Home > Resources > Articles > Does your fire extinguisher training get a PASSing grade?

Does your fire extinguisher training get a PASSing grade?

Posted February 11, 2019

If your employees are expected to use portable fire extinguishers to put out a fire, OSHA requires that those employees receive training on how to properly use the fire extinguishers.

Proper fire extinguisher use training includes teaching employees to:

Immediately activate the fire alarm system when a fire is first detected,
Gauge the severity of a fire,
Select the correct type of extinguisher, and
Effectively use the extinguisher in an emergency situation.

Unless employees are trained to handle the emergency situation, they should evacuate the building.

Only employees with the proper training should evaluate whether a fire can be put out using a portable fire extinguisher. These employees should also be trained to:

Know what types of materials are burning and choose the correct type of fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
Evaluate the possible dangers posed by hazardous or highly flammable materials.
Use proper techniques for extinguishing small fires.
Always have an unobstructed route away from the fire.

Give employees a PASS

One method for extinguishing small fires is the PASS method, which trained employees should use as follows:

Pull the pin to unlock the extinguisher's operating lever to allow discharge of the contents;
Aim low, and point the extinguisher toward the base of the fire.
Squeeze the lever to begin discharging the contents of the extinguisher.
Sweep the nozzle back and forth as you move closer to the fire. Keep the extinguisher pointed at the base of the fire until the fire appears to be out.

Should a fire start at your facility, your employees need to know what to do. With this Fire Extinguisher Use online training, employees will learn how to assess the situation and decide the best course of action — evacuate and report the fire or put out the fire themselves with an extinguisher.

Learn More

Why J. J. Keller® Training On Demand?

Online Training

Supplement classroom or field training with self-paced online courses backed by a trusted team of compliance experts. You can pay as you go using our convenient points system, or you can purchase a subscription and gain unlimited access to our library of over 350 online training courses.

Streaming Video

With Video On Demand, you have access to hundreds of up‑to‑date safety and compliance videos with pay as you go or subscription options. Plus, enjoy remote viewing capabilities that enable you to send streaming video and training access to learners who are off-site or absent from classroom sessions.

Regulatory Knowledge & Expertise

Since 1953, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. has helped organizations create safe and compliant workplaces. J. J. Keller subject-matter experts specialize in content development, regulatory compliance and business best practices across a variety of industries.

Flexible Training

Whether you choose online training courses or pay per view (streaming) videos, you’ll enjoy twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week access to a library of hundreds of safety and compliance titles for maximum flexibility in and out of the classroom.

Recordkeeping Functionality

Keep track of which employees trained on which topics and when and have easy access to all of your training records with our online recordkeeping tool.

Report Features

Quickly and easily create reports of your online and classroom training by students or courses.