Why You Should Conduct Fire Safety Training at Work?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports, fire is one of the top five causes of workplace fatalities, and many could be prevented with proper training.

Fires at work could cause injuries or death, damage to property, legal and financial losses, and downtime and reputational damages.

On such occasions, many businesses treat fire safety training as just a low priority compliance task; only to wake up when things get out of hand.

Let’s delve into 10 compelling reasons for carrying out fire safety training for employees and how these reasons affect your people, assets, and business.

Understanding the hazards in your workplace, such as combustible materials, defective wiring, equipment failures, etc., is the first step to start a fire safety training.

Workers who have received training on identifying risks and comprehending fire safety features (like extinguishers and alarms) may be able to prevent or lessen the severity of an incident.

Without training, a fire can grow prior to anyone having an idea of what to do.

A fire safety training clarifies:

• Fire behaviour and types

• Who raises alarms and guides evacuation

• Who assists persons with disabilities

• When and how to shut off utilities

Fire safety is a coordinated and informed response and isn’t just “everyone leaves the building”.

All staff, from new hires to senior leaders, should know:

• The fire triangle: heat, fuel, and oxygen

• Types of fires (A, B, C, electrical, chemical)

• How to use fire extinguisher and fire blankets

• How to evacuate safely and sound the alarm

This foundation ensures immediate and confident action in the first crucial minutes.

A fire safety training at work will provide hands-on learning by:

• Practising the PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) method for fire extinguishers

• Participating in mock fire drills

• Responding to scenario-based simulations

Practical experience builds confidence and reduces panic during real emergencies.

A fire safety training approach will include:

• Interactive videos, animations, and live demos

• Case studies of real workplace fire incidents

• Group discussions and quizzes

• Posters and visual guides

The more engaged your employees are, the more they retain and apply it in their day-to-day activities.

Fire safety training should be role-specific:

• Non-technical staff focus on evacuation and alarms

• Fire wardens/safety officers receive advanced control training

• New hires get training as part of onboarding

Tailored training makes sessions relevant and more effective.

As fire safety habits fade and workplaces change, emerging risk factors also evolve. That’s why a training session should include:

• Annual or biannual refresher sessions

• Post-incident retraining if needed

• Drills and updates whenever layouts or machinery change

Ongoing training prevents complacency and keeps safety as the first priority.

Only when the training is measured, we can know that it has worked properly. Hence, perform:

• Knowledge tests and feedback surveys

• Evacuation drills

• Real-time hazard identification exercises

Evaluation helps refine your program and shows a tangible Return on Investment (ROI).

Training alone isn’t enough — but it starts the culture shift. Reinforce it by:

• Displaying fire maps and safety posters

• Encouraging hazard reporting

• Rewarding fire safety champions

• Having leaders model safety behaviour

A strong fire safety culture prevents more than alarms; it prevents incidents.

Unlike generic training providers, NIST delivers industry-specific and experiential learning. Here are the reasons to choose NIST for a fire safety training:

Through our fire safety training, learners will understand the methodologies involved in fire formation and be able to discuss the classification and common causes of fire in the workplace.

The course emphasizes the importance of various fire control mechanisms and outlines key factors that contribute to fire prevention. Participants will become familiar with workplace inspection and reporting procedures and gain insights into various fire safety devices along with their working mechanisms.