What are Fire Extinguishers?

Keeping the workstation safe can also protect you from losses, liabilities, and exposures to lawsuits.

Being as an owner, it’s important to keep your work station/ premises safe and secure.

Here we going to share few important things related to the fire extinguishers which keep your work station safe and works if there will be some hazards occurred.

What are Fire Extinguishers?

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations.

When there’s fire in the workplace, a fire extinguisher can put it out or control it until the fire services arrive. This can save lives, equipment, and property.

There are two main types of fire extinguishers:

• Stored-pressure
• Cartridge-operated

In stored pressure units, the expellant is stored in the same chamber as the firefighting agent itself.

And Cartridge-operated extinguishers contain the expellant gas in a separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge, exposing the propellant to the extinguishing agent.

Choosing your extinguisher

There are following classes of fires:

• Class A fires involve organic solids such as paper and wood.
• Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids, including petrol, grease, and oil.
• Class C fires involve flammable gases.
• Class D fires involve combustible metals.
• Class E fires involve electrical equipment/appliances.
• Class F fires involve cooking fat and oil.

A fire extinguisher must have the seal of an independent testing laboratory, and labelled with standard symbols for the classes of fires it can extinguish.

A red slash through any of the symbols means the extinguisher can’t be used on that type of fire. Some fire extinguishers can be used on all classes of fires.

You can also choose between a rechargeable extinguisher and a disposable one. The latter must be replaced after one use.

Always install extinguisher in easy accessible location as:

Install your fire extinguisher in an accessible location, near an escape route, and away from dangerous equipment and appliances. It must also be in good working order and fully charged.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Fire, electric shocks, dust explosions, flying chips, and splashes of toxic material can all cause serious injuries and illnesses. You can also keep your employees safe from these dangers and other potential hazards by having them wear protective clothing or equipment. This can include:

• Breathing respirators
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Face shields or masks
• Safety helmets
• Life jackets
• Gloves, gauntlets, and sunscreen for skin protection
• Ear muffs and ear plugs
• Safety boots and rubber boots.

You should inform, train, and instruct to your employees on how to use, wear, store, and maintain their protective equipment to ensure their safety.