To get a PDF, choose "Save as PDF" as the printer.

1. Module 1. How fires start and spread

   Every fire needs the same three things. Remove any one of them and the fire goes out. Understanding this is the basis of all fire safety.

   What you will learn

   • Explain the fire triangle.
   • Name the common causes of workplace fires.
   • Describe how fire and smoke spread.

   Key points

   • A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. Take one away and it goes out.
   • Electrical faults, cooking, smoking, heaters, rubbish and arson cause most workplace fires.
   • Smoke spreads fast and kills more people than flames.

   Based on: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales); Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010; Fire Safety Act 2021.

2. Module 2. Fire prevention and the law

   Most fires can be prevented. The law puts the main duty on the employer, but every member of staff has a part to play.

   What you will learn

   • Describe the main fire safety law in the UK.
   • Explain what a fire risk assessment is.
   • Follow good housekeeping to prevent fires.

   Key points

   • The responsible person must make sure fire risks are assessed and precautions are in place.
   • The fire risk assessment covers hazards, people at risk, controls, precautions and review.
   • Keep rubbish down, report faults, keep escape routes clear and keep fire doors shut.

   Based on: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales); Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010; Fire Safety Act 2021.

3. Module 3. Fire safety equipment

   Detectors, alarms, signs, emergency lighting and extinguishers all play a part. You should know what each does and where to find it.

   What you will learn

   • Describe the main fire safety equipment in a workplace.
   • Choose the right extinguisher for a fire.
   • Use an extinguisher safely if trained and it is safe to do so.

   Key points

   • Detectors and call points raise the alarm; signs and emergency lighting show the way out.
   • Match the extinguisher to the fire: never water on oil or electrics.
   • Only fight a small fire if trained and safe, with a way out. PASS: pull, aim, squeeze, sweep.

   Based on: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales); Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010; Fire Safety Act 2021.

4. Module 4. What to do if there is a fire

   In a fire, every second counts. Knowing the plan before it happens is what keeps people alive.

   What you will learn

   • Raise the alarm and call the fire service.
   • Evacuate safely using the nearest exit.
   • Explain why fire drills matter.

   Key points

   • Raise the alarm, call 999, get out, close doors behind you and go to the assembly point.
   • Never use lifts or go back for belongings.
   • In smoke, stay low and check doors with the back of your hand.
   • Treat every alarm as real, and take part in drills.

   Based on: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England and Wales); Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010; Fire Safety Act 2021.

HygieneReady certificates confirm completion of training. They are not a regulated qualification. Definitions of the key terms are in the glossary.