IOSH Study Guide 2026

Fire wardens are responsible for: initiating evacuation of their zone, checking that all areas (rooms, toilets, rest areas) are clear, directing people to the nearest exit, assisting anyone with a PEEP, ensuring fire doors are closed, reporting to the assembly point coordinator, and confirming their area is clear.

While safety must not be compromised on cost grounds for significant risks, recommendations should be proportionate. The concept of 'reasonably practicable' requires weighing the cost against the degree of risk. Low-cost, high-impact measures are particularly valuable.

Key regulations include: Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (risk assessment), Workplace Regulations 1992 (welfare), PUWER 1998 (equipment), Manual Handling 1992, DSE 1992, COSHH 2002, PPE Regulations, and RIDDOR 2013.

The Management Regulations 1999 require: suitable and sufficient risk assessments, appointment of competent persons, emergency procedures, provision of information and training, health surveillance where needed, cooperation between employers sharing a workplace, and protection of young persons.

SFAIRP means that the duty holder must weigh the risk against the sacrifice (time, cost, effort) needed to avert it. If the risk is significant compared to the cost of control, the measures must be implemented.

Heinrich proposed that for every major injury there are approximately 29 minor injuries and 300 near-misses/unsafe acts. While the exact numbers are debated, the principle is important: addressing the base of the triangle (near-misses and unsafe behaviours) reduces serious incidents.