Volunteer Fire Wardens outside Sussex House

Building occupants at their nearest assembly point

Fire alarm investigated by Security

Keeping the University safe

Every year, emergency evacuation tests are conducted across campus, as part of our annual fire safety checks.

The Health and Safety (H&S) team organise these between August and December, to give staff volunteer Fire Wardens and building users the chance to practise what they need to do in the event of an emergency evacuation. This allows the H&S team to identify areas of improvement from each fire drill and put plans in place.

Sussex House emergency evacuation test

The role that Fire Wardens perform has recently been updated, so new training was essential for our volunteer wardens. A training exercise which recently took place in Sussex House, included an emergency evacuation test to ensure the new process worked smoothly.

This emergency evacuation test began with staff activating the fire alarm and building occupants moving to their nearest assembly point. Fire Wardens then swept their areas, recorded this on floor plans, and reported to the lead warden. The Fire Wardens then focused on tasks such as discouraging people from re-entering the building and monitoring the assembly point until the situation was resolved.

Building re-occupation can only happen once the fire alarm has been investigated by Security, and the building deemed ‘clear’.

Lessons learnt

Derek Evans, Assistant Fire Safety Advisor, said: “The fire drill was a good learning exercise on how staff react and how training could be improved. Following the drill, we amended materials for volunteer wardens, and training now includes showing building occupants all escape routes and alarm systems.”

Fire Warden stations are also being installed across campus for consistency and more training for new and existing Fire Wardens is underway.

Dermot Barry, Health and Safety Advisor, said: “We always make sure that a debrief is given to the Fire Wardens after each test evacuation. Safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone plays a part in maintaining a secure work environment.”

Simon Lewis, Senior Science Safety Advisor, added: “It was reassuring to see everyone’s responsiveness, and had it been a real fire evacuation, we would have gotten everyone back to safety quickly.”

Find out more

The fire drill ‘season’ ends in December, with future drills already being planned.

The H&S team aims to recruit more volunteer Fire Wardens to accommodate hybrid working patterns.

Find out more about Health and Safety at Sussex and speak to your local Health and Safety Coordinator, or email healthsafety@sussex.ac.uk, should you wish to volunteer as a Fire Warden in your building.