If an employee detects a fire in the workplace, their first instinct is likely to alert coworkers, have someone call 911, and grab the nearest fire extinguisher. However, fire extinguishers are not as easy to use as they look. It’s important to train your employees on the types of fire extinguishers you have in your workplace and how to properly use them. This way, they know what they need to do before the next fire starts. This could mean the difference between containing a small fire and having it escalate into one that threatens the building and your employees’ safety.
What your employees need to know about fire extinguishers
Remember, not all fire extinguishers are the same. Each one has a label indicating the type of fire it’s to be used for.
Under a standardized letter coding system, most fires fall into the A, B, or C category. If your fire extinguisher is rated for all three, the label will have all three letters. The D and K categories are for more specialized situations. So, depending on the work your employees do, the type of fire extinguishers needed may vary. An office setting, for example, will have different needs than a commercial kitchen.