Fire safety is often overlooked, particularly by smaller businesses, but it’s a vital aspect of workplace health and safety. In New Zealand, business owners have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect their staff and visitors in case of an emergency. Yet, as Chris Banks, Course Supervisor at MediTrain, notes, “Most people don’t realise that having a fire warden is just as important as having a first aider.” In this blog, we’ll explore when and why your business needs a fire warden and how to ensure you’re compliant with evacuation requirements.
When Does Your Business Need a Fire Warden?
Fire wardens play a crucial role in safeguarding workplaces, yet many business owners remain unaware of this requirement. “A lot of businesses, especially smaller ones, don’t realise they need a fire warden until something happens,” explains Chris Banks, Operations Manager at MediTrain. Fire warden responsibilities are often overlooked, particularly in workplaces that don’t recognise the need for formal emergency procedures.
Certain buildings, known as ‘relevant buildings,’ are required by New Zealand law to have a more formal evacuation scheme, which typically includes appointing and training fire wardens. These buildings include:
- Buildings where 100 or more people can gather.
- Workplaces with 10 or more employees.
- Facilities such as childcare centres, hospitals, and schools.
- Buildings where six or more people sleep, like hotels or residential care homes.
- Buildings storing significant quantities of hazardous materials.
For businesses that fall into these categories, an evacuation scheme must be submitted to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ). This formal scheme typically requires a trained fire warden to oversee evacuations and manage emergency procedures. However, Chris clarifies, “If a business only needs evacuation procedures rather than a full scheme, they can often get by without a fire warden—but for schemes, it’s a must.”
In some cases, building owners can apply to Fire and Emergency New Zealand for an exemption from certain requirements, but this is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Fire wardens are essential in ensuring the safety of your staff during emergencies, such as a fire. Acting as the first point of contact before emergency services arrive, they ensure that everyone in the building is evacuated swiftly and safely. Additionally, fire wardens serve as the main point of communication between your staff and emergency responders, ensuring the situation is managed efficiently.
What Are The Key Responsibilities Of A Fire Warden
Fire wardens are trained to keep your workplace prepared and safe, performing critical duties such as:
- Implementing and improving emergency procedures: Helping develop and refine evacuation plans and ensuring they’re effective in your workplace.
- Raising awareness of hazards: Educating staff about potential risks and fire hazards within the workplace.
- Leading drills and evacuation procedures: Organising and conducting fire drills at least once or twice a year, as required by law, to ensure everyone is familiar with the evacuation process.
- Directing staff during emergencies: Providing clear instructions on how to respond to emergencies and guiding employees to safety.
- Communicating with emergency services: Notifying fire and rescue teams about the situation and providing essential information upon their arrival.
- Ensuring safe evacuations: Assisting all individuals, including those with special needs, such as helping people in wheelchairs or with mobility challenges, evacuate safely.
- Conducting area sweeps: Performing a thorough check of all areas to ensure no one is left behind before meeting at the predetermined evacuation assembly point.
By regularly leading these drills and managing emergency situations, fire wardens play a vital role in ensuring workplace safety and helping businesses meet legal requirements for fire preparedness.
How to Identify a Fire Warden
Fire wardens are easily recognisable by wearing:
- A high-visibility vest with "WARDEN" printed on the front.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities for Businesses for Fire Safety
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, New Zealand employers are required to maintain a safe working environment, which includes implementing fire safety measures. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties. However, beyond these legal obligations, there is a moral duty to protect the lives of staff and visitors.
“Fire warden training helps prevent panic and ensures everyone knows what to do in an emergency,” Chris adds. This preparation is key to reducing the risks and consequences of an emergency situation.
The Benefits of Fire Warden Training: Beyond Compliance
While fire warden training ensures compliance with legal requirements, it also builds a culture of safety within an organisation. A trained fire warden can:
- Identify fire hazards and take preventive measures.
- Coordinate and manage emergency evacuations.
- Ensure fire safety equipment, such as extinguishers, are used properly.
According to Chris, “Part of the fire warden’s job is understanding how people react in emergencies. We teach them to manage panic and ensure that evacuations happen smoothly.”
MediTrain’s Fire Warden Training Course
MediTrain offers a comprehensive fire warden training course designed to ensure your team is fully prepared for fire emergencies. The course covers the full scope of responsibilities, making it a valuable asset for businesses of all sizes.
Course Content Includes:
- Detailed understanding of the duties of a fire warden, including leading evacuations.
- Learning the difference between evacuation schemes and procedures.
- Conducting fire drills and training staff to evacuate effectively.
- Identifying fire risks and maintaining safety equipment.
Chris highlighted the importance of adapting the course based on the location: “If the course is conducted at your premises, we’ll walk through your building, point out key areas of risk, and review exits, signage, and safety equipment. However, if you attend one of our public courses, we’ll take you through the building we're in and show you what to look for—like exits, signage, and access points—so that you can go back to your own workplace and apply the same exercises.”
This hands-on approach ensures participants leave the training equipped to assess fire safety in their specific workplace.
Participants will receive a Fire and Emergency Warden in the Workplace certificate upon completing the course.
Revalidation/Refresher Training: To maintain competency, MediTrain recommends refresher training every two years.
Keep Your Business Safe
Fire safety isn’t just about legal compliance—it’s about protecting lives and minimising risk. Training fire wardens and implementing an effective evacuation plan is essential for all businesses, particularly those in high-risk industries like childcare centres, hospitals, or hotels.
To ensure your workplace is prepared, book MediTrain’s fire warden training today and equip your team with the skills and confidence to handle any fire emergency.