Altogether 40 employees received training by Eden's senior firefighters, Deon Madikane and David van Niekerk. They were assisted by other firemen from the Fire Department. "Fire wardens are the first respondents in the event of a fire or bomb threat and thus play an important part in the Eden DM's Emergency Response Plan," said Marlene Nqumse, Eden communication officer.
"They are also an effective measure to ensure that fire hazards within the workplace are immediately identified and that corrective measures are implemented as a means to prevent or limit the likelihood of the occurrence of a fire."
The primary role of fire wardens is to facilitate and assist the orderly evacuation of building occupants during an emergency, said Nqumse.
Responsibilities of a fire warden
In his presentation, Van Niekerk gave the trainees some helpful tips about the responsibilities of a fire warden. "A fire warden must read and understand the local fire instructions," said Van Niekerk.
"They must know how to react in the event of a fire and what is expected of them during an alarm or general evacuation. They must know all the locations of all the alarm call points, and extinguishers inside and outside the building.
"It is also important to know what type of extinguisher to use.
"Lastly, the fire warden must know the primary safety routes," concluded Van Niekerk.
Geraldine Jonas (front) gets assistance from Dean Madikane during her practical training.
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