Learn What Exactly Fire Extinguisher Training Entails And Why It Is Not Only Important But Compulsory

By Author: Your Choice Fire & Security
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One of the most important obligations an employer can have is to ensure that employees are safe in the workplace and that the company follows all fire safety regulations. Since 2005, when revisions to the regulatory reform order (RRO) came into effect, it has been mandatory for all corporate institutions and business owners to comply with safety laws, which also include aspects such as fire extinguishers and general fire safety training.

Furthermore, it is expected of a business owner or corporate structure to ensure that all staff undergo proper fire extinguisher training for when a fire breaks out, as well as refresher fire safety training under the RRO, which covers general fire safety for Wales and England.

Who Should Use A Fire Extinguisher In Case Of A Fire Breakout?

A fire extinguisher can technically be used by anyone, but many things can go wrong, and this can be the difference between life and death. As a result, at least one person (but preferably more staff members) must receive fire extinguisher training. When a fire extinguisher is used as a first-aid firefighting device, it simply implies ...
... that it is utilised to help people escape and buy them some time when there is a fire.

When a building is being evacuated and fire is blocking the exit route, for example, a fire extinguisher can be used to control, tame, or partly put out the fire so that the building can be safely evacuated. In this case, the responsible person can simply follow the (printed) instructions on the fire extinguisher accordingly, but it will take up some valuable time to read them first, whereas a trained person will know exactly how to use the fire extinguisher and get everyone to safety.

Can Any Fire Extinguisher Be Used In The Event Of A Fire?

One important thing to remember is that different types of fire extinguishers are used for different types of fires, and with proper fire extinguisher training, you'll be able to tell the difference right away and know which to use when. A CO2 fire extinguisher, which is used for Class B flammable liquids and electrical fires, is one of the five most common types of fire extinguishers. CO2 smothers a fire as an asphyxiant, therefore one should apply cation if used in a confined or narrow setting like a locker for example. You should keep the exit door open, dump the extinguisher into the locker space from the door, and then close the locker door.

Dry powder fire extinguishers are another type that can be used on electrical fires as well as Class A, Class B, and Class C fires, where the latter involves flammable gases such as acetylene, propane, and butane, for example), but in training you're will learn that it is import to isolate the gas first. Dry powder extinguishers essentially smother the flames, as you will learn during fire extinguisher training.

Water extinguishers are used to put out fires in highly flammable substances like paper, textiles, and wood because water cools them down. Class F flames, notably those containing fats and cooking oil, are extinguished with wet chemical extinguishers, however, this type of extinguisher can also be used on Class A and B fires. In areas with equipment such as deep fat fryers, like kitchens, for example, wet chemical extinguishers are quite common.

Foam extinguishers are the last in this category, and they're used for flammable liquids like paints, petroleum products, thinners, and solvents, as well as flammable solids (as mentioned earlier) and liquefiable solids like tar, butter, car tires, and wax, though the water content in a foam extinguisher may cause some of these to split, so powder extinguishers might be a better option. In the unfortunate case of a fire, the knowledge gained through proper fire extinguisher training will help you determine what type of extinguisher to use.

In conclusion, annual inspections of fire extinguishers in buildings are required, and they must be thoroughly documented. Your company (or a responsible person) is in charge of testing and maintaining all portable fire extinguishers in the workplace, and with the proper training, your company will meet all fire safety regulations.

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