Virtual fire drill

What is a virtual fire drill?

A virtual fire drill is a simulated emergency procedure. It aims to test the processes undertaken in the event of a fire or other similar emergency.

A virtual fire drill should cover the same bases as traditional fire drills, but without the requirement for close contact during evacuation or assembly.

Basic fire safety awareness training for personnel and fire safety inductions for contractors and visitors should already include 'fire action' procedures. With careful planning a virtual fire drill can provide a safe and effective method of increasing evacuation efficiency in a real emergency event.

Assessing the need for virtual fire drills

Management must assess the current level of fire safety awareness by asking individuals how they would react to given scenarios. For example, which escape route they would take for fires detected in different areas. The assessment should determine if the company induction has provided sufficient training or if additional training is needed.

The assessment can be:

Verbal - suitable for assessing groups. For example, factory and warehouse staff
Electronic questionnaires. Suitable for assessing individuals

For fire marshals or personnel with additional responsibilities in the event of fire, virtual drills should include:

Questions relating to interrogation of the fire alarm panel
Awareness of who to call
Correct use of fire-fighting equipment
How to determine and record which areas have been swept for occupants
Knowledge of liaison with Fire and Rescue Service

In each instance, there should be a suitably sized plan drawing of the workplace. This must include details of fire exits, fire resisting doors, manual call points, fire-fighting equipment, stairways, refuge areas for mobility impaired personnel and assembly points.

Personnel could be asked various questions related to their workplace including:

On discovering a fire

What action is required?
Indicate on the plan which manual call points could be activated

On hearing the alarm

Indicate their understanding of the alarm sound (if multiple tones are used) and what action they would take for each
Indicate position of the nearest fire exit and if that isn't safe to use, show an alternative
When leaving rooms or compartments, what action to take with doors and windows if possible
What not to do - for example, stop to collect belongings or finish job
Where to go after leaving the building?
Who to report to for roll-call?

Advantages of virtual fire drills

Virtual fire drills obviously offer many advantages over traditional drills but should only be used as supplementary to a real evacuation, not as an alternative, unless circumstances dictate, for example COVID-19.

Managers can conduct a drill when it is convenient and need not worry about complaints due to bad weather
Management have real-time reporting on everyone who participates, where gaps in training are apparent and potential feedback from all involved to improve future real drills
Virtual drills are inherently safe, as no gathering is required, and there's no risk from slips, trips and falls
The use of plans in virtual drills can enhance the learning experience. Personnel can indicate a variety of escape routes, not just the route they use every day and for a real evacuation
Virtual drills allow induction for new starters, contractors and visitors on the day of arrival
Virtual drills avoid the major disruption created by traditional fire drills and full evacuations

What managers need to do?

As with any emergency procedure relating to a workplace, the responsible person is required to ensure the fire risk assessment is updated accordingly. Details of any virtual drill including who took part and any feedback relating to gaps in training and areas for improvements should be recorded by management for future inspection by the Fire Authority.