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Fire Extinguisher Basics You Can Teach Your Team | SERVPRO® of Spring Valley/Jamul
3/31/2023 (Permalink)
Emergencies happen unexpectedly at work, and when you are ill-prepared for them, the outcome can be much worse. If flames burst out in your building, you want the knowledge that your staff was trained to handle the situation appropriately.
Start training your employees with the basics. You might be surprised to find out that there are very few people who know how to use a fire extinguisher, making this a great first step in creating a safer office.
Once you cover the basics with your team, you can take safety another step further and create a comprehensive emergency plan.
If you have a commercial building, you should have it stocked with proper emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers. OSHA regulations require any building that has an extinguisher to also have someone trained to use it.
Teach your employees how to handle an extinguisher as well as all the different kinds that may be located around your building.
Start with the basics by showing your staff how to handle and aim the fire extinguisher. Once they have the aim down, then they should pull the pin and squeeze the handle in order to expel the foam. A sweeping motion is the best way to thoroughly saturate flames from six to eight feet away.
Teach the acronym PASS as a simple way to remember the fire extinguisher process. Revisit this training every year, even for employees that have been around a long time.
These foundational steps of safety are crucial for your entire team, but you may also want to consider assigning particular roles for reliable staff members. This can ensure total coverage in your building if an event does take place, and it can allow you to provide more intensive safety training that can go a long way in keeping everyone safe.
Your training will need to be specific to your industry and location in order to cover any unique threats you could potentially face.
For example, if you have a warehouse or work with chemicals, your team will need to know how to address flames should they start. If your building has a kitchen, you should ensure everyone knows what to do in the event of a grease fire. Different kinds of fires require different kinds of extinguishers, so it’s crucial to ensure your training covers how to use them.
Make sure your employees also know when to stay and fight flames and when it is time to get out. Fire extinguishers can save lives and prevent total disasters, but fires can spiral out of control quickly.
Cover how to exit and the process to be followed if an evacuation should become necessary. Share communication plans in order to get an emergency response fast and continue to keep everyone safe.
A workplace safety plan can ensure your commercial property and everyone that accesses it stays safe should an emergency occur. Cover the basics with everyone, and build a comprehensive plan that digs deep into your potential threats. When you are prepared, you can rest assured knowing your team responded as effectively as possible.
Dealing with the aftermath of a commercial fire? Our SERVPRO specialists can restore your losses and return your workplace to its pre-fire condition.