Who looks after your fire safety training? Do your employees need to be trained?
Many employers are asking these questions. There is a minefield information out there, and legislation that employers must follow to keep their staff safe.
As an employer or building owner, there are specific training requirements needed as part of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018. To save you scrolling through pages of legislation, we’ve done the hard work for you and condensed everything you need to know about fire safety training.
The first step – evacuation procedure or evacuation scheme?
As the owner of the building you must have an evacuation procedure in place to ensure people can evacuate your building safely in an emergency. This includes having signs in place to indicate what people should do in an emergency.
Many workplaces will need to level up their evacuation procedure, and have a Fire and Emergency approved Evacuation Scheme. This includes:
workplaces with 10 or more employees
buildings that hold more than 100 people
buildings that provide accommodation for more than 6 people (excludes households)
buildings that store hazardous substances
buildings that provide specialist care.
Evacuation training programme
As part of an evacuation scheme, the building owner must prepare and implement an evacuation training programme that clearly shows how the occupants of the building are capable of managing an evacuation of the building in an emergency.
An evacuation training programme must include details of how the permanent occupants are trained and assessed (at intervals of not more than 6 months) in relation to:
evacuation procedures
the use of any firefighting equipment in the building; and
the use of any emergency equipment in the building for assisting people who require particular assistance to evacuate the building.
Based on this required training programme, it’s important your staff are trained in how to use fire extinguishers and other fire equipment such as fire blankets. Fire Security Services have you covered. We offer a range of training options to suit your workplace. Find out more about our training options.
Fire Warden Training
Don’t forget your fire wardens. Owners or tenants of certain buildings* must have employees trained to assist occupants to evacuate the building in a fire emergency. Being a fire warden holds a lot more responsibility than just wearing a fluro vest. Our Fire Warden Training is tailored to your site, so your staff know exactly what to do in an emergency. Find out more about our Fire Warden Training.
Notify FENZ
Don’t forget to tell FENZ about your efforts! Building owner must notify FENZ, in writing, about your evacuation training programme.
Does this cover the Health & Safety at Work Act too?
In addition to the above, under the Health & Safety at Work Act, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty of care to ensure the health and safety of workers while they are at work. This includes having an emergency plan. An emergency plan must specify how workers have been trained in implementing emergency procedures. Find out more on the Worksafe website.
We’re here to help
At Fire Security Services, we offer a range of Fire Safety Training courses to meet your needs. Find out more or get in touch with us to find out the best option for your workplace.
*This regulation applies to childcare centres, kindergartens, day-care centres, courthouses, police stations, hotels, motels, hostels, halls of residence, holiday cabins, groups of pensioner flats, boarding houses, guest houses, educational institutions, libraries, museums, art galleries, and other cultural institutions. As described in paragraph (4), (5), (8), (9), (10), (13), (14), or (27) of Schedule 2 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018.