Which Fire Safety course is best for your organisation?

A freak fire can be devastating for any business, damaging property, equipment, and risking injury to employees. This threat is what makes fire safety an absolute must for any business, organisation, or individual responsible for a premises. Phoenix offers a range of dedicated fire safety courses, from the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety to our Fire Safety Awareness Training course, providing a range of options for those looking for fire safety training. In this blog, we’ll break down each of the fire safety courses we offer so you know which one will be most suited to your organisation’s needs.

Why is Fire Safety Important?

The number of fires has increased in recent years, with a 17% increase from 2022 to 2023 alone. These incidents translate into unimaginable economic damage, the most recent government statistics showing that in England, from 2019 to 2020, fires resulted in £12 billion of damage. In worst case scenarios there is a cost greater than revenue, as fires can cause severe burns, other serious injuries and even fatalities. Preventing fires and these disastrous scenarios is one of the many reasons why fire safety should be a priority in your workplace, and therefore one of the main reasons why investing in fire safety training is so important.

Fire Safety Legislation

One of the other main reasons to prioritise fire safety in your workplace is the legislative requirements set out by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). Under this law, employers, and others responsible for premises, must conduct fire risk assessments and put in place fire precautions. Also in place is the Fire Safety Act 2021, which requires the structural walls of any buildings to be considered when conducting the necessary fire risk assessments. These requirements make providing fire safety training, including courses which cover fire risk assessments, key for keeping in line with legislation. Breaching legislation can lead to fines and imprisonment, which can cause reputational damage to your organisation, making the consequences of not following safety legislation severe.

Fire Safety Training

Phoenix offers a variety of fire safety training courses, catering to a range of safety needs and legislative requirements. Regardless of your choice, each course teaches best practice for fire safety according to the latest legislation and safety guidance.

NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety

Offering the greatest depth in our range of courses, the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is a 4-day, A-level equivalent qualification designed by NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health. This internationally recognised body designs courses to the highest of global safety standards. Their Certificate in Fire Safety, delivered by our expert tutors, covers how to manage fire safety and what to do in the event of a fire, among other key pieces of fire safety knowledge. It also covers how to conduct a fire risk assessment, which is crucial for remaining in line with safety legislation. Thanks to its depth, the course is suitable for those with health and safety responsibilities in medium to low-risk environments, such as office managers and facility supervisors.

Fire Safety Awareness Training

Designed by Phoenix according to current safety legislation and guidance, the course we’ll cover next is our Fire Safety Awareness Training Course. Completable in just 40 minutes through our E-learning platform, the training provides delegates with core fire safety knowledge such as how fires occur, signs of a fire and the different types of fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers. Efficient and effective, the course is suitable for employees with fire safety responsibilities in low-risk environments, as well as other managers and supervisors who would benefit from having fire safety knowledge, should an emergency occur.

Fire Risk Assessment Training

Another one-day course designed by Phoenix, our Fire Risk Assessment Training Course gives delegates all the skills and knowledge they need to conduct effective fire risk assessments. This includes following the procedure of identifying hazards, determining the risk each hazard poses, and putting control measures in place, as well as how to keep escape routes safe and methods of fire detection. The course is suitable for individuals with fire safety responsibilities, or those who need to conduct fire risk assessments, so it is often studied alongside the Fire Awareness course.

Fire Marshal Training

Phoenix’s Fire Marshal Training Course is the last of the fire safety courses we offer. It provides delegates with all the skills and knowledge necessary to train them as Fire Marshals or Wardens. This includes covering the legal duties of fire marshals and employers, fire extinguishers, precautions, and the reasons for managing fires in the workplace. Having a designated, effectively trained fire marshal in your workplace can help you manage fire risk safely, as they can make sure fire alarms and extinguishers are in working order.

Which Fire Safety course is best for you

We’ve now covered all four of the fire safety courses we offer at Phoenix. Each one, as we’ve discussed, is suitable for different individuals within a business, focusing on different elements of fire safety. Depending on the needs of an organisation it is often beneficial to have employees at various levels take different fire safety courses. Not only does this demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to safety, but it also makes sure that there will always be someone on hand with fire safety knowledge in an emergency. If a health and safety officer who’d studied the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety, for example, was away, then a manager or supervisor who studied the same course or Fire Marshal Training could aid evacuations during an emergency.

Deciding which courses to choose and who should study them in your organisation comes down to two key factors. The first is the suitability of the course for the employee’s role. As we touched on in the example above, health and safety officers and those in higher risk environments should study the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety, which covers the content present in all of Phoenix’s short courses. Managers and supervisors not directly responsible for fire safety may instead find Fire Safety Awareness Training more suitable.

The other major factor is course content, as while the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety covers everything you need to know about fires, the other shorter courses are not as comprehensive due to their comparative length. While this is great for those with fewer fire safety responsibilities, it will benefit others to study the Fire Safety Awareness course in addition to the Fire Risk Assessment course. Doing so will allow each member of your team to carry out their safety duties effectively, reducing the risk of fires, accidents, and injuries in the workplace.

Book your Fire Safety course

Fire safety is of vital importance in the workplace, both to prevent the damage and harm fires can cause and keep in line with safety legislation. With Phoenix you can select from our range of Fire Safety Courses, whether it be the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety or the Fire Risk Assessment Training Course, providing your team all the training it needs to reduce the risk of fires occurring in your workplace.

We know every organisation has different needs and goals however, so if you’re still unsure about which fire safety course is best for you speak to one of our advisors today.