Fire Extinguisher Training: Why Should Employees Be Trained?

One of the most compelling reasons is that it is a requirement for your business to be compliant with OSHA. When you look around your office, construction site, restaurant, association or any place of business, you will see fire extinguishers that have been strategically placed there to quickly and easily put out small fires, should they occur. But did you know that OSHA guidelines prohibits employees from using these fire safety tools unless they have been trained how to use them?

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines 1910.157 (g) (1, 2 & 3) state:

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.

1910.157(g)(2) – The employer shall provide the education required in paragraph (g)(1) of this section upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter.

1910.157(g)(3) – The employer shall provide employees who have been designated to use firefighting equipment as part of an emergency action plan with training in the use of the appropriate equipment.

Said in a simpler way according to SHRM, “Workers must be trained to:

• Recognize when to use a portable fire extinguisher.
• Correctly operate the fire extinguisher.

Organizations are required to provide this training when employees are first hired and annually thereafter. Employers are also advised to establish a policy clarifying who is qualified to use fire extinguishers, the situations when they can and should be used, and the proper procedures for their use.

On an average day, over 200 fires occur in U.S. workplaces, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 143 workers died from fires in 2011. According to OSHA, more than 5,000 are injured annually in explosions and fires on the job, and the annual cost of workplace fires to American businesses is over $2 billion.”

At Fire Ranger, we know the statistics are staggering and that having a complete fire prevention program in place is crucial for employee safety and compliance. One of the most critical roles business owners have in the workplace to prevent fires is training, training, training. There is no substitute for having a Fire Safety Plan and being able to implement it.

Fire Ranger is a leader in fire safety and training and has been proudly servicing clients across the State of Florida, from Key West to Tallahassee, and from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa, since 1989. Our Fire Extinguisher training programs are taught onsite at your business and should be held annually for those employees responsible for addressing any fire emergencies using the equipment available. The fire extinguisher training exercise includes hands on and written material and employees will learn the different types of fires, the class of fire extinguisher that is designed to address the fire and how to safely operate the fire extinguisher.

A comprehensive emergency training program can help to reduce the risk of property damage, injury, or even death in your workplace. The FIRE RANGER fire extinguisher training will also give workers peace-of-mind so that you can conduct business properly. Fire Prevention is priceless!

Call Fire Ranger Today to schedule your next training.