Efficiently locating the correct fire extinguisher for safe fire fighting
If, as part of your company’s fire safety policy, you allow staff to undertake certain fire fighting actions such as using extinguishers and other equipment, then thorough training is obviously important.
What’s also vital is clear signage located in the best place. Your staff need to know exactly where each fire extinguisher is located and to be able to quickly identify what type it is – water, foam, powder and so on – since different extinguishers are suitable for different sorts of fire.
Fire safety levels
As part of ensuring fire safety in your workplace, your policy will determine the following:
Prevention only –
fire safety is usually based on prevention, so staff awareness of fire risks and how to minimise them is key.
If your policy is for no-one aside from perhaps specially trained fire officers to attempt any fire fighting measures, then procedures to follow in the event of a fire will be confined to following the correct evacuation procedures and how to raise the alarm.
Prevention and fire fighting –
your fire safety regime may include members of staff tackling some fires using extinguishers and maybe other equipment such as fire blankets. Of course this is more likely to only involve smaller fires confined to a smaller area that can be put out quickly and safely if tackled promptly with the right equipment.
Fire safety training
If your policy is to allow staff to use fire fighting equipment to tackle smaller incidences, then obviously a company-wide fire safety training regime should be in place. This would involve new employees being trained accordingly maybe in house or through a third party training company.
It would be important, along with regular fire drills, to ensure staff are reminded where key fire fighting equipment is located and how to use it. In the event of a fire, your staff should know immediately where to locate the nearest extinguisher suitable for the job.
Different types of fire extinguisher and their locations
It’s a basic health and safety requirement that fire extinguishers are clearly identified as to where they’re located and what type they are. Some of these fire equipment signs clearly identify a fire extinguisher’s location (as they’d be positioned close to the equipment) and what type of fire they’re suitable for. Others indicate where fire fighting equipment is located.
Using the correct extinguisher
Different types of fire require certain types of extinguisher, so clear signage as discussed above would identify clearly what type of extinguisher is suitable. For example, when tackling an electrical fire, a water or foam extinguisher wouldn’t be suitable whereas one filled with ABC powder might.
Related equipment that staff can either use or prepare for use, such as a fire hose, should also be clearly identified by suitable signage. Certain basic instructions may also appear on some signs; for example, in the case of a fire hose, the notification to “open valve before running out hose” or similar might appear.
Enabling quick and calm response
If your fire safety procedures involve members of staff potentially tackling smaller fires with suitable equipment such as extinguishers, fire hoses and blankets, then the key is to facilitate the calm and efficient use of them should the worst happen.
Clear signage and regular, updated training is a major way of enabling this.