It’s important to help employees understand that with proper training and education, fire extinguishers can save lives and property. Many adults may not know how or when to use fire extinguishers. OMAG encourages our municipalities to hold fire safety training, teaching employees how to use a fire extinguisher, when to use one, and what a particular fire extinguisher’s limits are.
There are five primary classes of fire extinguishers, each designed to put out different kinds of fires. Class A is for use on ordinary materials like cloth, wood, and paper. Class B is for use on combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints. Class C is used on electrical equipment like appliances, tools, computers, or other equipment that is plugged in. Class D extinguishers are for use on flammable metals and are specialized extinguishers usually for factories. Any time an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) recommends a product requiring a Class D extinguisher, there should be one present in the facility. Finally, there are Class K fire extinguishers, which are used for vegetable oils and animal fats used in cooking appliances. Most offices, vehicles, shops, and homes now use multipurpose fire extinguishers that are labeled Classes A, B, & C and can handle almost any type of fire.
Help employees decide when to use a fire extinguisher:
Fire extinguishers can be helpful on a small fire that hasn’t left its point of origin. Consider providing a checklist to help people prepare to use a fire extinguisher on a fire.
Have I alerted others in the facility that there is a fire?
Has someone called the fire department?
Am I physically able to use a fire extinguisher?
Is the fire small and contained in a single object (frying pan, wastebasket)?
Do I have a clear escape route, should my efforts fail?
Use a fire extinguisher when all these questions are answered “Yes.” If you are unsure about whether or not it is safe to use an extinguisher, alert others, leave the building, and call 911 from a mobile phone.
Teach employees how to use a fire extinguisher:
When operating a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS –
Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, don’t grip the squeeze handles, and pull the pin preventing the squeeze handles from closing on themselves.
Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire where the fuel is.
Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly to disperse the fire repelling agent. Squeeze the lever intermittently to give you more control and fire fighting time. Avoid holding the trigger down and dispersing the agent all at once.
Sweep the nozzle from side to side, covering the fuel area, and move in on the fire as it recedes.
Educate employees on the importance of fire extinguisher maintenance:
Remind employees to inspect fire extinguishers at least monthly. We don’t use them often, but when we need them, we need to be able to get to them and they must be reliable.
Easy access in an emergency – nothing is blocking or limiting our ability to get to it. The fire extinguishers are mounted and clearly marked with signage denoting where they are.
Inspect the extinguishers monthly – make sure the gauge arrow is in the green showing it is properly pressurized. Make sure all parts (can, hoses, nozzles) are free from damage and not clogged. Shake the extinguisher thoroughly to keep the retardant powder from compacting.
Make sure the extinguisher is clean and that there is no dust, oil, or grease on the outside of the extinguisher.
Make sure there are basic instructions on the use of the fire extinguisher on the label and that they are legible.
Hands-on training by a qualified instructor is the best way to teach employees how to properly use a fire extinguisher. The experience will help employees better understand the procedures and processes in fighting a fire and the instructor can point out any concerns, field questions by the participants, and provide encouragement to anyone who doesn’t feel confident in their ability to use the extinguisher.
