Fire safety signage requirements best met through updated training
One of the most important elements in fire risks training is the issue of safety signage. The proper use and deployment of fire safety signs can change a fire event from a devastating loss of life to one that damages physical property alone. The destruction of a company building and its contents can be a serious blow to any business, but the repercussions from a fire will be far worse if damages involve serious injuries or deaths.
The Health and Safety Regulations 1996 provide businesses with specific guidance for best practices regarding fire signs, covering such issues as their correct use and placement. One of the strongest and most useful recommendations in the current law is that building occupants continuously be able to identify their best escape route. This means that from any position on the premises, employees should be able to quickly and easily determine the nearest safe exit. Meeting this standard will require diligent effort, cursory health and safety audits are not sufficient. Instead, a comprehensive review of fire signage must be conducted to be sure that even a little used hallway has a line of sight to fire information that will guide workers to their nearest escape route.
Fire signage regulations also contain some elements that may be surprising to business owners and managers who have not undergone a thorough programme of updated health and safety training. For example, in generations past text-only signs were quite acceptable, but this is no longer the case. Now, all signs must include a pictogram. This regulation recognises the reality that businesses may well have individuals present who are not fluent or literate in the English language. A related requirement is that all employers must take measures so that they can be sure that fire signs are fully understood by their workers.
For more information on current legislation and requirements, businesses should consider enrolling appropriate personnel in a comprehensive fire risks training programme from Winter & Company.
