Fire Extinguishers

Fires and explosions in the workplace can get out of control quickly, causing death, serious injury, property damage, and even irreparable damage to the facility structure and reputation of the company within the community. These hazards have led people to a major misunderstanding of the presence of fire extinguishers in the workplace.

Contrary to popular belief, a fire extinguisher at work is not there to fight fire. So why are fire extinguishers mandated by regulatory agencies? Fire extinguishers are solely for protecting employees. This seems obvious, but it is an important distinction that both managers and employees must make when training on and discussing the need and use of fire extinguishers.

The extinguisher is an emergency piece of equipment designed for a person who may need it to reach a safe location when a fire begins. If an employee is already in a safe place, there should be no expectation from a manager for the employee to attempt to extinguish a fire. First of all, an “insipient” fire -one that is literally in the starting stages and intended to be extinguished by an appropriate extinguisher -can get out of control in a matter of a few seconds. The employee should immediately find a safe location and, only then, decide if the fire is still small enough to attempt to use a fire extinguisher.

When locating extinguishers in the workplace or on equipment, remember that the purpose of the extinguisher is to allow someone who may be trapped to get to a safe location. Placing an extinguisher on the outside back end of a loader simply to meet regulatory requirements is senseless. If the employee needs it to get out of the cab, it is worthless. If the employee is already out of the cab and in a safe location, the fire extinguisher is not needed. If an employee sees another vehicle on fire and attempts to assist, valuable time is wasted when having to park, get out, and run to the back of the equipment to access the extinguisher. The best place for a properly sized extinguisher is securely mounted yet accessible in the cab with the employee.

A second point is that simply knowing how to use an extinguisher does not make the employee a professional fire fighter. Do not place that burden on your employees!

Employee training is critical. You will find that those employees who simply saw the training video will not remember to pull the pin or know how to approach the fire or aim the extinguisher. Practical hands-on training for every employee at least once is essential.

The extinguisher must also be appropriate for the fire. Use an all-purpose A-B-C extinguisher for most locations, unless you need a D (metals). That distinction in employee training must be addressed.

Finally, whether to use a drychemical or a carbon dioxide extinguisher is up to both you and the application. Remember, though, a drychemical extinguisher on mobile equipment will pack down from vibration so operators should periodically remove the extinguisher and shake it upside down to mix the powder and propellant. And, any time an extinguisher is discharged for any reason, it should immediately be replaced with a new one.

A fire extinguisher is an excellent tool designed for a specific purpose -life safety! Employees need to know (and practice) how to use it, understand its limitations, and always ensure the ones present are ready and accessible for use. Do not take it for granted and do not expect to use it for more than it is intended. Either will set you up for a disaster!

Randy DeVaul is a safety professional, author, and speaker. Comments are always welcome at safetypro@roadrunner.com.