Having working, up to date equipment available at all workplaces is just as important as having trained fire wardens in place. Do you know which type of fire extinguisher is needed in certain situations, and specific materials?
In today’s blog, we cover everything fire related to improve the health and safety within your work.
WHAT TYPE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER DO I NEED?
Let’s start with the basics. There are currently 5 different types of fire extinguishers. All of which are the perfect tool to put out and control small fires, stopping them from spreading any further. The type of extinguisher needed will depend on where it started, as well as the material that is alight.
The 5 types of fire extinguishers include:
- Water (Class A)
- Foam (Class A & B)
- CO2 (Class A, B & E)
- Dry Powder (Class A, B, C, D & E)
- Wet Chemical (Class A & F)
WHAT ARE THE 6 CLASSES OF FIRE?
Did you know that fires are categories into different classes? It’s a great way to work out which type of fire extinguisher is needed.
- ClassA: Ordinary combustibles (e.g. materials such as wood, cardboard, plastic)
- ClassB: Flammable liquids (e.g. oil, grease, fuel)
- ClassC: Flammable gases (e.g. methane, propane)
- ClassD: Flammable metals (e.g. titanium, magnesium)
- ClassE: Electronic equipment
- ClassF: Cooking oils
It is vital that fire wardens use the correct type as using the wrong type could cause the fire to spread further.
It is also important to note that fire extinguishers should only be used on small fires. In the event of any fire in a workplace, the fire department should be called immediately.
WHAT FIRE EXTINGUISHER SHOULD BE USED ON AN ELECTRICAL FIRE?
In most workplaces the most common type of fire will be electrical, due to machines and computer equipment. If an electrical fire occurs in your work then a dry powder or CO2 extinguisher should be used to put out the fire as they don’t contain water. Any liquid based extinguishers should NOT be used as this will create dangerous reactions.
CONFINED SPACES
Were you aware that certain fire extinguishers should not be used in confined spaces? If you experience a fire in a confined space it is highly recommended that a dry powder extinguisher is used instead. Using a CO2 extinguisher will cause anyone in the surrounding area to struggle to breathe. This could also potentially lead to asphyxiation.
DO YOU NEED TO HAVE TRAINING TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER?
Although it is not the law to have specific training to operate an extinguisher, however we would recommend that only trained individuals do so. This will prevent the wrong type of extinguisher being used, and lowering the risk of any additional injuries, or even death.
All workers have a duty in the workplace to stay safe when it comes to fire safety, but it is required by law to have fire wardens available. So what training would be useful to complete?
WHAT IS COVERED IN THE FIRE WARDEN COURSE?
If you want to become a qualified fire warden in your workplace then our NPORS training course will be a great choice for you to invest in.
When you book onto our fire warden training course, you’ll be covering:
- Fire awareness and hazards in the workplace
- Fire extinguishers in buildings and workplaces, and how to use them safely
- Classes and types of fire
- Effective fire drills
- Fire alarms/smoke alarms and fixed installations
- Assembly points
- Fire evacuation and general principles regarding safety advice and plans
This course will run for half a day, and once you’re a qualified fire warden the training will not need to be renewed for another 3 years.
OTHER HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSES AVAILABLE
If you’re also interested in other health and safety courses, we have plenty of NPORS training courses available including, but not limited to:
- First Aid Training
- Harness and Fall Arrest
- Site Manager – Standard and Refresher Course
- Cable Avoidance
- Manual Handling
The full list of NPORS training courses can be found on our website.
CONTACT THE DIGGERLAND PLANT TRAINING SCHOOL TO BOOK
Are you ready to get qualified? All you need to do is give our team a call, or drop us an email to enquire about our Fire warden training or any of our other NPORS training courses.
Our main training site is based in Kent, local for anyone in the South East and surrounding areas. We also operate in Devon, Durham and Yorkshire as well. If you’re not local to any of these areas we can also arrange for our instructors to teach on an external site of your choice, at a time and date to suit the company or the operators.
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We look forward to welcoming you to the Diggerland Plant Training School!
