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Safety Vault Information Service This information is furnished with the understanding that AMG, LLC is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Changes in the law may render this information invalid. Legal advice or other expert assistance should be obtained before acting upon any Safety Vault information. |
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - A REFRESHER
You hope that you or your employees never have to use a fire extinguisher, but the time to prepare is before it may be needed. As you review this information with your employees, be sure they know the locations of all the fire extinguishers in your business, how to contact the local fire department, and evacuation procedures.
Fire extinguishers are labeled for the type of fire they are designed to fight:
A for fires involving combustibles like paper, cardboard, cloth or wood
B for grease, gases or flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, solvents, and paint
C electrical wiring and equipment
ABC for Class A, B or C fires or combination fires
D for combustible metals (like magnesium or sodium)
Some portable extinguishers are also rated for the size of the fire they can handle. Class A and B extinguishers have numbers on them to indicate the size of fire they can fight safetly. The numbers tell how many square feet the extinguisher can handle. For example: 5-B for a 5-square-foot fire, 10-B for a 10-square-foot fire, etc. The higher the number, the larger the area the extinguisher can handle--and the heavier the extinguisher.
Be sure employees:
Know where fire extinguishers are kept.
Use the right type and capacity of extinguisher for the class and size of fire.
Are trained how to use -- point, aim, and release -- fire extinguishers in your facility.