Occupational Health & Safety: Fire departments emphasize that employees should not fight a fire that is larger than a desk in size, one that is producing black smoke, or when its flames are reaching the ceiling. Also, they should never use a fire extinguisher before the local fire department has been called via 911 and they know that the building is being evacuated.
6 comments:
It’s kind of frightening how few people truly know how to use a fire extinguisher. And the worst part is that you don’t know that you don’t know until it’s time to know.
This summer we had some old fire extinguishers that we’re getting thrown away, so I decided to have a little fun, but also do an informal training. Other than the two that didn’t work at all (which was frightening because the day before they were the fire extinguishers most likely to be needed, next to the welding gear), they were all in good condition, but most people didn’t exactly know what you should be doing with it once you pull the pin out.
I know that we get/give a pretty significant series of safety trainings as technical managers, but I don’t think we do fire extinguishers frequently enough.
In my first year we almost had to use a fire extinguisher in the theatre. That would have been a nightmare, but luckily I would have been able to use it correctly.
Over the years I’ve received training on fire extinguishers and fortunately I haven’t needed to use one. I know that fire is one of the last things you want to think about in any space. You don’t think it will ever happen, but there will be the one time that it does and you wouldn’t be ready for it. Knowing the process of how to work a fire extinguisher and being able to assess the immensity of the fire you are dealing with safely. I know some of the reals that are put in place with fire on stage, such as someone being on fire watch just offstage in case there was an accident that needed to be put out. Even something as small as candle and can cause a quick uprising. There are all sorts of flammables on the stage, so it’s definitely worth the extra precautions to keep everyone and everything safe.
Fortunately, I have never used a fire extinguisher, nor have I have ever needed one. However, I am sure at some point in my life I will need to extinguish a fire, and I will have no idea how. Being able to work a fire extinguisher is an incredibly important skill to learn no matter what business you are in. A situation can present itself at any time, and it is always best to be as prepared as possible.
Yeah, I knew virtually none of these things. My fire extinguisher training has consisted of footnotes at the end of broader safety discussions and while I know the general theory of how to use one, I have zero confidence in my ability to successfully deploy one in an emergency.
What's kind of concerning about it is that I consider myself a person who is relatively aware of occupational safety, particularly in theaters. If I have such a lackadaisical awareness surrounding fire extinguishers, then how would someone less educated and frankly interested in this kind of stuff have a clue?
To me, extinguishers fall into a similar category of "safety devices" as fall-arrest harnesses do. People think that just because you have them in place that the job is done, when really, not training people to use them properly creates a false sense of security that is arguable more potentially damaging then not having the device in the first place.
Fortunately, the only time I have ever needed to know how a fire extinguisher works was when it was being used as an effect onstage, but this is an important thing for managers and for anyone in the theater to know. My health class in my senior year of high school was a "college life prep" type of class, and in addition to the usual drugs and alcohol safety lessons, we also did a big unit on fire safety in college, which was not something I had ever thought about. It really made me start paying attention to fire safety around me and of how easy it is for a small fire to turn destructive very quickly. So far I have never had to work with fire in the theater, but when the situation arises I feel that I will be prepared enough to handle it.
Fire extinguishers are one of the things I look for when I walk into the room. Unfortunately, I have had several experiences where I have needed to use one (to answer the unasked question, I am a horrible and dangerous cook). My mother is similarly cursed and taught me how to check and use an extinguisher from an early age. You simply have to PASS. Pull the pin, Aim to nozzle/hose(base of fire), Squeeze the lever, and sweep. One easy acronym to save your house.
Theaters are also full of fire hazards. From welding, to lighting, to saws (I've had a very old table saw fail and start a small fire), everything around us can cause a fire. I agree wholeheartedly with Frank. We should do more training with extinguishers. Aside from being fun, using an extinguisher in a non-emergency also helps cement the process in your brain. In an actual emergency, there is no time or ability to think. Having real experience using an extinguisher allows the user to process less and act more quickly. It's the same reason you should find the nearest exit to you and review safety instructions every time you fly. Long story short, fire safety is extremely important, and pay attention to where the extinguishers are.
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