What does a fire warden do?

A fire warden helps keep exits and equipment ready, and in an emergency leads an orderly evacuation of their floor or area, checks rooms and reports to the chief warden.

Is warden training required by law in Australia?

WHS laws require the PCBU to give workers information, training and instruction on the emergency plan, and some states add rules, such as Queensland's evacuation instructions. Your employer arranges this training; this course is background knowledge only and does not replace it.

What colour helmet does a chief warden wear?

White. Under the AS 3745 colour system, deputy chief wardens also wear white, floor or area wardens wear yellow and wardens wear red.

Should a fire warden fight the fire?

A warden's main duty is to evacuate people safely. Use an extinguisher only if it suits the fire, you are trained, the fire is small and you can get out safely.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Fire Warden Course (Australia) 2026

Question 1 of 25

Under the model WHS Regulations, who must prepare, maintain and carry out a workplace emergency plan?

The building's insurance company
Each worker for their own area
The local fire brigade
The PCBU, such as the employer

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Answer: D. The PCBU, such as the employer

Regulation 43 of the model WHS Regulations places the emergency plan duty on the PCBU, such as the employer or business running the workplace.

Question 2 of 25

Which of these must a workplace emergency plan provide for?

Extra pay for staff who act as wardens
A fire extinguisher in every single room
Daily visits by the fire brigade
Notifying emergency services quickly

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Answer: D. Notifying emergency services quickly

Safe Work Australia says an emergency plan must cover an effective response, evacuation, prompt notice to emergency services, medical help, communication, testing and training.

Question 3 of 25

Who must the PCBU consult when making or reviewing the emergency plan?

Workers and any health and safety representatives
Only the managers and the building owner
Nobody, because the plan is a private company document
Neighbours who live within 1 km of the site

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Answer: A. Workers and any health and safety representatives

Under the model WHS laws the PCBU must consult workers, and any health and safety representatives, on the emergency plan.

Question 4 of 25

When should an emergency plan be reviewed?

Only when the fire brigade orders a review
After workplace changes and after testing
Once every ten years, no matter what changes
Only when the building is sold to a new owner

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Answer: B. After workplace changes and after testing

Safe Work Australia says plans must be kept up to date and reviewed after changes to the workplace, the workforce or the work, and after testing.

Question 5 of 25

What is the Australian Standard AS 3745 about?

Planning for emergencies in facilities
Food safety in commercial kitchens
Electrical wiring in new homes
The design of portable fire extinguishers

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Answer: A. Planning for emergencies in facilities

AS 3745-2010 is titled Planning for emergencies in facilities. It covers the emergency planning committee, the emergency control organisation, procedures and training.

Question 6 of 25

What does the emergency planning committee (EPC) do?

Inspects fire extinguishers each month
Puts out fires before the brigade arrives
Writes and maintains the emergency plan
Directs traffic outside the building

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Answer: C. Writes and maintains the emergency plan

The EPC is the group responsible for documenting and maintaining the emergency plan. It appoints the emergency control organisation.

Question 7 of 25

What is the job of the emergency control organisation (ECO)?

To direct and control the site's emergency response
To approve new building plans for council
To investigate the cause of every fire
To sell and service fire safety equipment for tenants

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Answer: A. To direct and control the site's emergency response

The ECO is the team of wardens appointed to direct and control how the site's emergency response procedures are carried out.

Question 8 of 25

Under the AS 3745 colour system, what colour helmet does the chief warden wear?

Green
Red
White
Yellow

Show answer

Answer: C. White

Chief wardens and deputy chief wardens wear white so people can find them quickly.

Question 9 of 25

Under the AS 3745 colour system, what colour helmet does a floor or area warden wear?

Orange
White
Blue
Yellow

Show answer

Answer: D. Yellow

Floor and area wardens wear yellow. Wardens under them wear red, and chief wardens wear white.

Question 10 of 25

During an alarm, what does the chief warden collect from the floor or area wardens?

Their signed timesheets for the shift
A list of any furniture that was damaged
Reports on whether their areas are clear
Their keys, swipe cards and radios

Show answer

Answer: C. Reports on whether their areas are clear

The chief warden goes to the control point, checks the fire panel and gathers reports from floor or area wardens to build a picture of the building.

Question 11 of 25

What is a warden's main duty in an emergency?

To lead an orderly evacuation
To find out who started the fire
To fight the fire until the brigade arrives
To guard the building's cash and stock

Show answer

Answer: A. To lead an orderly evacuation

Warden procedures state that the main duty of wardens is not to combat emergencies but to get people out in an orderly way and assist emergency services.

Question 12 of 25

When a floor warden checks their floor during an alarm, which rooms should they check?

