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Safety Info

Portable Extinguishers:

Portable extinguishing equipment should be relied upon only to the extent of their intended use, and when that limit has been reached, larger fire fighting equipment should be provided to extinguish the anticipated fire.

Portable extinguishers shall be maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and kept in their designated places at all times when they are not being used.

An extinguisher should be mounted and located so it can be easily removed in a fire emergency and brought to the site of the fire as fast as possible. It should be readily accessible without need for moving or climbing over stock, materials, or equipment.

Once the extinguisher has been transported to the fire site, it must be placed into operation without delay. Employees should be familiar with any steps which are needed to actuate nay extinguisher. Here is where previous training is most valuable, since there is little time to stop and read operating instructions on the name plate.

To actuate an extinguisher, one or more of the following steps are required:

Position for operation...The intended position for operation is usually marked on the extinguisher.

Removal of restringing or locking devices...Such as lock pin, ring pin, or clips.

Start of discharge...Squeezing of valve handle or pushing a lever or pumping.

Agent application...It involves direction of stream of extinguishing agent onto the fire.

On all fires, the discharge should be directed at the base of the flame. The discharge should be applied to the burned surface even after the flames are extinguished.

In using extinguishers in unventilated places such as small rooms, closets, or confined spaces, operators and others should avoid breathing the extinguishing agent, gases, and smoke.

Distinctive letters, shapes, and colors help to mark extinguishers according to the class of the fire on which they should be used.

Fire Prevention Measures for Business Owners & Staff, A Daily Process:

1. Exiting (A Means of Life Safety)

  1. Assure exits are never blocked or locked.
  2. Never place flammable liquids, solids, or gases near exits.
  3. Assure all exit lighting is working and that all exit signs are in order.
  4. Keep exiting aisles and corridors clear of combustibles. You need a clear unobstructed path of travel to an exit.
  5. Never use 3-hour fusible links in doorway as this is an aid to the travel of smoke.

2. Rubbish and Trash (Aids in Fires Fuel Loading and Spread)

  1. Place rubbish and trash in proper containers.
  2. Do not allow any combustible lmaterial to be placed near any heat source such as heaters, ovens, stoves or similar heat producing appliances.
  3. Make sure trash cans are emptied daily.

3. Smoking (A Leading Cause of Fires)

  1. When emptying ashtrays, be assured that all the ashes and butts are extinguished thoroughly.
  2. Make sure there is an adequate number of ashtrays placed in smoking areas.

4. Electrical

  1. Misuse of extension cords (Not to be run over 6 ft.)
  2. Faulty outlets and plugs.
  3. Bad appliances.
  4. Octopus connections (Overloads)
  5. Improper electrical connections.

5. Fire Protection Equipment

  1. Be sure you know the location of your extinguishers.
  2. Make sure there are no obstructions blocking access to any fire protection equipment.
  3. Know how to use an extinguisher.
  4. Be sure all extinguishers are fully charged and have been inspected.

6. Flammable Liquids

  1. 1982 UFC storage of Class I, II, or III liquids is prohibited unless properly stored.
    1. Gasoline
    2. Coleman Fuel