Tool Box Talk

Fire Extinguisher

Should a fire ever start on our job site, think first of our safety and the safety of others. Then
sound the alarm and alert all. Only try to put out the fire if you have been trained to use
extinguishers and if the fire is small or tame enough to be extinguished by a hand-held
extinguisher. Other appropriate fire fighting equipment or supplies may be available to you
on the job site, i.e., dirt or sand to extinguish a small flame. If you use a fire extinguisher, be
sure to use one designed for the nature of the fire at hand. Using the wrong agent on a fire
may increase the intensity of the fire.

Have you ever taken the time to look closely at your fire extinguishers on site?
The common types of extinguishers that we use contain carbon dioxide or dry
chemicals. You can find these in our vehicles, mounted on or beside machinery, in
the shop, near equipment, and by containers of flammable liquid. Carbon dioxide
and chemicals cut off the air supply which is necessary for a fire to burn, and
smother it.
Another class of extinguisher contains water. You can locate these types of
extinguishers mounted on walls in buildings. These are intended for use on fires
involving wood, paper, cloth and rubbish where the effect of water will squelch the
fire. They should not be used on burning liquids such as gasoline. The burning
liquid will float on the water causing the fire to spread. They should not be used on
live electrical equipment since water is a good conductor of electricity.
Fire extinguishers should be labeled with the classes of fires they extinguish. The
labels should indicate either ABC, or A (paper/trash), or B (liquid), or C (electrical).
Multi-purpose (ABC) extinguishers are encouraged and will handle all fires. When
using a typical extinguisher, follow the “PASS” method.

To correctly use a fire extinguisher, hold it upright, then:

Pull the pin: stand 8’ or 10’ from the flame.
Aim at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle.
Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire shooting out the extinguishing agent.
Don’t aim high at the flames. You won’t be able to put out the fire that way. Remember
that most extinguishers have a very limited operation time, approximately 8 to 10
seconds, so you have to act quickly and spray properly at the base of the fire, not
at the smoke or the flames