Fire Safety Awareness in the Workplace: What Every Worker Must Know

Fire is one of the most serious risks in warehouses, factories, and industrial workplaces. Flammable materials, electrical equipment, hot work, and combustible dust can all create fire hazards. Every worker has a legal duty to prevent fires and know what to do if one starts.

Fire Prevention: Your Daily Responsibility

• Keep fire exits and escape routes clear at all times — never block them with pallets, stock, or equipment
• Report faulty electrical equipment immediately — frayed cables, sparking sockets, and overheating motors
• Store flammable materials in designated areas away from ignition sources
• Dispose of waste properly — cardboard, plastic wrapping, and other combustibles should not accumulate
• Follow hot work permits — welding, cutting, and grinding create sparks that can ignite nearby materials
• Never overload electrical sockets or use damaged extension leads
• Observe no-smoking policies — smoke only in designated areas

Types of Fire Extinguisher

Different fires require different extinguishers. Using the wrong type can make a fire worse:

• Red (Water) — for wood, paper, textiles, and cardboard fires. Never use on electrical or oil fires
• Cream (Foam) — for flammable liquid fires and also effective on solid material fires. Not for electrical fires
• Black (CO2) — for electrical fires and flammable liquids. Safe to use on electrical equipment
• Blue (Dry Powder) — multi-purpose, effective on most fire types. Creates visibility problems so use with caution in enclosed spaces
• Yellow (Wet Chemical) — specifically for cooking oil fires. Mainly found in kitchens

The PASS Technique

If you need to use an extinguisher (and only if it is safe to do so):

1. Pull the pin
2. Aim at the base of the fire, not the flames
3. Squeeze the handle
4. Sweep from side to side

Important: Only attempt to fight a fire if it is small, contained, you have a clear escape route behind you, and you have the correct extinguisher. If in any doubt, evacuate and raise the alarm.

Evacuation Procedures

• Know where your nearest fire exit is — check this on your first day at any new site
• Know where your assembly point is — this is where you must go after evacuating
• When the alarm sounds, stop work immediately and walk (do not run) to the nearest exit
• Do not collect personal belongings — seconds count
• Do not use lifts during a fire evacuation
• Close doors behind you to slow fire spread
• Report to the assembly point — your presence must be confirmed by a roll call or headcount
• Do not re-enter the building until the all-clear is given by the fire warden or fire service

Fire Marshals and Wardens

Fire marshals are volunteers or appointed staff who check their designated area is clear during an evacuation, guide people to exits, and report to the incident controller. Becoming a fire marshal is a good way to show initiative and add a qualification to your CV. Training typically takes half a day.

At TRS Recruit, all temporary workers receive a fire safety briefing as part of their site induction. If you have not been shown fire exits and assembly points at a new site, ask immediately — it is your right.