Fire Extinguisher Training: Fight or Get Out (P.A.S.S.)

5-minute toolbox talk · 2:21 video + discussion, quiz and sign-off · free printable sheet with sign-off table.

Key points

• First, sound the fire alarm and call the fire department.
• Fight the fire only if it is small and just started.
• Before you start, make sure your exit is behind you and is clear of fire, heat and smoke.
• Use the correct extinguisher for the fire. Read the label on the extinguisher.
• If you are not sure, do not fight the fire. Get out immediately.

Step by step

1. PULL the pin. This breaks the tamper seal.
2. AIM low. Point the nozzle at the base of the fire. Do not touch the horn of a CO2 extinguisher, because it gets very cold.
3. SQUEEZE the handle to release the agent.
4. SWEEP from side to side at the base of the fire until the fire is out.
5. Move back and watch the area. If the fire starts again, do the steps again.

Never

• Never let the fire get between you and the exit.
• Never continue if the extinguisher is empty and the fire still burns.
• Never go back into a building that is on fire.

Who needs this training

• Every worker in a workplace where portable fire extinguishers are provided for employees to use.
• Fire wardens and workers chosen to fight small fires as part of an emergency plan — they need hands-on practice.
• New workers on their first day: where the extinguishers are, where the exits are, and when to just leave.

What the rule says

In US workplaces, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 covers portable fire extinguishers. If the employer provides extinguishers for employees to use, workers must be trained in the basic principles and hazards of fighting a small fire when they start, and at least once a year after that.

Workers who are designated to use fire-fighting equipment as part of an emergency action plan need training when they are first assigned and at least once a year.

Extinguishers must be checked every month (pressure gauge in the green, pin and seal in place, nothing blocking access) and get full maintenance once a year.

Common mistakes

• Fighting a fire that is already too big — taller than you, spreading, or giving thick smoke.
• Turning your back to the exit. Always keep your escape route behind you.
• Aiming at the flames instead of the base of the fire.
• Using water or a water extinguisher on electrical or cooking-oil fires.
• Not raising the alarm first. Call for help before you fight the fire.

Talk about it

1. Where are the two nearest extinguishers to your work station?
2. What type of fire could start in our area?
3. Who calls the fire department, and what is the meeting point?

Quick check

Questions people ask

Based on OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.157; OSHA eTool: Evacuation Plans and Procedures, Portable Fire Extinguishers. This talk is a summary for training. Your site's written procedure and your supervisor's instructions come first.