Fire Risk Assessment and the Safety Statement - A Guide for Cork Workplaces

When a fire breaks out, the first few minutes decide everything - and a trained fire warden is who keeps those minutes calm, organised and safe. This guide is written for employers and staff in Cork, County Cork, and covers everything you need to know about fire risk assessment and the safety statement.

By the end, you will understand a fire warden's duties, how evacuation and the assembly point work, the extinguisher classes and the PASS technique, and how an accredited online Fire Warden course - also known as fire marshal training - gives your team the knowledge they need, with a same-day certificate.

Understanding the fire warden role

A fire warden - also called a fire marshal - is a member of staff trained to help prevent fires and to take charge if one happens. In Ireland the two titles mean the same role, the same duties and the same training. Day to day they keep escape routes clear and spot hazards; in an emergency they raise the alarm, lead a calm evacuation, and account for everyone at the assembly point.

Under Section 11 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, every employer must prepare an emergency plan and appoint staff to put it into action. Those appointed staff are your fire wardens, and they must be trained for the role.

The core duties of a fire warden

A fire warden's duties fall into two parts: everyday prevention, and emergency response. In your workplace, both matter every single day:

1. Prevention. Keep escape routes and fire exits clear, watch for hazards, and check that fire doors and equipment are in order.
2. Raise the alarm. Activate the alarm and alert people the moment a fire is discovered.
3. Lead the evacuation. Direct people calmly to the nearest safe exit and on to the assembly point.
4. Sweep the area. Check rooms, toilets and quiet corners so nobody is left behind.
5. Assist those who need help. Put PEEPs into action for anyone who cannot evacuate unaided.
6. Roll call and handover. Account for everyone at the assembly point and brief the fire service on arrival.

Fire extinguishers and the PASS technique

A fire warden should know which extinguisher suits which fire, and how to use it. Using the wrong type can make a fire worse, so matching the extinguisher to the fuel is essential:

• Water - for Class A fires (wood, paper, textiles).
• Foam - for Class A and Class B (flammable liquids).
• CO2 - for electrical fires and Class B.
• Dry powder - for many fire classes, including some gases.
• Wet chemical - for Class F (cooking oils and fats).

To use one, remember PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side. Only ever tackle a small fire with a clear escape route behind you - if in doubt, get out and leave it to the fire brigade.

Evacuation and the assembly point

A calm, practised evacuation is the heart of the fire warden role. The procedure is simple, but it only works when everyone knows it:

1. Raise the alarm and make sure it has been heard.
2. Leave by the nearest safe exit - never use lifts.
3. Sweep your area, checking rooms, toilets and quiet spaces.
4. Assist anyone who needs help, following their PEEP.
5. Go to the assembly point and carry out a roll call.
6. Report to the fire service - who is out, who is missing, and where the fire is.

Regular fire drills turn this list into instinct, so when a real alarm sounds nobody has to stop and think.

Fire warden training for employers in Cork

Workplaces across Cork and County Cork have the same duties under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, overseen by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the local fire authority. Insurers and fire officers routinely ask for warden training records, so getting this right protects both your people and your business in Cork.

The good news: our training is fully online, so your team in Cork can complete an accredited Fire Warden course from any device, with no need to travel or close for a classroom day.

Fire safety law in Ireland

Two pillars of legislation sit behind the fire warden role. the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 place duties on those in control of premises to provide for fire safety and safe evacuation. the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 - in particular Section 11 - requires every employer to prepare an emergency plan and to appoint and train staff to carry it out. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) enforces workplace safety duties, while local fire authorities oversee fire safety in buildings.

Training is a key part of meeting these duties. Online fire warden training builds the knowledge, duties and legal understanding the role demands; for the practical side, hands-on extinguisher use and site-specific drills complete the picture.

Training your fire wardens the easy way

Fire safety works when your appointed people genuinely understand their role. Our Fire Warden Course - also known as fire marshal training - is CPD certified, takes around 45 to 90 minutes, and finishes with a short assessment and a same-day certificate.

It is the fastest way to bring your team up to a recognised standard - and because it is online and self-paced, nobody has to leave the workplace for a full day. You can train one person or a whole team and keep every certificate in one place as evidence.

Frequently asked questions about fire risk assessment and the safety statement

Get fire warden certified today

Ready to protect your people and meet your duties? Enrol on the Fire Warden Course now, train at your own pace, and download your CPD certificate the same day. It is the simplest step you can take towards a safer, better-prepared workplace.