Accidental fires are more common than you think. While fire extinguishers are must-haves in the workplace, not all companies invest in fire extinguisher training for their employees. But this complacency is dangerous, as fires can cause irreparable damage to your business.
In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of OSHA fire extinguisher training, the requirements for implementation, and several courses to enroll your employees in to improve workplace safety.
Fire extinguisher training equips your employees with the relevant skills to operate fire extinguishers, select the best one to use, and manage incidents calmly. Such awareness training also teaches them to assess whether the fire can be put out, or if they should evacuate the premises entirely.
Commonly, fire extinguisher training aims to satisfy Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) requirements, keep workplace operations safe, and eliminate property damages and loss. But while it’s easy for anyone to grab a fire extinguisher in a rush, most employees aren’t aware of where to aim it, or the recommended distance to maintain from the fire. This lack of understanding puts them and your company at risk if not addressed promptly.
Before going into detail about the value of fire awareness training, we’ll first address the common causes of fire at work.
Many fire-related incidents are reported from non-residential buildings. In the US, fire departments receive over 3,300 reports annually from offices alone. Fires cause irreversible damage and are costly for your company, so it’s best to avoid them entirely.
If you’re just getting started, don’t worry. We’re here to help you out. Here’s a list of the five most common causes of fire at work to incorporate into your fire awareness training:
Make employee welfare a priority by adding fire safety training to your compliance programs. Investing in fire extinguisher courses helps employees act confidently under pressure when necessary. Rather than being panicked or staying frozen in shock, they’ll act fast since they’ve been equipped with the proper procedures for putting out a fire.
Fire extinguisher training helps prevent small fires from becoming larger and lessens property damage. For companies to maintain a safer workplace, this is where OSHA fire extinguisher training requirements come in.
The general requirements for fire extinguishers as stated by OSHA are the following:
To kickstart your training, we’ve handpicked 5 OSHA fire extinguisher courses you can add to your collection of safety training topics with your team.
Created by experts, SC Training’s (formerly EdApp) OSHA fire extinguisher course instructs learners on the key features of fire preventive systems. Lessons include maintenance, operation, and worker responsibilities.
This general industry course appeals to a wide audience. Learn the basics of fire prevention and hazards, and what to do in case of emergencies. Note that this course differs from those working in the construction industry.
This course by Lion equips employees with how to operate portable fire extinguishers. They’ll also learn how to choose the right model for the job, and the general principles for safe use.
Alison’s course on fire safety instructs learners on the proper classification and usage of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. It also offers a safety guide for homes and businesses.
Verified by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), SC Training’s fire extinguisher course is a good annual refresher program to invest in. It goes over the basic principles of fire extinguishers and the risks attached. Review the fire triangle model and operation of portable fire extinguishers.
Maintain safe and smooth workplace operations by investing in fire training software. Learning management systems (LMS) like SC Training specialize in crafting courses to grow your employees’ skills. Whether you need a refresher or introductory training, they’ve got just the right course for you.
Here are some of the ways SC Training can help you with your fire safety training initiatives:
With SC Training’s real-time insights, you can quickly identify top performers and those who need extra help. This keeps everyone’s workflow running smoothly, so no time is wasted.
Prevent accidental fires at work by enrolling your team in OSHA fire extinguisher training courses. Join SC Training for free.
Author
Bea Maureen Cayone is a content writer for SC Training (formerly EdApp), an eLearning platform that delivers advanced solutions for companies to seamlessly train their teams. Beyond the workplace, she enjoys catching up on her never-ending reading list, playing the piano, and spending time with her dogs.