Tower security guards must be trained in fire safety
Security guards at high-rise towers will have to be fully trained in fire safety or they will be out of a job.
That was the message yesterday from Maj Gen Abdullah Al Marri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, as he announced that guards and new recruits will be trained in how to react when a fire breaks out.
Maj Gen Al Marri said that the importance of training security guards in towers was put into perspective after the Torch building fire in Dubai Marina on August 4.
“There were vehicles parked underneath the building and most of them got burnt. The security officer should have alerted residents about these vehicles,” Maj Gen Al Marri said.
“If the security officer at the building was aware of fire safety guidelines, he would have told residents about the dangers of parking in undesignated areas. Also, the security guard at the tower did not participate in evacuating the building.”
The police chief said that, once trained, security guards would be given safety certificates.
“There are plans to recruit security guards who have a certificate related to safety measures at towers, including fire safety guidelines,” he said.
“This would include training so security guards can move people from the building if a fire starts in a tower.” Maj Gen Al Marri said that a security guard should always watch for potential fire hazards while patrolling or watching over their tower.
“A security officer at a tower must be able to hand details about the fire to firefighters and police officials as they arrive at the scene,” he said.