check escape routes, fire exits and assembly points are clear and known.
• Check fire extinguishers and alarm call points are in place and unobstructed.
• Confirm fire doors close properly and are not wedged open.
• Report any blocked exit, missing equipment or fault straight away.

Raising the alarm & evacuation

• On discovering a fire, raise the alarm at once and warn others nearby.
• Leave by the nearest safe escape route and go to the assembly point — do not stop to collect belongings.
• Do not use lifts, and follow the arrangements for anyone who needs help to evacuate.
• The site-specific evacuation plan and assembly points are set by the employer — not by this page.

Tackling a fire — what you should and should not do

• Only tackle a small fire with the right extinguisher if you are trained and it is safe — never put yourself at risk.
• Do not fight a fire that is spreading, blocking your exit, or that you are unsure about.
• Do not use the wrong type of extinguisher — for example water on electrical or flammable-liquid fires.
• Getting out and raising the alarm always comes before fighting a fire.

Emergency response & reporting

• Raise the alarm, evacuate and call the fire service — do not assume someone else has.
• Report to the assembly point so everyone can be accounted for.
• Do not re-enter the building until told it is safe to do so.
• Report fires, false alarms, faults and near misses through the site’s reporting route.

Training & competence

Employers are generally expected to provide fire safety instruction and arrangements based on a fire risk assessment, including how to raise the alarm and evacuate. Roles such as fire warden, and the use of fire extinguishers, usually need specific training, and evacuation arrangements should be practised through drills.

Instruction such as this page is information, not competence. Reading it does not make anyone a competent fire warden or trained to use an extinguisher; that comes from role-specific training and the employer’s arrangements.

Documentation

• The fire risk assessment and the emergency plan.
• Records of fire instruction, fire warden training and drills.
• Maintenance and testing records for alarms, extinguishers and emergency lighting.
• A record documents what was provided; it is not, by itself, proof of competence.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Wedging fire doors open or blocking escape routes and exits.
• Trying to fight a fire that is too big, or with the wrong extinguisher.
• Stopping to collect belongings or re-entering before it is safe.
• Treating awareness material as the role-specific fire training the law expects.

Who is responsible

The employer (or the responsible person for the premises) is responsible for the fire risk assessment, the precautions and escape routes, the emergency plan, fire instruction and training, and keeping records. This page is an educational outline only.

It does not deliver training, satisfy any legal requirement, or transfer the employer’s responsibility for fire safety.