Why Fire Safety Training Matters for Every Business
If you’re a small business owner or manager, fire safety can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re wearing multiple hats. But understanding your responsibilities doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right training and clear role definitions, you can protect your people, stay compliant with UK fire regulations and avoid costly penalties.
While many businesses invest in general fire safety training, confusion often arises around who holds legal and operational accountability. This blog explores how fire safety responsibilities are shared across different roles and how businesses can align training to match each person’s level of responsibility.
Who is Responsible for Fire Safety in the Workplace
UK legislation, particularly the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, places the legal responsibility for fire safety on the “responsible person” —usually the employer, owner, or anyone in control of the premises.
In many small businesses, the responsibility ultimately rests with you — the owner or manager overseeing the day-to-day running of the premises.
As an employer or “responsible person” you’re expected to:
- Carry out fire risk assessments (and keep them updated)
- Provide appropriate fire safety training to staff
- Maintain fire protection measures like alarms and extinguishers
However, ensuring fire safety in the workplace is not the job of one person alone. Shared responsibility across all levels of an organisation is key to creating a safe environment. From business owners to front-line employees, everyone has a role to play.
Role-Based Fire Safety Training: Tailored Approaches for Every Position
If you’re unsure who holds which responsibilities when it comes to fire safety, you’re not the only one. This section breaks down the training and expectations for each role to help clarify what’s required — and how responsibilities differ across the business.
- Managers and Supervisors: Should receive training covering health and safety responsibilities, legal duties under fire safety regulations and fire risk management to support compliance and effective oversight.
- Health and Safety Officers: Should have a thorough understanding of fire risk assessment methods, relevant fire safety regulations and how to embed fire and safety risk assessment within broader health and safety strategies and legal frameworks.
- Fire Safety Officers: Need in-depth fire safety management training, including emergency planning, conducting fire risk assessments and monitoring ongoing compliance. They are responsible for developing fire safety policies and overseeing implementation across the organisation.
- Fire Coordinators: Should receive training in fire safety leadership, emergency team coordination and working with local fire and rescue services to ensure robust evacuation and incident response procedures.
- Fire Marshals: Require an advanced training course such as fire marshal training, fire warden training, or fire extinguisher training, covering use of fire extinguishers, leadership in a fire emergency and practical fire protection measures.
- Maintenance and Facilities Teams: Need instruction on fire detection systems, maintaining fire doors, ensuring effective passive fire protection and carrying out regular checks of emergency lighting and extinguishers to uphold fire safety standards.
- Receptionists and Front of House Staff: Should be trained to raise the alarm, assist with visitor evacuation and support fire marshals or emergency services during a fire emergency.
- General Employees: Require basic fire safety training that promotes awareness of common fire hazards, the importance of fire prevention and clear understanding of what to do in the event of a fire.
Choosing the right fire and safety course can significantly reduce the risk of fire by ensuring each team member is trained for their specific role. Whether it’s a standard fire safety training course or just an online fire safety course, aligning course content with actual responsibilities is essential.
If you’re weighing up different types of training, we previously explored the difference between Fire Marshal Training and the Fire Safety Award — a great starting point for selecting the right course for your team.
Action Plan: Clarify, Train, Review
Creating a fire-safe workplace isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about building clear, manageable routines that reinforce accountability at every level. Tailored training isn’t just for large organisations — in fact, small businesses often benefit the most from having the right person trained and confident in their role.
Here’s how small businesses can stay on top of fire safety without overcomplicating things:
1. Clarify Who’s Doing What
- Identify your “responsible person”
- Assign a fire marshal (and a backup)
- Make sure everyone knows their role during a fire
2. Get the Right Training
- Choose a fire safety training course that matches each person’s role
- Select training formats that suit your team’s availability and work routines
- Refresh training regularly and keep a record
3. Review Your Risk
- Schedule regular fire risk assessments
- Update them after staff or layout changes
- Use certified fire risk assessment providers if needed
Getting the basics right is a solid start — but if roles and responsibilities aren’t clearly defined, even the best systems can fail.
When Training Fails: The Hidden Risks of Unclear Responsibility
Workplace fire incidents often stem from unclear roles rather than physical hazards. In many near-miss scenarios, employees delayed action because they weren’t sure if they were supposed to use an extinguisher or evacuate others. Others ignored warning signs because they assumed someone else was responsible.
Poorly defined responsibilities undermine even the best fire prevention systems. That’s why regular, role-specific training is crucial.
Real-World Lessons from the South West of England
The importance of role clarity becomes all too real when fire safety fails in practice. Several recent incidents in the South West underline the risks:
- Somerset Care Home Fire Safety Breaches: Several care homes in the South West were fined a total of £125,000 for fire safety failings including faulty alarms, poor evacuation procedures and lack of fire risk assessments. These incidents emphasise the risks of neglecting compliance and the importance of regular training, especially in environments housing vulnerable individuals.
- Taunton Residential Fire: A fatal fire in a Taunton property revealed no working smoke alarms, underscoring critical lapses in basic fire safety maintenance. The case powerfully reinforces the importance of assigning responsibility for routine safety checks in any property context.
Each case reinforces that effective fire safety depends on people knowing their roles — not just having procedures on paper.
Conclusion: Accountability Starts With the Right Training
Fire safety accountability doesn’t just rest on policies or paperwork — it’s built through clear communication, practical training and regular review. Businesses that invest in appropriate fire safety training for each role are far more likely to respond effectively in emergencies and stay compliant with legal requirements.
Whether you’re developing an internal training plan or looking for external support, the key is to align training with your team’s real responsibilities.
At Safety at Work Solutions, we deliver Fire Marshal Training, the Fire Safety Award and the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety — three structured training options tailored to different roles and responsibilities within your organisation. From legal compliance to practical confidence, we help teams take responsibility seriously — and act when it counts most.