Every room they can safely enter, toilets included
Only the rooms where staff were seen earlier that day
Only the main open-plan office areas
Only rooms that have their doors left open

Show answer

Answer: A. Every room they can safely enter, toilets included

Warden duties include checking every accessible room, toilets included, and directing people out.

Question 13 of 25

While checking rooms, you find a door that is hot to touch. What should you do?

Open it slowly to look inside
Kick it open and use an extinguisher
Wedge it open so smoke can escape
Leave it closed and report it

Show answer

Answer: D. Leave it closed and report it

Wardens must not open hot doors or doors with smoke coming through them. Report the location so emergency services know.

Question 14 of 25

A worker on your floor uses a wheelchair. What should a warden know before any emergency?

Which lift the worker usually takes
Nothing, because emergency services handle this
Only the worker's home address
Who needs help and how, as their plan says

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Answer: D. Who needs help and how, as their plan says

Emergency plans can set out help for people with hearing, vision or mobility impairments. Wardens report people who may need a personal emergency plan.

Question 15 of 25

Which of these should a warden report to the chief warden between emergencies?

A visitor who forgot to sign out
A printer that is out of paper
A fire door that does not close properly
A staff member who arrived five minutes late

Show answer

Answer: C. A fire door that does not close properly

Warden duties include reporting hazards such as blocked exits, fire doors that fail to close and missing extinguishers.

Question 16 of 25

Queensland's Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 bans obstructions near a final exit. Within what distance?

5 metres
50 centimetres
10 metres
2 metres

Show answer

Answer: D. 2 metres

In Queensland, nothing may obstruct an evacuation route, including the area within 2 m of a final exit.

Question 17 of 25

Under Queensland's Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008, what is the rule about chocking open a door to a fire-isolated area?

It is allowed on hot days for air flow
It is allowed if a sign is posted
It is allowed during business hours
It is not allowed

Show answer

Answer: D. It is not allowed

The regulation forbids letting air from other spaces into evacuation routes, and gives chocking open a door as an example of a banned act.

Question 18 of 25

In Queensland, how soon must a new worker receive general evacuation instructions?

Only after the first fire drill
Within 6 months of starting
Within 2 days of starting
Before their first annual review

Show answer

Answer: C. Within 2 days of starting

Queensland's Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 says new workers get general evacuation instructions within 2 days, then at least once a year.

Question 19 of 25

Queensland rules and WA's public building guidance both set a minimum for evacuation practice. What is it?

At least once every 5 years
At least once a year
Only when a new tenant moves in
At least once a week

Show answer

Answer: B. At least once a year

Queensland requires evacuation practice at intervals of not more than 1 year, and WA Health guidance asks for at least 1 evacuation every 12 months.

Question 20 of 25

In Queensland, which buildings must have a fire safety adviser?

Only buildings without sprinklers
Only buildings under construction
High occupancy buildings
Every house with a smoke alarm

Show answer

Answer: C. High occupancy buildings

Occupiers of high occupancy buildings must appoint a fire safety adviser with a current building fire safety qualification.

Question 21 of 25

In Australia, a Class F fire involves which fuel?

Wood, paper and cloth
Flammable gases such as LPG
Cooking oils and fats
Burning metals such as magnesium

Show answer

Answer: C. Cooking oils and fats

Class F fires involve cooking oils and fats. Class A is ordinary solids, Class C is gases and Class D is metals.

Question 22 of 25

An extinguisher has a black band. What does it contain?

Dry chemical powder
Water only
Wet chemical
Carbon dioxide

Show answer

Answer: D. Carbon dioxide

In Australia a black band means carbon dioxide (CO2), suited to electrical equipment and flammable liquids.

Question 23 of 25

Which extinguisher is made for a deep fryer fire?

Carbon dioxide (black band)
Water (all red)
Wet chemical (oatmeal band)
Foam (blue band)

Show answer

Answer: C. Wet chemical (oatmeal band)

The oatmeal-band wet chemical extinguisher is made for Class F fires in cooking oils and fats.

Question 24 of 25

Using the PASS method, where should you aim the extinguisher nozzle?

At the base of the fire
At the top of the flames
At the smoke near the ceiling
At the wall behind the fire

Show answer

Answer: A. At the base of the fire

PASS means Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. You aim at the base of the fire and sweep from side to side.

Question 25 of 25

After an evacuation, who tells occupants that they may go back into the building?

The first person back at the door
A warden from any other floor
The chief warden
Any occupant once the alarm stops

Show answer

Answer: C. The chief warden

The chief warden keeps control until emergency services take over, then tells occupants when they can return and holds a debrief.

Fire Warden Course (Australia) 2026

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