Why fire safety training matters

Don’t make the same fire safety mistake that so many employers fail with. It’s an easy one to make. Imagine – you’ve undergone your fire risk assessment. As a result, your premises are now adorned with a smart array of shiny fire extinguishers, standing smartly to attention in case of fire. Job done!

Well…not quite. Placing a comprehensive collection of fire extinguishers in a building will do nothing to improve its fire safety unless…its occupants know how to use them. And that means training… proper training. This is now a legal requirement. You are obliged by law to ensure that your people undergo appropriate fire extinguisher training – specifically geared towards the building they occupy and the processes you carry out.

What should fire safety training comprise?

An effective training program needs to cover more than the mere basics of fire extinguisher operation. Having followed the course, the trainees should be able to know:

■ What specific purpose each type of fire extinguisher fulfils – what kind of fire it’s designed to extinguish.

■ Which type of extinguisher to use on depending on the type of fire

■ When to use each type of extinguisher

■ How to operate them – and it’s not just a question of ‘point and squeeze’!

A well-designed fire extinguisher training course should give trainees the confidence to identify the type of fire and judge whether and how to operate an extinguisher to put it out.

Here are a few components of fire extinguisher training.

Understanding key fire risks – know your building

The first principle of fire extinguisher training is to understand the relevance of a building’s structure and purpose to fire risk. For example, an office complex would have different sources of fire risks than a hospital. Trainees also need to identify the different key fire risks within a building – for example, the kitchen area and sources for electrics or heating. They need to be aware too of how different types of fire can start.

Different types of fire and knowing the right extinguishers

Trainees need to understand that there are different types of fires. If the wrong extinguisher is used, it could even make the fire worse. Here are the five main classes of fire

1. Ordinary materials such as wood, paper and cloth

2. Flammable liquids such as gasoline and alcohol

3. Electrical equipment

4. Combustible metals such as magnesium and titanium

5. Vegetable or animal oils

Each of these will need to be dealt with using a different extinguisher.

How to locate fire extinguishers

Your employees will need to become familiar with where the fire extinguishers are located. In an emergency, they’ll need to know where to quickly locate the right type. They should also be able to identify whether an extinguisher is sufficiently charged and if it’s damaged in any way.

Learning how to quickly assess a fire

Trainees following fire extinguisher training will need to know whether to fight a fire or abandon it. They need to be able to judge the scale of the fire, whether it’s likely to get out of control and when to call 999. They also need to have an idea about fumes and smoke and to deal with each.

How to operate a fire extinguisher

An effective fire extinguisher training course will teach your people how to calmly aim and apply each type of extinguisher and when to stop using it. The more they understand and practise the operation, the less likely they are to panic and make mistakes.

A simplified and easy to remember takeaway on how to use a fire extinguisher

Before tackling any fire, first notify others of the situation by activating the fire alarm call point and calling the fire service. Only tackle a fire if you feel it is safe to do so and never take unnecessary risks. Never attempt to fight any fire in a confined space/ room and never let the fire get between you and your escape route.

PASS

■ Pull pin

■ Aim at base of fire

■ Squeeze handle

■ Sweep side to side

As you can see, fire extinguisher training is a serious matter. As an employer, you are legally obliged to ensure that your people have undergone adequate training.