TEC Fire & Security
Why fire safety training matters
Richard Mitchell TEC Fire and Security
So many employers make the same fi re safety mistake – and it’s an easy trap to fall into. Imagine the scenario - you’ve undergone your
fi re risk assessment. As a result, your premises are now adorned with a smart array of new fi re extinguishers. Job done! Well, not quite. Placing a comprehensive
collection of fi re extinguishers in a building will do nothing to improve its fi re safety unless its occupants know how to use them. And that means training, proper training. You are obliged by law to ensure that your people undergo appropriate fi re extinguisher training specifi cally geared towards the building they occupy and the processes you carry out.
What should fire safety training comprise? An eff ective training programme needs to cover more than the mere basics of fire extinguisher operation. Having followed the course, the trainees should know: - What specific purpose each type of fire extinguisher fulfi ls – what kind of fi re it’s designed to extinguish - Which type of extinguisher to use depending on the type of fi re - When to use each type of extinguisher - How to operate them – it’s not just a question of ‘point and squeeze’
A well-designed fire extinguisher training course should give trainees the confidence to identify the type of fi re and judge whether and how to operate an extinguisher to put it out. T e fi rst principle of fi re extinguisher training is to
understand the relevance of a building’s structure and purpose to fi re risk. For example, an offi ce complex would have diff erent sources of fi re risks than a hospital.
Trainees also need to identify the diff erent key fi re risks within a building – for example, the kitchen area and sources for electrics or heating. T ey need to be aware, too, of how diff erent types of fi re can start.
Different types of fire and knowing the right extinguishers Trainees need to understand that there are diff erent types of fi res. If the wrong extinguisher is used, it could even make the fi re worse. Here are the fi ve main classes of fi re: - Ordinary materials such as wood, paper and cloth - Flammable liquids such as gasoline and alcohol - Electrical equipment - Combustible metals such as magnesium and titanium - Vegetable or animal oils
Each of these will need to be dealt with using a diff erent extinguisher.
How to locate fire extinguishers Employees will need to become familiar with where the fire extinguishers are located. In an emergency, they’ll need to know where to locate the right type quickly. T ey should also be able to identify whether an extinguisher is suffi ciently charged and if it’s damaged in any way.
Learning how to quickly assess a fire Trainees following fi re extinguisher training will need to know whether to fi ght a fi re or abandon it. T ey need to be able to judge the scale of the fi re, whether it’s likely to get out of control and when to call 999. T ey also need to have an idea about fumes and smoke and to deal with each.
How to operate a fire extinguisher An eff ective fi re extinguisher training course will teach people how to aim and apply each type of extinguisher calmly and when to stop using it. T e more they understand and practise the operation, the less likely they are to panic and make mistakes.
A fire safety training provider you can trust Fire extinguisher training is a serious matter. As an employer, you are legally obliged to ensure that your people have undergone adequate training. T e team at TEC Fire & Security takes training seriously and understands that well-trained employees will be safer and feel safer.
For a no-obligation conversation, call TEC Fire & Security on 01234 345117 or visit the website www.tecfi
reandsecurity.co.uk
ALL THINGS BUSINESS
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