Fire protection training for employees and supervisory staff
Every employer is required to train employees in fire protection under § 4 písm. e) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. Employees at least once every 24 months, fire brigade members at least once every 12 months. We deliver training at your premises or online and issue a complete record.
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What OPP training is and who must provide it
Fire protection training (OPP) is the familiarisation of employees and supervisory staff with workplace fire hazards, methods of fire prevention and the correct course of action in the event of a fire. It is not a voluntary activity — it is a statutory duty of every employer, applying equally to a small office and a manufacturing hall.
Under § 4 písm. e) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. on fire protection, a legal entity and a natural person — entrepreneur — is required to ensure fire protection training and knowledge testing for their employees and supervisory staff. The obligation therefore does not depend on the number of employees or the type of activity — it arises from the very first employee. We can also cover this agenda comprehensively within the fire protection service, where a fire protection officer manages the entire documentation, inspections and training.
This is a training page focused on the training of your staff itself. If you are looking for the performance of the fire protection officer function, the preparation of fire protection documentation or preventive fire inspections, these are found in the OPP service. OPP training is also closely linked to OHS training — most companies arrange them together.
Training intervals and professional preparation intervals
The frequency of training and professional preparation in the field of fire protection is determined by Decree of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic No. 121/2002 Coll. on fire prevention. The intervals differ depending on the group of persons. The overview below summarises the statutory minima:
| Group of persons | Interval | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Supervisory staff and other employees | at least once every 24 months | § 21 ods. 1 písm. b) Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. |
| Persons ensuring fire protection outside working hours | at least once every 12 months | § 21 ods. 1 písm. a) Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. |
| New employees (initial training) | before commencing work at the workplace | § 22 Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. |
| Members of fire brigades (professional preparation) | at least once every 12 months | § 23 ods. 4 Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. |
These are minimum intervals — training is also conducted sooner if fire protection conditions change, for example when technology, a workplace or an employee's job position changes. For your company we can monitor these intervals and notify you of upcoming refresher training in good time, so that you are always in order during an inspection.
What OPP training includes
We tailor the content of training to the actual fire hazards of your workplace — an office has different risks from a flammable-goods warehouse or a welding shop. We always cover the basic topics needed for employees to act safely.
- Workplace fire hazards — ignition sources, flammable materials and locations with an elevated fire risk in your operation.
- Fire extinguishers and fire equipment — types of portable fire extinguishers, their suitability for individual fire classes, location and principles of use.
- Action in the event of a fire — declaring the fire alarm, summoning the fire brigade and initial intervention at a developing fire.
- Evacuation of persons and property — evacuation routes and exits, co-operation during evacuation and assembly at a safe location.
- Employee duties — compliance with orders and prohibitions, reporting deficiencies and behaviour in workplaces with elevated fire hazards.
Training of supervisory staff
Supervisory staff are trained at the same interval as others (at least once every 24 months), but their training is broader in content. In addition to fire hazards and procedures, it covers the organisation of fire protection in the section entrusted to them, the management of subordinates during a fire and evacuation and the supervisor's responsibility for fulfilling duties in the fire protection area.
New employees and fire brigades
Initial training of new employees
A new employee must be trained in fire protection before commencing work at the workplace (§ 22 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll.). They must therefore not start work without having completed initial training. Similarly, an employee transferred to a different workplace or a different type of work is trained if this changes the fire protection conditions.
Professional preparation of fire brigades
In workplaces with an elevated fire risk, fire brigades are established. Their members complete professional preparation at least once every 12 months under § 23 ods. 4 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. Professional preparation trains them for their specific tasks in ensuring fire protection and in combating a developing fire. We can provide this scope beyond the regular employee training.
How OPP training works — procedure
The entire process is led by a fire protection officer — from the first contact through to the drawing up of the training record in five steps.
Enquiry You contact us by phone or email and provide the basic details — the number of employees and supervisory staff, the type of operation and whether you have workplaces with an elevated fire risk where professional preparation of fire brigades is also needed.
Scope assessment and scheduling We assess which groups of employees are trained and at what intervals (§ 21 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll.), agree an in-person or online format and a convenient date. We tailor the training content to the actual fire hazards of your workplace.
Training at your premises or online A fire protection officer delivers the training — fire hazards, fire extinguishers, evacuation, action in the event of a fire and employee duties. Supervisory staff are additionally familiarised with the organisation of fire protection and their responsibilities.
Knowledge verification Participants complete a verification of the knowledge of fire protection they have acquired. Knowledge verification is part of the employer's statutory obligation under § 4 písm. e) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll.
Drawing up the record We draw up a written record of the completed training and professional preparation in accordance with § 30 ods. 4 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. and notify you of the next refresher training intervals (24 or 12 months respectively).
