Fire Safety Policy & Procedure
IF YOU DISCOVER A FIRE
immediately sound the alarm
call the fire brigade
attack the fire with the appliances provided, without taking personal risks, otherwise leave immediately and report to the assembly point
ON HEARING THE ALARM
leave the building immediately
do not stop to collect personal belongings
close all doors as you leave
use the nearest available exit
proceed to the assembly point
ensure the fire brigade has been called to every fire or suspicion of fire
do not re-enter the building until authorised to do so
1. Fire Hazards
It has been identified that the main fire hazards in the building are:
Possible sparks from electrical equipment such as the computers/charging cables, kiln, hot water urn
Possible sparks from wood burning stove
Vaping/smoking products
It has been identified that the items that have a potential to burn are:
• Recycling & paper waste
Studio soft furnishings, chairs & tables
2. Evaluation of building and actions to reduce the risk of fire
Having assessed the risks of fire in our workplace, we have also considered:
Sources of fuel (logs for wood burning stove, willow for weaving) are kept away from all electrical points and therefore possible heat and sparks from electrical sources are unlikely to ignite anything highly flammable.
To protect the premises and those who use them fire blankets are provided.
Doorways and exits are always kept free from clutter.
Anyone under the age of 18 will be supervised while in the building.
The building operates a 'No Smoking Policy' (although we are aware that people who visit the building may smoke outside and be in possession of a personal lighter or vaping equipment. For any young people in the building, it is policy to hand in items of this nature which are securely locked away for the duration of their time at Wildling Studio.
All of our electrical has been PAT tested by Pat Testing Wiltshire and will be re-tested annually
Responsible Individuals: Sarah Glazier-Hart
Fire Warden: Sarah Glazier-Hart
Fire Marshal: Sarah Glazier-Hart
See Appendix 1 for role of the Marshal/Warden
3. In the event of a fire:
Individuals must inform the lead worker (fire marshal/fire warden)
Collectively they must take responsibility for ensuring the group is safely evacuated, following through the evacuation procedure to the Fire Assembly point.
The Fire Marshall or Fire Warden must raise the alarm by notifying the fire service before taking any action to combat the fire themselves if appropriate i.e. the fire is small enough to be dealt with using the equipment provided.
If safe to do so, the fire warden or marshal will raise the alarm with other parts of the building occupied by the homeowners if deemed at risk/ necessary.
Delayed evacuation is only foreseeable where an individual (due to medical or disability) needs assistance with their evacuation. Such persons may need to remain within their rooms, if possible, whilst the fire is dealt with, and the danger has passed. It is important for everyone to remain calm and to not run in the building.
Additional equipment - the studio is equipped with a fire blanket
Escape routes:
All workers, young people and visitors should note/be informed of the escape route and/or pointed to the notification on doors (i.e. fire exit and emergency procedure notices).
If the outbreak of fire is in the entrance/exit itself, workers and visitors are to close doors to the fire and open a window within the studio to alert people on the street (studio windows are large enough and low enough to be climbed through if needed.) The ledge along the windows will ensure fire officers can get to the studio from the street.
Key Fire Marshal Responsibilities
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must appoint a competent person to implement fire safety measures. Most often, this person is designated as the fire marshal.
Acting as the nominated competent person, the fire marshal has the responsibility to:
1. Assess all fire risks.
2. Identify and report any fire hazards.
3. Take appropriate action if a fire breaks out.
4. Administer first aid to any injured persons.
5. Fight fire where necessary and if safe to do so.
6. Enable a safe, efficient evacuation from a burning building.
In general, fire marshal responsibilities can be split into duties that must be performed on a daily basis, and duties that must be carried out in the event of a fire.
During normal day-to-day operations, a fire marshal will usually carry out the following tasks
if it applies to the premises:
Conduct periodic visual fire risk assessments
Update fire risk assessments and fire protocols if workplace conditions change.
Ensure all fire evacuation routes are unobstructed.
Dispose of any materials that pose a fire risk.
Ensure that all flammable or hazardous materials are stored correctly.
Ensure that all fire safety signs are visible.
Ensure that all fire evacuation signs are in working order.
Make certain that all firefighting equipment is in working order and stored correctly.
Check that fire detection equipment and fire alarms are in working order.
Plan and map fire evacuation routes.
Establish fire assembly points.
Organise and conduct fire drills.
Train new visitors/facilitators on fire safety protocols
Recommend refresher training on fire safety protocols.
Check that all electrical connections comply with fire safety regulations.
Keep a record of all fire safety activities.
The Responsibilities of a Fire Marshal in an Emergency
When a fire breaks out, it’s common for people to panic and forget what they learned in their training. The situation can quickly become chaotic and in the confusion, people can become injured or act in ways that exacerbate the fire – such as opening doors to create a backdraft that stokes flames.
A fire marshal must remain calm and act to ensure others remain calm too. The fire marshal responsibility is to organise the evacuation of the building in a prompt but orderly manner.
If a fire does start in a building, the nominated fire marshal is responsible for:
Raising the alarm and notifying authorities as soon as a fire is detected.
Keeping all fire doors and doors to fireproof spaces closed.
Helping any vulnerable people to evacuate the building safely.
Performing a roll call and headcount to ensure all people are evacuated.
Coordinating and communicating with emergency responders such as the fire brigade or paramedics.
Where safe to do so, curbing the spread of the fire, using appropriate firefighting equipment.
The fire marshal should be the last person to leave the building once all areas have been checked.
The role of the Fire Warden
To support the Fire Marshal as above but in the event of a fire is to go to the meeting point outside the building, take the sign-in register for the day and complete a roll call for all evacuees and prevent access back into the building until fire services have declared it safe.
Last reviewed June 2025. Next review due June 2026
If you have questions or concerns, please get in touch.