Although workplace fires are relatively rare, and most people will never experience one in their life, it is still very important to make sure that your workplace is prepared just in case one does happen. If a workplace fire occurs in an unprepared building full of people who don’t know how to act, the chances of serious injury or death are very high. Integral Fire Protection advises that one of the best ways that you can make sure that your workplace is well prepared for a fire is to implement compulsory fire extinguisher training.
Doing this will help ensure that at least some of the people on site will know what to do in the case of a workplace fire. Below are our top 5 reasons why fire extinguisher training is essential for workplace fire safety:
- It will teach people what extinguishers to use:
Fire extinguishers come in a number of different forms, each of which is designed for different types of fires. Using the wrong fire extinguisher on the wrong sort of fire can result in a range of problems, including the extinguisher actually fueling the fire. High quality fire extinguisher training will teach people what sort of extinguishers are appropriate for different fires.
- It will teach people how to use fire extinguishers right:
There is a right way and a wrong way to use any fire extinguisher. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know what the right way is, and this often reduces their effectiveness when it comes to fighting a small office fire. Training can help people learn how to hold and use their extinguishers right, saving vital seconds in the case of a fire.
- It will reduce the chance of people panicking:
When something like a fire happens in the workplace, people have a tendency to panic. However, if these people have had high quality fire training, they will be much more likely to remain calm under pressure, reducing the risk of serious damage or injury resulting from a fire.
- It will reduce the risk of serious injury or death:
Along with people panicking, incorrect fire extinguisher use can also cause serious injury or death in the case of a workplace fire. Different types of fire extinguishers can actually feed different types of fires, so it is extremely important to make sure that you have at least basic training before you try and use an extinguisher.
- It will help prevent small fires escalating into larger ones:
Many workplace fires start out small, and can be extinguished if trained personnel are able to act quickly. However, this won’t be possible if no one in the immediate vicinity has extinguisher training. Make sure that you and your employees are confident in using fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and other safety gear to put out fires to make sure that small fires don’t grow into larger ones.
Final Word:
In the end, training is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to workplace safety. If you don’t know how to use a fire extinguisher and other safety gear, consider enrolling yourself and some of your employees in a fire extinguisher or fire safety course.