What to Expect From Professional Fire Extinguisher Training

An employee might walk by a fire extinguisher on a daily basis. The tool is present, the placement is clear, and little thought is given to the device—until a fire breaks out. Suddenly, employees may find themselves surprised by the difference between seeing an extinguisher and knowing how to use one. Professional fire extinguisher training can help employees identify workplace fire hazards, locate emergency equipment, and practice basic operating procedures and safe decision-making.

Before Training: Understanding the Purpose

Training can begin with a simple, yet important principle: preparation.

Though employees may never actually experience a workplace fire, proper preparation is still an important opportunity for employees to understand a fundamental principle – that being ready to respond safely can make all the difference in the event of an emergency.

Fire safety education can help employees recognize the ways in which preparation, prevention, emergency communication, evacuation, and extinguisher use all play a role in fire safety.

Stage One: Recognizing Workplace Fire Risks

During training, employees can begin by identifying potential fire hazards in the workplace, such as:

• Combustible materials,
• Electrical equipment,
• Flammable liquids,
• Machinery,
• Cooking equipment,
• Chemicals,

Or other potential fire sources and fuel for fire.

By understanding these workplace fire risks, employees can recognize the relationship between fire prevention and their day-to-day operations. This can also be an important moment for employees to understand the conditions that should be reported before they become fire safety concerns.

Stage Two: Understanding Fire Classifications

Next, employees can learn about fire classifications.

During this segment, employees can understand the different types of fires, including:

• Class A — Ordinary Combustibles

• Class B — Flammable Liquids

• Class C — Energized Electrical Equipment

• Class D — Combustible Metals

• Class K — Cooking Oils and Fats

Each classification can be identified by its unique fuel source. This information can help employees understand why extinguishers are labeled and why certain fire classes require different fire-fighting methods.

Stage Three: Becoming Familiar With Extinguishers

Employees can also become more familiar with the specific portable extinguishers available in the workplace. This segment can also help employees become familiar with the location of fire extinguishers and the information provided on the labels. Employees should have a working knowledge of where extinguishers are located and how to identify an extinguisher’s proper use before an emergency occurs.

Stage Four: Learning Basic Operation

Perhaps one of the most memorable segments of fire extinguisher training is the hands-on demonstration. Most often, this looks like an explanation and demonstration of the PASS technique:

• Pull the pin,
• Aim the nozzle,
• Squeeze the handle,
• and Sweep from side to side.

While this is an important part of fire safety education, employees should also understand that operating a fire extinguisher is only recommended in the right circumstances: when the employee can reach the fire safely and the fire is not too large or dangerous to approach.

Stage Five: Developing Emergency Judgment

This leads fire safety education into another important segment: emergency judgment.

Professional fire extinguisher training can help employees understand that a fire emergency can change rapidly. Conditions such as heavy smoke, an intensely growing fire, extreme heat, blocked exits, hazardous materials, or uncertainty about the nature of the fire can all require an employee to rethink their response. In some cases, the safest course of action may be to simply evacuate the building.

Stage Six: Connecting Fire Safety With Evacuation

Connected to the previous segment, fire extinguisher training can also help employees understand the importance of emergency planning around fire evacuation. In short, a fire extinguisher is only one part of an emergency plan. Employees should also know how to activate the fire alarm, notify others, call for emergency assistance, and know the location of exits and assembly areas.

Stage Seven: Workplace-Specific Discussion

As a final segment, instructor-led training can provide an open discussion for employees to ask workplace-specific questions about fire safety. During this discussion, employees may wish to identify the location of extinguishers in the workplace, determine the fire hazards unique to the workplace, or ask clarifying questions about fire safety procedures. Professional training can provide the necessary context for each workplace’s fire safety needs.

Organizations can learn more about instructor-led training by reviewing UniFirst First Aid + Safety’s fire extinguisher and fire safety training resource.

After Training: Maintaining Awareness

At the same time, training should not be seen as the end of the conversation about fire safety. Employees can continue to support fire prevention by maintaining clear exits, reporting fire risks, practicing fire safety procedures, and remaining aware of fire emergency equipment. Managers can also reinforce this training by providing appropriate safety communication and ensuring that fire safety procedures and emergency equipment are accessible to all employees.

Key Employee Takeaways

Employees should take away a basic understanding of workplace fire hazards, fire classifications, extinguisher types, basic operating procedures, PASS, emergency communication, and evacuation procedures – and the ways in which extinguishers are only one part of fire safety.

Conclusion

Professional fire extinguisher training can help employees become more familiar with workplace fire hazards, emergency equipment, basic operating procedures, and evacuation principles. Organizations that wish to learn more about professional fire extinguisher training and workplace fire safety education can learn more from UniFirst First Aid + Safety.

Contact Us today to discuss professional fire extinguisher training and learn how workplace fire safety education can support employee preparedness.

FAQsWhat happens during professional fire extinguisher training?

Professional fire extinguisher training can include instruction on workplace fire hazards, fire classifications, extinguisher types, basic operating procedures, emergency response, and safe employee decision-making.

Will employees learn the PASS technique?

PASS is among the most common methods for explaining the basic operation of a portable fire extinguisher.

Does professional training explain when employees should evacuate?

Safe emergency judgment is an important part of fire safety education. As such, training should include information about the conditions under which an employee should consider evacuation over attempting to fight a fire.

Why is professional training useful when extinguisher instructions are printed on the equipment?

Extinguisher instructions should always be reviewed according to the specific fire emergency. At the same time, professional fire extinguisher training can help employees identify emergency equipment, understand fire hazards and classifications, and practice fundamental fire safety procedures.

Can employees discuss workplace-specific fire safety concerns during training?

Instructor-led training can provide an opportunity for employees to review workplace-specific fire safety concerns and ask clarifying questions about fire prevention, fire classifications, extinguishers, emergency response, and evacuation procedures.