Fire Safety: Fire Extinguisher Certification for Industrial Workers

In 2021, almost $3.7 billion was lost due to non-residential fires. Even worse, 115 people lost their lives, and over 1000 were injured. This highlights that to ensure workplace safety, fire extinguisher certification is essential.

Using a fire extinguisher might seem easy. However, without proper training, it can be very difficult in an emergency situation. Fire safety certification can give you the confidence to tackle small fires and be smart about preventing them.

Let's examine what you can expect to learn from fire extinguisher certification and how it just might save your life.

Who Needs Fire Extinguisher Certification?

Most industries provide fire extinguishers as an integral part of their fire safety strategy. So, if your workplace has fire extinguishers, you need fire extinguisher training.

OSHA standard 1910.157 provides specific guidelines on portable fire extinguishers. It requires employers to provide a training program to familiarize workers with how to use fire extinguishers. It also requires you to know how to fight an "incipient stage fire."

This means a fire that is in its early stages because that is all you should ever attempt to fight with a fire extinguisher. The training should help you to safely judge when it is time to tackle the fire and when it's time to evacuate.

This OSHA standard also requires that employers provide this training when the employee starts work. They must repeat it every year after that.

However, it is not necessary to complete hands-on training. You can cover everything you need to know on an online fire extinguisher training course.

What Fire Extinguisher Certification Includes

You will begin by reviewing the history of portable fire extinguishers and exploring their statistics and regulations. You will also examine how to use personal protective equipment correctly and the fire department's responsibilities should a fire break out.

How to Use Fire Extinguishers

Using a fire extinguisher is one of the biggest components of the training. The first lesson is when to use one and when it's time to evacuate. The course will take you through case studies to help you hone your judgment skills so you can make the safest choice.

You'll learn how to identify different types of fire and what size and type of extinguisher is most appropriate to use. The course will also guide you through the different types of extinguisher systems used in various industrial settings.

You will also become familiar with the PASS method. This stands for:

• P - Pull
• A - Aim
• S - Squeeze
• S - Sweep

Keeping this simple acronym in mind can help you safely tackle small fires and ensure the agent reaches the target. However, before you grab a fire extinguisher, you need to understand the different types of fires.

Understanding Classes of Fires

If you don't know your Class B from your Class K, don't worry! Fire safety training will help you distinguish which types of fire you are dealing with and which extinguisher is best to use.

To ensure workplace safety, it's important to consider the most likely scenarios. For example, if you work in a mechanical setting, fires from flammable liquids may be one of the biggest risks. These fires are Class B and would require carbon dioxide extinguishers, which have a short range.

If electrical fires are more likely in your workplace, you may encounter a Class C fire. Carbon dioxide extinguishers would also be appropriate here, as would some Halon 1211 and Halon alternative extinguishers.

If you're working in industrial food production, you may work with huge vats of combustible oils. When these ignite, they are considered Class K fires and require a different approach to Classes B and C. In this case, wet chemical extinguishers that form a barrier to prevent reignition are the most appropriate.

Fire Safety and Mitigation

Whenever a fire breaks out in an industrial setting, the number one concern is employee safety. Staying safe may mean initiating an evacuation and leaving the fire for the professionals.  In many situations, this is absolutely right, but without training, it would be an impossible call to make.

Fire extinguisher certification will give you the confidence to make the right call. It will help you to see where to draw the line between protecting property and staying safe. It will help you to understand your role in your company's fire prevention plan and how you can help others to stay safe, too.

Why Online Fire Extinguisher Certification Is a Great Choice

We are all extremely busy. There's a danger we could overlook this essential training due to a lack of time. Attending in-person classes may involve transportation, childcare, and other concerns that you may not have time for.

The solution is an online training course. Fire extinguisher certification takes a minimum of two hours to complete, but you can study at your convenience. You can log on and off as needed, as the course will bookmark where you got to.

Also, there is no limit on the amount of time you can spend on the course. If something is unclear, you can take your time to review it again later. You can do all of this without the pressure of keeping up with other students in the class.

Remember, this is essential training that all employees must have before starting work. It must then be repeated every year. If you've missed out, tell your employer about how easy and affordable it is to get this vital training online.

Choose CTO for Fire Extinguisher Certification

Fire extinguisher certification is about so much more than a piece of paper. It's about ensuring workplace safety, preventing fires, and staying safe in industrial settings. It can give you the confidence to make the right decisions should a fire ever break out at work.

When you choose Compliance Training Online, you are choosing the highest-rated and most trusted online training provider. Join over 31,600 companies, including universities and government agencies, who choose us to ensure their workers are compliant. Our courses are engaging, convenient, and cost-effective.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have a question or would like to learn more about our courses.