13 Free Fire Safety Articles
Fire safety is the set of practices, equipment, and training that keeps a workplace fire from starting and limits the harm when one does. A fire safety program works by controlling ignition sources and fuel, maintaining the correct fire extinguishers and alarms in place, and preparing workers to respond or get out safely. Fire is a serious hazard in almost every industry because it can start from a small spark and spread in seconds, putting lives, property, and the business at risk.
The fire safety articles on this page cover fire prevention and how it applies day to day. Learn more about the classes of fire and the main types of fire extinguishers, how to select and use one correctly, and the inspection requirements that keep it ready when it counts. Articles also cover assigning a fire watch, deciding whether to fight a fire or evacuate, combustible dust, static electricity as an ignition source, working safely near propane, and fire prevention for construction sites, shops, and warehouses.
Safety managers and supervisors can use these articles to review specific fire hazard before a job, train a new or returning worker, or prepare a safety meeting on fire prevention. They are written for safety managers, supervisors, and anyone responsible for keeping a crew and a workplace safe from fire.
Why it matters
Most workplace fires are preventable with proper precautions.
Fire Safety Articles
Fire FAQs
When does OSHA require fire extinguishers in the workplace?
OSHA requires portable fire extinguishers to be provided, accessible, and maintained wherever an employer expects employees to use them to fight a fire (OSHA 1910.157). These extinguishers must be suited to the hazard, mounted and readily accessible, visually inspected monthly, and maintained once a year. An employer that requires total evacuation and lets no one fight fires may be exempt from some of these provisions, though other OSHA standards and local fire codes often still call for extinguishers to be present.
How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
Portable fire extinguishers should be visually inspected at least once a month and given a more thorough maintenance check once a year (OSHA 1910.157). The monthly check confirms the extinguisher is in its assigned place, unobstructed, fully charged with the gauge in the green, and free of damage. Annual maintenance and periodic hydrostatic testing should be documented and are usually handled by a trained technician.
What are the classes of fire, and why do they matter?
Fires are grouped into classes by what is burning, and the class decides which extinguisher is safe to use. Class A covers ordinary combustibles like wood and paper, Class B covers flammable liquids and gases, Class C covers energized electrical equipment, Class D covers combustible metals, and Class K covers cooking oils and fats. Using the wrong extinguisher, such as water on an electrical or grease fire, can spread the fire or injure the user.
What is a fire watch, and when is one required?
A fire watch is a trained person assigned to watch for fire during and after hot work such as welding, cutting, or grinding, when sparks or heat could ignite nearby material. OSHA requires a fire watch whenever hot work is done where a serious fire could start, and the watch must continue for at least 30 minutes after the work stops to catch smoldering fires. The fire watch needs a way to sound the alarm and the means to use fire extinguishing equipment.
Why is combustible dust so dangerous?
Combustible dust is dangerous because fine particles of material such as wood, grain, metal, or sugar can ignite and explode when enough of the dust is suspended in the air. A small first explosion can shake loose settled dust and set off a much larger secondary explosion, which is what makes it so destructive. Controlling it takes regular housekeeping, dust collection, control of ignition sources, and keeping dust from building up on beams, ledges, and equipment.
Should workers fight a workplace fire or evacuate?
Evacuate by default, and only consider fighting a fire when it is small and contained, there is a clear escape route behind you, and you are trained to use the extinguisher. If the fire is spreading, blocking an exit, giving off heavy smoke, or larger than a small waste can, get out right away and call the fire department. Employers who expect workers to use extinguishers must train them first.
