# Setting up fire extinguisher training... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 7, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041 "2012-03-07T16:33:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/1 "2012-03-07T16:33:02Z")
My employer doesn’t want to pay the yearly tab it would cost to train all employees on how to put out a small fire with a fire extinguisher. I thought it might be more economical to develop an in-house fire extinguisher training class with all of the equipment necessary to put out a small controlled fire. I am wondering what is actually required by law to do this. What kind of certifications would be required to satisfy any local/state laws. I sense an oppurtunity here, but how would I go about investigating the idea? ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/2 "2012-03-07T16:36:38Z")
Really depends on your location. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/3 "2012-03-07T16:45:44Z")
Contact your local Fire Marshall. ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/4 "2012-03-07T16:46:06Z")
Michigan outside of Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/5 "2012-03-07T17:00:44Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Contact your local Fire Marshall. "Let me show ya somethin’ ! " ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/6 "2012-03-07T17:09:55Z")
> [@Rich\_G7subs](#): > > "Let me show ya somethin’ ! " As a kid, the local Fire Department used to stop by the school and do demonstrations. It was part of their fire prevention program and it made sense to teach school kids about fire safety. It just stands to reason that the fire marshal would be the source for businesses desiring fire training. Although, I doubt the fire department will bring the hook and ladder to a business just so the adults can climb up the extended ladder with a fire fighter right behind them. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/7 "2012-03-07T17:28:19Z")
> [@ManiacMan](#): > > My employer doesn’t want to pay the yearly tab it would cost to train all employees on how to put out a small fire with a fire extinguisher. I thought it might be more economical to develop an in-house fire extinguisher training class with all of the equipment necessary to put out a small controlled fire. Most city FD’s have a mechanism by which FD employees can come out and do fire saftey instruction for free or a minimal fee. Contact the FD’s business office and ask about public safety and training programs. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/8 "2012-03-07T19:36:37Z")
I presume you already have a contract with someone to inspect, maintain, and test your extinguishers. They would also make sure the number and placement of extinguishers meets OSHA standards. Why wouldn’t you have them do the training as part of their contract? Just curious… how much could it possibly cost for the training? The primary reason for outsourcing this is the liability issue. Are we talking thousand of dollars? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/9 "2012-03-07T19:56:44Z")
[del]Let me show ya somethin’ ! "[/del] Hold my beer and watch THIS! Fixed that for you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/10 "2012-03-07T20:26:32Z")
I believe to train everyone once per year $23k. We have a lot of people. Lots of fire hazards. I was thinking it might be cheaper to have our own equipment and someone here who happens to be a fireman do the training. If not him get several people here certified somehow and do the training. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/11 "2012-03-07T20:38:44Z")
Why do you need to train everyone? Just train key people. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/12 "2012-03-07T21:21:43Z")
Or make training available to whoever wants to sign up for it. They’re going to be the folks most likely to grab an extinguisher in the case of an actual fire. First rule of extinguisher training. Light the training fire outside. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/13 "2012-03-07T21:36:26Z")
What about residential training? I (in theory) know what to do from a couple decades-old school and Boy Scout training. But I just asked Mrs. Devil and our nanny if either of them had any idea what to do and got blank stares in return. Not even a ‘point at the base’ or a 70s-era reference to Spot the Firedog. I suppose I could go ask the town for a burn permit and have at it, but that seems so … so _Darwinish_ (even following Yllaria’s rule). ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/14 "2012-03-07T22:51:52Z")
That’s kind of what they did. Trained a certain amount of people. But the problems are numerous. What if a key person who has had the training isn’t there? Should an untrained person just shrug his or her shoulders and leave the area? According to company policy the answer is yes. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/15 "2012-03-08T03:12:04Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe to train everyone once per year $23k. We have a lot of people. Ok, makes sense now. That’s almost the equivalent of a full-time person on staff. Should be able to get someone to design the course for a fraction of that. > [@Quartz](#): > > Why do you need to train everyone? Just train key people. It’s an [OSHA requirement](http://www.dol.gov/elaws/osha/fire/fire.asp). > [@](#): > > 1910.157(g) Training and education > > (1) Where the employer has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, the employer shall also provide an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting. > > (2) The employer shall provide the education required in paragraph (g)(1) of this section upon initial employment and at least annually thereafter. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/16 "2012-03-08T04:56:56Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > It’s an [OSHA requirement](http://www.dol.gov/elaws/osha/fire/fire.asp). That’s not the case here in the U.K. - leastwise it wasn’t when I underwent fire warden training! ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/17 "2012-03-08T05:48:05Z")
What kind of building? In high rise buildings most fire departments only want you to leave the building not fight the fire. In fact they do not like it when the building engineers get involved and just check out the alarm floor. Thye are happiest if we just empty the involved floors, recall the elevators, make the stay put anounsment to the non involved floors, greet them at the door with a status report. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_G7subs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rich\_G7subs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_G7subs)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/18 "2012-03-08T11:26:02Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > What kind of building? > In high rise buildings most fire departments only want you to leave the building not fight the fire. In fact they do not like it when the building engineers get involved and just check out the alarm floor. Thye are happiest if we just empty the involved floors, recall the elevators, make the stay put anounsment to the non involved floors, greet them at the door with a status report. X2! In the old days, (pre 9/11) Building engineers were trained/expected to be on the firefighting teams and actually rig out hoses and fight fires. These days our employers do not allow it and the firemen frown on it. My guys have an SOP to follow which includes responding to the scene to get an initial assessment (Ie, smoke present? flames present?) Using common sense to fight the fire, if it is say…a small wastebasket fire. If not, they evacuate with everyone else and meet the fireman at the main entrance to give a status report and assist the firemen. In a highrise it is customary to evacuate the floor of the fire AND 2 floors above and below the actual fire. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/19 "2012-03-08T14:43:43Z")
The OSHA requirement that **anson2995** gave is interesting - unless I’m missing something, it does not say that the educational program shall be provided to \*\*all \*\*employees. It also is mum on what form the education is to be in - I just looked through our 48-page New Hire paperwork packet, and all that’s required within the “four corners” of that document is to review the locations of extinguishers and exits. There’s no requirement that new hires be trained on how to use an extinguisher or that they need to actually extinguish a test fire. It’s entirely possible that pointing out where the extinguishers are to new hires and posting a “How to use a fire extinguisher - Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep (PASS)” poster in the break area(s) and/or by the time clock would be sufficient for the OP. Of course, my in-laws would love to see everyone given hands-on training in putting out a test fire, practicing exit drills in the home (aka EDITH) and knowing that if the fire is bigger than a wastebasket, it’s time to call 911 before trying to put it out. But then, one’s a fire fighter and the other is a fire marshall. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041/20 "2012-03-08T14:57:09Z")
> [@Rich\_G7subs](#): > > X2! In the old days, (pre 9/11) Building engineers were trained/expected to be on the firefighting teams and actually rig out hoses and fight fires. These days our employers do not allow it and the firemen frown on it. My guys have an SOP to follow which includes responding to the scene to get an initial assessment (Ie, smoke present? flames present?) Using common sense to fight the fire, if it is say…a small wastebasket fire. If not, they evacuate with everyone else and meet the fireman at the main entrance to give a status report and assist the firemen. In a highrise it is customary to evacuate the floor of the fire AND 2 floors above and below the actual fire. San Jose Ca it three floors. Fire floor floor above and floor below. San Francisco it is 4 floors. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-up-fire-extinguisher-training/615041.md?page=2)