In this article, we explain what fire extinguisher training is and why every employer needs it for their employees. Businesses with a high risk of on-site fires aren’t the only ones who need an extinguisher on hand. Adequate fire protection must be provided for all companies, however, acquiring the equipment itself is only the first step – it’s also necessary to ensure your employees are trained properly to handle fire extinguishers if the need ever arises.
Why Is Fire Extinguisher Training Important?
Even in a relatively low-risk work environment like an office or storefront, there is always the possibility of a fire. This is why having a fire protection plan is a requirement. Of course, just having a fire extinguisher is not enough – an extinguisher is useless if no one knows how to use it properly. Keeping your employees up-to-date on how to use the specific extinguishers in your business properly is a key step to avoiding catastrophic fires.
The first consideration when discussing the proper use of fire extinguishers is choosing the type of extinguisher. To do this, it is important to conduct a survey that identifies the types of fires that may occur based on the risk in your specific environment. Since each work environment has different characteristics, this should be done by a professional who will conduct a survey to determine the type and size of fire extinguisher that is appropriate for your business.
Another aspect of proper use is regular maintenance. It is important to know that most fire extinguishers have a limited life span, depending on the type, which is further shortened if they are not professionally maintained.
What Is Fire Extinguisher Training?
Learning how to use a properly selected and installed fire extinguisher is key to ensuring fire safety in the workplace. OSHA may demand fire extinguisher training for your organization, depending on your industry and your fire evacuation strategy. Take a look at your emergency response policy, and if you’re not sure if fire extinguisher training is necessary for your company, feel free to reach out and one of our fire protection specialists can advise. If any employees are required to use a fire extinguisher in the case of a fire, you must have hands-on practice and fire extinguisher training for at least those who are responsible.
In addition to legal requirements, there are many businesses, human, social, and environmental considerations that dictate that all employees should be able to safely use a fire extinguisher when needed. In the event of a fire, a well-trained colleague can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major disaster.
That’s why it’s important to seek professional help during training, which not only prepares workers for the theory but also gives them the opportunity to learn how to use fire extinguishers properly and safely in practice, with real equipment, and in real fires.
The Benefits of Fire Extinguisher Training
- Until the fire department arrives on the scene, the designated employee can use the fire extinguisher to ensure that no one is injured and to prevent property damage as much as possible.
- The employees are able to distinguish between the different types of fires and decide what type of device can be used to extinguish them. An incorrectly selected piece of equipment can either promote the spread of the fire or even result in personal injury.
- During training, employees also learn how to perform their work safely and avoid fire hazards.
Expand your employees’ knowledge and make sure they know how to act properly in the event of a fire. Ask us at Complete Fire about fire extinguisher training for your employees today.