(OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Compliant)
Provider: IWS Learning Management System

Purpose:

The purpose of this training is to promote workplace safety by ensuring all employees understand:

• Basic fire prevention principles.
• The role and limitations of portable fire extinguishers.
• How to recognize when to evacuate versus when fire extinguisher use may be appropriate.
• Employer policy regarding extinguisher use.
• Inspection awareness and hazard reporting related to extinguishers.

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

Portable fire extinguishers can save lives and property by controlling small fires when used correctly. However, attempting to fight fires without proper training, equipment, or escape routes can be extremely dangerous.

This training is designed to provide general awareness about the function and limitations of portable fire extinguishers and to support your understanding of when evacuation is the correct response.

This module will teach you:

• How fires start and spread.
• How extinguishers are classified and labeled.
• When it is safe to use an extinguisher, and when to evacuate.
• How to inspect extinguishers for readiness.
• The correct way to operate an extinguisher using the P.A.S.S. method.

Reminder: Hands-on practice with extinguishers is required for employees designated to use them. If this applies to you, consult your supervisor to arrange for the necessary additional training.

Our Most Important Objective: A Safe and Healthful Workplace

At Integrated Water Services (IWS), maintaining a safe and healthful workplace is the highest priority for every business unit, employer representative, and worker. This commitment serves as the foundation for all safety programs, training modules, and resources provided through the IWS learning management system.

IWS and its business units are responsible for:

• Providing workplaces free from recognized hazards in accordance with the OSHA General Duty Clause.
• Complying with all applicable OSHA standards and regulatory requirements.
• Establishing and maintaining effective safety and health programs.
• Promoting continuous improvement in hazard recognition, prevention, and control.
• Ensuring workers can report hazards, injuries, and concerns without fear of retaliation.

Workers are responsible for:

• Following all established safety procedures and work practices.
• Using required personal protective equipment.
• Reporting hazards, unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses.
• Participating in required safety training and supporting a strong safety culture.

Through shared commitment and accountability, IWS business units and workers work together to identify risks, prevent injuries and illnesses, and maintain a consistent and effective safety culture across all operations.

Safety is not just a policy. It is a shared responsibility and a daily practice.

Fire Basics

To effectively understand when and how to use a portable fire extinguisher, it is important to first understand the basic science of fire.

Every fire needs three elements to exist and continue burning. This is known as the fire triangle:

• Heat: An ignition source, such as a spark, flame, hot surface, or friction.
• Fuel: A combustible material, such as paper, wood, fabric, liquids, gas, or metal.
• Oxygen: Usually provided by the air around us; oxygen supports combustion.

If any one of these three elements is removed, the fire cannot continue to burn and will be extinguished.

Portable fire extinguishers work by interrupting the fire triangle — either by removing heat, reducing oxygen, or separating the fuel.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Not all fire extinguishers are appropriate for every type of fire. Using the wrong extinguisher on certain fires can be ineffective or even dangerous.

Portable extinguishers are classified based on the types of fires they are designed to combat:

• Class A: For fires involving ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and plastics. Water or multipurpose extinguishers are typically used.
• Class B: For fires involving flammable liquids such as grease, gasoline, oil, paints, and solvents. These extinguishers use foam, carbon dioxide (CO2), or dry chemical agents to smother the flames and prevent vapor release.
• Class C: For electrical fires involving live electrical equipment or wiring. Non-conductive extinguishing agents (such as CO2 or dry chemical) are used to prevent electrical shock.
• Class D: For fires involving combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium, or sodium. These fires require specialized dry powder extinguishing agents and are not common in most workplaces.
• Class K: For kitchen fires involving cooking oils and fats typically found in commercial kitchens. These extinguishers use a wet chemical agent to cool and smother the fire.

The label on each extinguisher will indicate the class or classes of fire it is designed to fight. Before an emergency arises, employees should become familiar with the types of extinguishers available in their workplace.

When to Use a Portable Fire Extinguisher

Portable extinguishers are designed for incipient-stage fires — fires that are small, contained, and not spreading. Using an extinguisher in situations where the fire is too large, fast-growing, or involves hazardous materials can result in serious injury or death.

You may use a portable fire extinguisher if all of the following conditions are met:

• The fire is small and contained (such as in a wastebasket or small equipment).
• The fire is not producing large amounts of smoke that could obscure visibility or pose inhalation hazards.
• You have been trained in the safe use of a portable fire extinguisher.
• You have a clear and unobstructed exit route available — and you can evacuate safely if the situation deteriorates.

You should NOT attempt to use a portable fire extinguisher under these conditions:

• The fire is large or spreading rapidly.
• The fire involves hazardous materials (such as flammable gases, pressurized cylinders, or chemicals).
• Your path of escape may be compromised by smoke, flames, or structural hazards.
• You are uncertain about whether you can extinguish the fire safely.

Your first priority is always personal safety. If there is any doubt about your ability to extinguish a fire safely, evacuate immediately and report the fire.

Inspection of Portable Fire Extinguisher

To ensure fire extinguishers are ready for use when needed, employers must inspect them regularly and maintain them in good working condition.

