undefined
undefined
IN CASE OF FIRE,use the PASS method:
- Pull ring pin, stand back 8-10 feet,
- Aim at the base of the fire,
- Squeeze handle,
- Sweep at base of fire.
The above instructions are for a typical ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher. That fire extinguisher can be used to put out Class A fires (wood, paper, textiles, and the like), Class B fires (oils, grease, paints and similar materials), and Class C fires (electrical).
Multi-purpose extinguishers (ABC) will handle all A,B, and C fires. All fire extinguishers are labeled with either ABC, or A, or B, or C, so be sure to read the label.
One other fire, a Class D (combustible metal such as magnesium) fire, cannot be put out with an ABC fire extinguisher. In fact, using a Class ABC extinguisher on a class D fire could cause it to flare up and spread.
Now the question is, do you have fire extinguishers at your jobsite? If not, you should have one of the alternatives OSHA allows? The basic OSHA requirements are:
- A fire extinguisher rated not less than 2A, must be provided for each 3,000 square feet (or major fraction thereof) of building area. A 2A fire extinguisher can mean several things depending on the agent in the extinguisher. One example is a 2 1/2 gallon pump unit containing water that can be pumped 30-40 feet for one minute.
- A 55 gallon drum of water with two fire pails may be substituted for a fire extinguisher, or
- A 100 feet or less 1/2 inch diameter garden hose, equipped with a nozzle, may be substituted, provided it can discharge at least five gallons of water at least 30 feet per minute.
- You must never have to travel more than 100 feet to get to an extinguisher.
- Each floor must have one or more fire extinguishers.
- IN multi-story buildings, at least one fire extinguisher must be located next to a stairway.
By assigning a fire extinguisher with a 2A rating, OSHA is saying that if a typical jobsite has a fire it will probably be a Class A fire: wood, cloth, and paper. If there is a lot of Class B or C materials around then there should be an ABC extinguisher available.
Other OSHA fire extinguisher rules that could apply to your jobsite are:
- At least one portable fire extinguisher, having at least a rating of 20BC, must be on all tank trucks or other vehicles used for transporting and/or dispensing flammable or combustible liquids.
- Each vehicle transporting explosives must be equipped with a fully charged, Underwriters Laboratory approved, 10ABC or more fire extinguisher.
- For cranes and derricks, an accessible fire extinguisher of 5BC rating or higher must be available at all operator stations or cabs.
A good jobsite hazard assessment by yuor supervisor must include looking at fire possibilities and then ensuring you have the equipment and training to extinguish or contain any fire before emergency equipment arrives.
Have you had fire controltraining for the specific jobsite you are currently working at? You should have!!
