Fight
or Flee? |
Extinguisher
Basics | Fire Extinguisher
Use | Extinguisher
Placement and Spacing Hydrostatic
Testing | OSHA
Requirements | Test
Your Knowledge
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A fire is the most common type of emergency for which
small businesses must plan. A critical decision when
planning is whether or not employees should fight a small
fire with a portable fire extinguisher or simply evacuate.
Small fires can often be put out quickly by a well-trained
employee with a portable fire extinguisher. However, to do
this safely, the employee must understand the use and
limitation of a portable fire extinguisher and the hazards
associated with fighting fires. Evacuation plans that
designate or require some or all of the employees to fight
fires with portable fire extinguishers increase the level
of complexity of the plan and the level of training that
must be provided employees. |
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Should
employees evacuate or be prepared to
fight a small fire? |
Choosing to evacuate the workplace
rather than providing fire extinguishers for employee
use in fighting fires will most effectively minimize
the potential for fire-related injuries to employees.
In addition, training employees to use
fire extinguishers and maintaining them requires
considerable resources. However, other factors,
such as the availability of a public fire department
or the vulnerability of
egress routes, will enter into this decision.
Option
1 |
Option
2 |
Option
3 |
Option 4 |
Total
evacuation of employees from the workplace
immediately when alarm sounds. No one is authorized
to use available portable fire extinguishers. |
Designated
employees are authorized to use portable fire
extinguishers to fight fires. All other employees
must evacuate workplace immediately when alarm
sounds. |
All
employees are authorized to use portable fire
extinguishers to fight fires. |
Extinguishers are provided but not intended
for employee use. |
Requirement |
Requirement |
Requirement |
Requirement |
Establish an emergency action plan, fire
prevention plan and train employees
accordingly. Extinguishers are not existing
and not required [29 CFR 1910.157(b)(1)]. |
Establish an emergency action plan and train employees
accordingly. Meet all general fire
extinguisher requirements plus annually train
designated employees to use fire
extinguishers. Fire extinguishers in the
workplace must be inspected, tested, and
maintained [29 CFR 1910.157(b)(2)]. |
If
any employees will
be evacuating, establish an emergency action
plan and train
employees accordingly. Meet all general fire
extinguisher requirements plus annually train
all employees to use fire extinguishers. Fire
extinguishers in the workplace must be
inspected, tested, and maintained [29 CFR 1910.157(b)(2)]. |
Establish an emergency action plan, fire
prevention plan and train employees
accordingly. If fire extinguishers are left in
the workplace, they must be inspected, tested,
and maintained. Extinguishers are provided
but not intended for employee use [29 CFR 1910.157(a)]. |
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Risk
assessment |
Portable
fire extinguishers have two functions: to control
or extinguish small or incipient stage fires and
to protect evacuation routes that a fire may block
directly or indirectly with smoke or burning/smoldering
materials.
To extinguish a fire with a portable extinguisher,
a person must have immediate access to the extinguisher,
know how to actuate the unit, and know how to apply
the agent effectively. Attempting to extinguish
even a small fire carries some risk. Fires can increase
in size and intensity in seconds, blocking the exit
path of the fire fighter and creating a hazardous
atmosphere. In addition, portable fire extinguishers
contain a limited amount of extinguishing agent
and can be discharged in a matter of seconds. Therefore,
individuals should attempt to fight only very small
or incipient stage fires.
Prior to fighting any fire with a portable fire
extinguisher you must perform a risk assessment
that evaluates the fire size, the fire fighters
evacuation path, and the atmosphere in the vicinity
of the fire.
Risk
Assessment Question |
Characteristics
of incipient stage fires or fires that can
be extinguished with portable fire extinguishers |
Characteristics
of fires that SHOULD NOT be fought with a
portable fire extinguisher (beyond incipient
stage) - evacuate immediately |
Is
the fire too big? |
The
fire is limited to the original material ignited,
it is contained (such as in a waste basket)
and has not spread to other materials. The
flames are no higher than the firefighter's
head. |
The
fire involves flammable solvents, has spread
over more than 60 square feet, is partially
hidden behind a wall or ceiling, or can not
be reached from a standing position. |
Is
the air safe to breathe? |
The
fire has not depleted the oxygen in the room
and is producing only small quantities of
toxic gases. No respiratory protection equipment
is required. |
Due
to smoke and products of combustion, the fire
can not be fought without respiratory protection. |
Is
the environment too hot or smoky? |
Heat
is being generated, but the room temperature
is only slightly increased. Smoke may be accumulating
on the ceiling, but visibility is good. No
special personal protective equipment is required. |
The
radiated heat is easily felt on exposed skin
making it difficult to approach within 10-15
feet of the fire (or the effective range of
the extinguisher). One must crawl on the floor
due to heat or smoke. Smoke is quickly filling
the room, decreasing visibility. |
Is
there a safe evacuation path? |
There
is a clear evacuation path that is behind
you as you fight the fire. |
The
fire is not contained, and fire, heat, or
smoke may block the evacuation path. |
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