Employees should be familiar with the key elements of extinguisher inspection:

• Inspect extinguishers monthly to verify readiness.
• Ensure the extinguisher is in its designated location, mounted properly, and accessible.
• Check that the pressure gauge or indicator shows the extinguisher is properly charged (needle in the green zone, if applicable).
• Verify that the pull pin is intact and the tamper seal is unbroken.
• Check the extinguisher body and hose for any physical damage, corrosion, or leakage.
• Report any missing, damaged, or discharged extinguishers immediately so they can be replaced or serviced.

Operating a Portable Fire Extinguisher (P.A.S.S. Method)

If you must use a fire extinguisher, it is critical to know how to operate it correctly. The standard technique is called the P.A.S.S. method:

• Pull the pin.
  This unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher.
• Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire.
  Targeting the base of the fire cuts off the fuel source.
• Squeeze the handle.
  This releases the extinguishing agent.
• Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side, covering the base of the fire.
  Continue sweeping until the fire appears to be out. Be ready to repeat if the fire reignites.

Always maintain a clear escape path behind you. If at any time the fire does not appear to be under control or conditions worsen, evacuate immediately.

After Use

Once a fire has been extinguished, or if you evacuate after partial use of an extinguisher, the following actions are required:

• Evacuate immediately if the fire is not fully extinguished.
• Report all used extinguishers to your supervisor so they can be replaced or recharged. Even partially discharged extinguishers must not be returned to service without proper maintenance.
• Never leave a used, partially used, or damaged extinguisher in place, it may not function properly in the next emergency.

Limitations of Portable Fire Extinguishers

While portable fire extinguishers are valuable safety tools, they have limitations that every employee must understand:

• Portable extinguishers are designed for small, incipient-stage fires only. They cannot be relied upon to control large fires or those involving hazardous substances.
• The size of the extinguisher limits the amount of extinguishing agent available, typically providing only seconds of discharge.
• Improper use of an extinguisher — such as targeting the flames instead of the base, or using the wrong class of extinguisher — can be ineffective or dangerous.
• Fighting a fire without proper training or protective equipment exposes the user to serious hazards, including smoke inhalation, burns, and structural collapse.

For these reasons, the decision to use a portable fire extinguisher must always be guided by employer policy, the employee’s training, and the specific conditions of the fire.

Multi-Employer Worksite Considerations

At multi-employer worksites, all employees must be made aware of:

• The location of portable fire extinguishers.
• The procedures for reporting a fire and initiating an evacuation.
• Any specific employer policies regarding the use of extinguishers.

Employers must coordinate these policies to ensure consistent understanding and safe practices for all employees on site.

Reporting and Resources

Prompt reporting of fire-related incidents and extinguisher deficiencies is critical to maintaining a safe workplace.

Employees must follow these reporting procedures:

• Report all fires immediately, even if fully extinguished using a portable extinguisher. Supervisors and safety personnel must evaluate the area to ensure no hidden hazards remain and to initiate any necessary cleanup, restoration, or investigation.
• Report any used, partially discharged, damaged, or missing fire extinguishers to your supervisor or designated safety contact without delay. Extinguishers must be fully functional and properly charged at all times. Used extinguishers must be removed from service and either recharged or replaced.
• If you notice an extinguisher that is blocked, inaccessible, or improperly mounted, report it so corrective action can be taken.

All employees must also be familiar with the company’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP), which outlines specific procedures for:

• Reporting fires and initiating evacuations.
• Designated evacuation routes and assembly points.
• Roles and responsibilities of employees during a fire emergency. 

You can access the current Emergency Action Plan (EAP) at any time through the IWS online safety portal at www.iws.support. It is your responsibility to know how to locate this plan and review its contents regularly.

Additional training resources on fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and workplace safety are also available through the IWS portal. Employees are encouraged to utilize these resources to strengthen their overall awareness of fire safety.

Summary and Key Takeaways

• This training provides awareness-level instruction only; employees designated to use portable extinguishers must also complete hands-on training in compliance with OSHA requirements.
• Personal safety is the highest priority. If a fire is too large, spreading rapidly, or presents hazardous conditions, evacuate immediately and report the incident.
• Portable fire extinguishers are designed for small, incipient-stage fires only. They are not intended to fight large fires or fires involving hazardous materials.
• The correct way to operate an extinguisher is the P.A.S.S. method: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.
• Always ensure you have a clear and unobstructed escape route before attempting to use an extinguisher. Never allow yourself to become trapped by fire or smoke.
• Extinguishers must be inspected monthly to verify readiness. Any deficiencies must be reported immediately so corrective action can be taken.
• Employees should regularly review the company’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and fire response policy, which can be accessed through the IWS online safety portal. Being prepared to act decisively and safely is a key part of maintaining workplace fire safety.

Acknowledgment of Completion

By completing this Portable Fire Extinguisher Use training module (1910.157), I acknowledge that:

• I have received awareness-level training on the safe use and limitations of portable fire extinguishers.
• I understand that this training does not replace required hands-on training for employees who are designated to use portable extinguishers as part of their job duties.
• I understand the P.A.S.S. method and when portable extinguishers may or may not be used.
• I know that if I am not designated to fight fires, my first responsibility is to evacuate and report the fire.
• I know how to access my employer’s Emergency Action Plan and other resources through the IWS online safety portal.
• I understand the importance of reporting any extinguisher deficiencies and fire hazards immediately.

I commit to using the knowledge gained in this training to help maintain a safe and compliant workplace.