Safety Meeting: Fire Extinguishers

If an employee detects a fire in the workplace, their first instinct is likely to alert coworkers, have someone call 911, and grab the nearest fire extinguisher. However, fire extinguishers are not as easy to use as they look. It’s important to train your employees on the types of fire extinguishers you have in your workplace and how to properly use them. This way, they know what they need to do before the next fire starts. This could mean the difference between containing a small fire and having it escalate into one that threatens the building and your employees’ safety.

What your employees need to know about fire extinguishers

Remember, not all fire extinguishers are the same. Each one has a label indicating the type of fire it’s to be used for.

Under a standardized letter coding system, most fires fall into the A, B, or C category. If your fire extinguisher is rated for all three, the label will have all three letters. The D and K categories are for more specialized situations. So, depending on the work your employees do, the type of fire extinguishers needed may vary. An office setting, for example, will have different needs than a commercial kitchen.

KNOW YOUR FIRE TYPES

A - Ordinary combustibles: e.g. paper, cloth, wood

B - Flammable liquids: e.g. oils, gasoline, some paints

C – Electrical: e.g wiring, fuse boxes, computer

D – Metals: e.g. combustible flakes, powders, shavings

K – Kitchen: e.g. cooking oils and fats

What your employees need to do to properly use a fire extinguisher

When discharging a fire extinguisher: use the PASS method and attack the fire from its base

First, if the fire has become too large to handle, it's rapidly spreading, lives are in danger, or no working fire extinguishers are available, evacuate the workplace immediately.

When discharging a fire extinguisher, use the correct one for the type of fire being fought and use the PASS method:

Pull the pin.
Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire to smother it. Hitting the top of the flame is not effective and can cause the fire to spread.
Squeeze the lever above the handle firmly to release the extinguishing agent.
Sweep the hose from side to side. Keep aiming at the base until the fire is out or until the extinguishing agent runs out. Most fire extinguishers last for 15-20 seconds before the agent runs out.

Tip

Employers: make sure to inspect, maintain, and test your fire extinguishers according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This includes a visual inspection of your fire extinguishers each month and a more thorough annual inspection—conducted by a certified professional.

What to cover at your safety meeting on using a fire extinguisher

Review the general principles of fire extinguisher use, when it’s appropriate to use one, the correct type to use, and the hazards that are present when a fire first breaks out. Other steps to cover include:

When to call 911 and how to notify employees of a fire
Where the fire extinguishers are located, and that they are not blocked or prevented from being used
How they are to be properly mounted and identified to ensure their visibility
How to read the label
How to use the PASS method
How to determine if the fire extinguisher needs to be recharged or discarded

Also, take the time to review and practice your evacuation plan on a regular basis. If you need to evacuate the workplace, you want everyone to know what to do so they can leave in a safe and orderly fashion.

Knowing how and when to use a fire extinguisher can help save your workplace and, more importantly, can save your employees lives. Make sure to provide training to your employees when they are hired and once every year.

Safety Meeting: Fire Extinguishers

What your employees need to know about fire extinguishers

Additional Resources

KNOW YOUR FIRE TYPES

What your employees need to do to properly use a fire extinguisher

Tip

What to cover at your safety meeting on using a fire extinguisher

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