Quick Take
Quick Take on Safety: Fire Extinguisher Use
Mini Training Session for Loss Prevention
A Quick Take on Safety is a script that serve as a short safety talks to remind staff about safe work practices. This Quick Take covers the types of fire extinguishers, and when and how to use them.
Quick Takes on Safety:
- Help keep safety in the forefront of employees’ minds.
- Demonstrate the employer’s commitment to safety and encouraging a culture of safety.
- Offers an opportunity for employees to ask questions, discuss safety concerns and develop solutions to specific issues while encouraging communication.
Objectives for Quick Take on Fire Extinguisher Use
Overview: Covers the types of fire extinguishers, and when and how to use them.
Purpose: Remind employees about how to fight incipient fires and when it may be appropriate to do so.
Preparation:
- Read and become familiar with this Quick Take. Change as needed to reflect procedures and personnel in your department.
- Review the emergency action plan for fires for the organization (see notes).
- Consider bringing a fire extinguisher to show the type and symbols.
Notes:
- Review the emergency action plan for the organization in the event of a fire. If the plan states that all employees are expected to evacuate a building promptly and that they are not expected to fight fires, employees need not be trained about fire extinguisher use.
- Certain employees may require fire extinguisher training, such as first responders, if they may be expected to put out fires. If employees are required to put out fires, they must be trained initially and at least annually thereafter.
- Consider consulting with the local fire department or vendors to conduct live trainings with real fires and fire extinguishers. This training is designed as a reminder or refresher to supplement such training.
- For more information, review the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Standard 1910.157 Portable Fire Extinguishers.
Supervisors typically use a Quick Take on Safety during regularly scheduled or informal meetings.
Some ideas on when to use Quick Takes on Safety:
- A short orientation at the start of a shift to discuss the data security concerns and best practices for tasks to be performed that day.
- A quick refresher during a team meeting or during a department meeting.
To improve the prepared script’s effectiveness, supervisors should modify the content to reflect the needs and situations of their specific workplace. Quick Takes on Safety are not designed to take the place of regular formal training.
All Quick Takes on Safety include the following:
- Training overview and objectives: Includes necessary preparation for the training and handouts that could be used to supplement the message.
- The script: Even if no preparation is required, instructors should read the script prior to the training and make changes to adapt the training to the specific audience and location. Occasionally bracketed areas indicate where the instructor can include additional information specific to the organization or the team’s work.
- Discussion questions/further activities: Discussion questions are designed to encourage further conversation about the topic but can be omitted in the interest of time. There may be ideas for further activities.
- Session Planning and Review: This section details resources for additional information and offers an opportunity for the instructor to evaluate the Quick Take session, making notes about how to improve the session in the future. Instructors should review this page prior to conducting the training in the future to make improvements.
- Attendance Record: This tracks those present during the training and can serve as a record. It can also be helpful when deciding when to train on the topic again.
Employee Handout, The Quick Review of Safety serves as a reminder to employees about the best practices covered during the training session. This can also be modified to include information specific to the organization or the team.
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