Fire Safety : Fire Extinguisher Basics & Protection and Control measures

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Chapter : Fire Safety

Fire Extinguisher Basics & Protection and Control measures 

Fire Extinguisher Basics

To avoid putting workers in danger, fire extinguishers should be located throughout the workplace and readily accessible in the event of a fire. You can usually find them in hallways, meeting rooms, kitchens, mechanical /electrical rooms, and near exit doors.

Employer Responsibility:

• Providing portable fire extinguishers and mounting, locating, and identifying them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury.
• Providing the correct type of fire extinguisher for the workplace. This is often times a multi-purpose fire extinguisher.
• Assuring that portable fire extinguishers are maintained, fully charged, operate properly, and are kept in designated places at all times, except during use.

Your Responsibility:

• Knowing where the fire extinguisher’s are located at your place of work.
• Knowing how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Just remember PASS:
  
  P: Pull the pin
  A: Aim at the base of the fire
  S: Squeeze the lever
  S: Sweep sided to side.

Fire Protection and Control

Most fires are a result of inattention to the job site operations and surrounding conditions. This lack of attention or protection can result in the loss of life and property. All fires can be easily extinguished if caught soon enough and the proper extinguishing tools are handy.

Steps to Remember When a Fire Starts:

• Sound an alarm—yell if necessary.
• Warn those near the fire.
• If possible and the fire is small, try to extinguish it.
• Call the Fire Department if the fire can’t be easily and quickly extinguished.
• Evacuate the area if the fire can’t be quickly extinguished.
• Direct the Fire Department to the area of the fire.
• Stand by to help, but only if asked by a Fire Department official.

Be Sure to Know the Following:

• The Fire Department phone number.
• Be sure you know the location of the nearest cross street to give the Fire Department directions.
• Where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
• How to evacuate the work area.

Steps to Prevent Fires

• Regularly inspect all fire extinguishers.
• Keep the work area free of debris and trash.
• Designate high risk areas as “no smoking” areas. Enforce no smoking rules.
• Store flammable fuels and materials only in approved safety containers.
• Check temporary wiring and electrical tools for defects.

The emergency numbers and job site location (including nearest cross streets) are posted where on the job?
If welding equipment is on the job, when is it regularly inspected?
Remember: Knowing how to recognize, react to, or eliminate fire hazards can greatly decrease the chances of being exposed to a fire.