Fire marshal duties in the workplace

Fire marshals play a vital part not only in the safe evacuation of a premises in the event of a fire, but also in fire prevention. However, many people are unsure of what the duties of a fire marshal are, especially in relation to those of the ‘responsible person’.

Here, we discuss the role of a fire marshals, who is responsible for their appointment and what their duties might include.

What is a fire marshal?

A fire marshal (sometimes referred to as a fire warden) is a member of staff who is appointed and adequately trained to help minimise and prevent fire risks, as well as safely guiding people out of a premises in the event of a fire.

Are fire marshals required by law?

Fire marshals are a legal requirement for all businesses and premises in the UK. According to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO), the responsible person must ‘appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the preventive and protective measures.’ The number of competent persons required for a business will be determined through a fire risk assessment and must consider the number and severity of fire risks, as well as the size of the premises. In addition, the RRFSO goes on to state a competent person under the employment of the responsible person must be appointed in preference to a competent person outside of the responsible person’s employment. This means a fire marshal will almost always be appointed from within your customers’ businesses. The responsible person must ensure fire marshals receive sufficient fire safety training and have the time available to fulfil their role and undertake preventive and protective measures, as well as ensure their adequate cooperation between one another.

What are the duties of a fire marshal in the workplace?

Fire marshal duties at work could include fire prevention, fire detection and – where the person is trained and it is safe to do so – use appropriately installed fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment. In addition, fire marshals must ensure safe evacuation in the event of a fire and perform general fire safety assistance. Other fire marshal duties that may be required include:

• Ensuring evacuation routes and fire exits are free of obstructions
• Inspecting the condition, suitability and visibility of fire safety signage
• Performing weekly checks on fire alarms and fire doors
• Carrying out monthly checks on emergency lighting systems
• Inducting new employees with regards to fire safety procedures
• Managing fire evacuation drills
• Ensuring electrical equipment has been PAT tested
• Updating the fire safety log book
• Assisting the responsible person with the premises’ fire risk assessment
• Guiding occupants out of the premises in the event of a fire

The duties of a fire marshal are varied and vital to supporting the responsible person in implementing and maintaining fire safety equipment and procedures. It is crucial the responsible person ensures fire marshals are competent and qualified to comply with regulations and save lives. For more industry-specific fire safety information, discover our Resource Centre.