Everyone around the world needs to know how to use a fire extinguisher; however, there is not nearly enough information about fire extinguisher’s that can be found. There are safety programs in almost every company where fire safety is only mentioned very briefly and not in very much detail.

Fire extinguisher safety should be practiced once a month and the training should cover stuff such as what the different parts of fire extinguishers are, and what the labels on the fire extinguisher say and mean. These details are very important to know because if there is an actual fire the individual that must use a fire extinguisher may not know what the labels mean, and could be putting them in danger by using the wrong kind of fire extinguisher to put out the fire. For instance, some fires are electrical, and if an individual uses a water-filled fire extinguisher, the outcome can be that the person will be electrocuted. This is why it is imperative to have proper fire extinguisher training.

Fire Extinguisher labels clearly indicate what kind of fire that a specific fire extinguisher can be used for. A safety committee designates which fire extinguishers are appropriate to put out each particular fire and they should be kept in the right spot depending on what kind of fire the can be caused. Often, a work area will include more than one type of fire extinguisher, as there can be more than one type of fire in that work area such as electricity, wood or paper.

Fires are classified by codes; such as A, B, C, D, and K in the United States. A is labeled with a green triangle, which means it is designed for a garbage or wood fire. B code is labeled as a red square, and is used for a fuel based fire. C class fire is marked with a blue circle, which means that this fire extinguisher is used only on electrical fires. D class extinguisher is marked with a yellow star and is used for burning equipment. K class fire extinguishers are used in restaurants where food such as grease fires may take place. However, these codes are different in different countries.

Online is where you can find a website that is geared to safety called SafetyVideosNow. This site covers fire extinguisher training in detail. Here you can watch a quick 5-minute training video, and benefit from other types of safety videos too.

There are videos that talk about OSHA lockout and tagout procedures and their importance. The website also goes over MSDS and hazardous material data, and what a MSDS safety data sheet is as well as stressing how important these labels and sheets are to people working near hazards. You can click and view any topic in the left bar to see all the different kinds of safety information. The site provides training on various construction equipment too, such as tool shop safety, forklift safety training, and back lifting safety and back injury prevention as well.

Robert Brant does many safety training sessions around the country each year. Find out more about fire extinguisher training at this website which is all about safety training.