How Often Does Fire Extinguisher Training Need to Be Done in Australian Workplaces?

How Often Does Fire Extinguisher Training Need to Be Done?

Fire extinguisher training is a legal requirement for many Australian workplaces, but the specific frequency requirements are often misunderstood. This guide clarifies the legal obligations and provides practical guidance on how often your staff should be trained.

The Legal Framework

The requirement for fire extinguisher training in Australian workplaces stems from two main sources:

Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation: Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and equivalent legislation in other states, employers have a duty to provide information, training, instruction, and supervision to ensure the health and safety of workers. This includes training workers on emergency procedures, which encompasses the use of fire extinguishers.

AS 3745-2010: This Australian Standard requires that the emergency management plan for a facility include procedures for the use of fire extinguishers and that relevant personnel be trained in these procedures. The standard requires that the emergency management plan be reviewed at least annually, which should include a review of training currency.

Recommended Training Frequency: Annual

While neither WHS legislation nor AS 3745-2010 specifies a mandatory annual training interval for fire extinguisher training, the strong consensus among emergency management professionals, WHS regulators, and fire safety experts is that fire extinguisher training should be refreshed every 12 months.

This recommendation is based on several factors:

Skill decay: The practical skills required to effectively use a fire extinguisher — particularly the PASS technique and the ability to select the correct extinguisher type — deteriorate without regular reinforcement. Annual training maintains these skills at an acceptable level.

Changes in workplace hazards: The types of fire hazards present in a workplace can change over time as new equipment, materials, or processes are introduced. Annual training provides an opportunity to update staff on any new hazards and the appropriate extinguisher types.

Staff turnover: New staff members need to be trained before they can be considered competent in fire extinguisher use. Annual training ensures that all current staff are trained, regardless of when they joined the organisation.

Insurance requirements: Many commercial insurance policies require evidence of regular fire safety training as a condition of coverage. Annual training records provide this evidence.

Who Needs Fire Extinguisher Training?

Not every employee in every workplace needs to be trained in fire extinguisher use. The requirement applies to:

• Designated fire wardens and chief wardens (mandatory)
• Workers who work in areas with elevated fire risk (e.g., near flammable materials, cooking equipment, or electrical installations)
• Workers who are likely to be first on the scene of a fire
• Any worker who has been designated as a first responder for fire emergencies

For general office workers in low-risk environments, basic awareness training (knowing the location of extinguishers and when to evacuate rather than fight) may be sufficient, but practical training is always preferable.

What Should Fire Extinguisher Training Cover?

Effective fire extinguisher training should include both theoretical and practical components:

Theory:

• Fire classes and the types of extinguisher appropriate for each
• The PASS technique (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep)
• When to fight a fire and when to evacuate
• The limitations of fire extinguishers
• The location of extinguishers in the workplace

Practical:

• Hands-on experience with actual fire extinguishers
• Live fire scenarios where participants discharge extinguishers on real fires
• Practice with the specific types of extinguishers present in the workplace

Live fire training is significantly more effective than classroom-only training because it gives participants the experience of actually operating an extinguisher under realistic conditions, building the confidence and muscle memory needed to respond effectively in a real emergency.

Documentation

All fire extinguisher training should be documented, including:

• The names of participants
• The date of training
• The content covered
• The name and qualifications of the trainer

These records should be retained for at least five years and should be available for inspection by WorkSafe WA or other relevant authorities.

Ready Set Rescue WA delivers practical, hands-on fire extinguisher training onsite at Perth workplaces, including live fire demonstrations that give participants real experience with actual extinguishers on real fires. Our training is delivered by experienced firefighters who bring genuine expertise to every session.