Who conducts the training and what document you receive
Fire protection training may not be conducted by the company itself without a professionally competent person. Under § 9 ods. 2 písm. c) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. training and knowledge testing is conducted by a fire protection officer. These tasks may also be performed by a fire protection specialist, who under § 9 ods. 5 of the Act is authorised to carry out the tasks of a fire protection officer.
Written record as proof
Upon completion of training and professional preparation, a written record is drawn up under § 30 ods. 4 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. This record is the document by which you prove compliance with the obligation to provide OPP training during an inspection. The record contains in particular:
- the date and content of the training or professional preparation,
- the method of knowledge verification,
- the list, names and signatures of those who attended,
- the name and signature of the person who conducted the training or professional preparation.
Common misconception — OPP training is not the same as OHS training. These are two separate obligations from different regulations: OHS training is based on Act No. 124/2006 Coll., OPP training on Act No. 314/2001 Coll. and Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. The intervals also differ. In practice, companies usually arrange them together — see OHS training and first-aid training.
If you want to entrust the entire fire protection agenda (documentation, inspections and training) to a single partner, use the fire protection service. For training your employees alone, scheduling a date below is sufficient.
What OPP training includes
Legal basis
§ 4 písm. e) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. — training and knowledge testing of employees and supervisory staff in fire protection.
Intervals
Employees and supervisory staff at least once every 24 months; persons outside working hours and fire brigade members at least once every 12 months (Decree No. 121/2002 Coll.).
New employees
Initial training before commencing work at the workplace under § 22 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll.
Content
Fire hazards, fire extinguishers (types, use), action in the event of a fire, evacuation, employee duties, organisation of fire protection for supervisory staff.
Document issued
Written record of training under § 30 ods. 4 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. — date, content, knowledge verification, participants with signatures.
Who conducts training
Fire protection officer or fire protection specialist under § 9 of Act No. 314/2001 Coll.
Why choose Alpha Safety?
- Fire protection officer with authorisation
- Content tailored to the fire hazards of your workplace
- Training at your premises or online
- Complete documentation — record of training
- Reminder of next training interval
Duration
60 minutes
Format
Online and in-person
Stručná odpoveď
Fire protection training (OPP) is a statutory duty of every employer under § 4 písm. e) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. Employees are trained at least once every 24 months, persons ensuring protection outside working hours and fire brigade members at least once every 12 months. We deliver training at your premises or online and issue a written record.
Časté otázky – Fire protection training
Yes. Under § 4 písm. e) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. on fire protection, every legal entity and entrepreneur is required to ensure fire protection training and knowledge testing for employees and supervisory staff. The obligation does not depend on the size of the company or the type of activity — it arises from the first employee.
The intervals are set by Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. on fire prevention. Supervisory staff and other employees are trained at least once every 24 months (§ 21 ods. 1 písm. b)). Persons ensuring fire protection outside working hours are trained at least once every 12 months (§ 21 ods. 1 písm. a)). Fire brigade members complete professional preparation at least once every 12 months (§ 23 ods. 4).
A new employee must complete initial fire protection training before commencing work at the workplace, under § 22 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. They may not start work without having completed it. Similarly, an employee transferred to a different workplace is trained if this changes the fire protection conditions.
Under § 9 ods. 2 písm. c) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll., training and knowledge testing may be conducted only by a fire protection officer. A fire protection specialist, who under § 9 ods. 5 of the Act is authorised to carry out the tasks of a fire protection officer, may also perform these tasks. OPP training must not be conducted by the company itself without a professionally competent person.
A written record of completed training and professional preparation is drawn up under § 30 ods. 4 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. The record contains the date and content of the training, the method of knowledge verification, the list, names and signatures of those who attended and the name and signature of the person who conducted the training.
These are two separate statutory obligations from different regulations. OHS training is based on Act No. 124/2006 Coll. and is focused on safety and health at work generally; OPP training is based on Act No. 314/2001 Coll. and Decree No. 121/2002 Coll. and is focused on fire protection. The intervals also differ: OHS familiarisation at least once every 3 years, OPP at least once every 24 months. In practice, companies arrange them together.
Training covers workplace fire hazards, fire extinguishers and fire equipment (types, suitability for fire classes, use), action in the event of a fire (alarm, summoning the fire brigade, initial intervention), evacuation and employee duties. For supervisory staff the scope is extended to the organisation of fire protection in their section and their responsibility.
Yes. Online training in fire protection is not excluded by the regulations and we can deliver theory online. Knowledge verification is part of the process for both in-person and online formats. For workplaces with a specific elevated fire risk, we recommend supplementing online theory with practical familiarisation in person.
Yes, we deliver training directly at your premises in person or provide an online form. We tailor the content to the actual fire hazards at your workplace (office, warehouse, production) and issue the complete documentation. Just contact us with the number of employees and a brief description of the operation.
Interested in OPP training?
Contact us and we will schedule a training date at your premises.