Providing fire extinguisher training for your employees ensures that they’re ready to take action in the event of a fire.
For many businesses, hands-on fire extinguisher training is not required nor even contemplated. However, businesses that do not take advantage of this service are missing out. Employees that have fire extinguisher training can quickly extinguish a small fire before it becomes a big disaster. Trained employees can protect a business’s property, customers, and fellow employees with decisive and appropriate action during a fire.
Keep it Under Control
The purpose of a fire extinguisher is to give the operator the ability to keep the fire under control or hopefully extinguish it. Fire extinguishers in a commercial building should be readily visible and accessible to everyone. In the event of a fire, an employee that has had fire extinguisher training is more likely to remain calm and take immediate action because the training will give them the confidence to act decisively. Quick and decisive action can keep a small fire from spreading, protecting your property and the people within.
Protect Property
A fire extinguisher, when used correctly, can prevent a fire from spreading. Keeping a small fire under control prevents it from becoming a large fire and causing extensive property damage. This can save your business from suffering a devastating loss. Because many small businesses never reopen after a fire, this can protect your business and employees from catastrophic economic loss.
Protect Lives
Fires put lives at risk. Aside from the obvious dangers, people tend to panic in an emergency situation. This causes more problems, such as an inability to exit the building quickly and safely. If an employee has been trained and is able to act quickly to put out a fire, it will protect others and make evacuation much easier. The immediate response to a small fire is paramount in protecting property and lives.
Comply with OSHA Guidelines
For many businesses, OSHA does not require hands-on fire extinguisher training for employees. According to OSHA guideline 1910.157(g)(1): “Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage firefighting.” By “educational program,” OSHA simply means that employees need to be taught through “systematic instruction.” This could be as simple as a video demonstration, and many businesses start and stop fire extinguisher training there.
Even if OSHA does not require it for your business, the reality is that nothing will prepare your employees for a fire more than hands-on fire extinguisher training. Watching a video is very different from hands-on training. This will help you to understand how to operate the extinguisher, aim at the base of the fire, and how long the extinguishing agent discharge will last.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting
people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.