Think

Safety
Work
Safely
Live
Safe

SAFE OPERATING
PROCEDURE
Portable Fire Extinguishers

DO NOT use equipment or undertake work procedure unless you

have been instructed in the correct and safe usage and
applicable procedures

APPLICABILITY

REFERENCE
POLICIES and
STANDARDS

THIS PROCEDURE APPLIES TO ALL PERSONS WHO ARE

UNDERTAKING WORKS FOR DARWIN CITY COUNCIL AND ARE
CLASSIFIED AS WORKERS UNDER THE WORK HEALTH AND
SAFETY (NATIONAL UNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2011
CITY OF DARWIN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
CITY OF DARWIN RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY AND STANDARD
INTERNATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARD ISO 31000:2009

PROCEDURE
OBJECTIVE

To ensure the safety of workers when using portable fire extinguishers

IDENTIFIED
HAZARDS

- Burns
- Smoke inhalation
- Chemical inhalation/ingestion
Workers must never attempt to fight a fire using a portable
extinguisher unless they are completely satisfied that the
extinguisher is suited to the nature of the fire
(wood/paper/plastic/petroleum) and that the fire can be
controlled without endangering the operator of an
extinguisher

KEY
RESPONSIBILITI
ES

Pre Operational Safety Checks

- Always raise an alarm with other workers in the area before
approaching a fire
- Alert the area fire warden if possible
- Dont fight the fire alone seek help if possible
- Check that the extinguisher to be used is suitable for the type of fire
(refer Classification of Fires and Extinguisher types on the following
page).

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OPERATING
PROCEDURES

Fighting the Fire

- Dont fight the fire alone seek help if possible
- Make sure you have an unobstructed exit path away from the fire
- After testing the discharge range of the extinguisher, get only as
close to the fire as necessary and practical
- when in doubt, stay back away from the fire
- If outdoors, approach the fire with the wind behind your back
- Never return a used extinguisher it to its original location
- Advise the Area Fire Warden that the extinguisher needs replacing
Classification of Fire Type
- Class A fires are fires that involve ordinary combustible material such
as
- paper, wood and plastics
- Class B fires are fires involving flammable and combustible liquids
- Class C fires are fires involving flammable gases
- Class D fires are fires involving combustible metals
- Class E fires are fires involving electrically energised equipment
- Class F fires are fires involving cooking fats and oils
-

Extinguishers
WATER for class A fires
FOAM for class A and B fires
CARBON DIOXIDE for classes A, B, C & E
DRY POWDER for classes A, B, C and E
Note that a higher class of extinguisher may be used, but NEVER a
lower class (foam, CO2 and powder may be used on a class A fire if a
water extinguisher is not available)

Extinguisher Identification
- WATER red all over
- FOAM - red with a blue band
- DRY POWDER - red with a white band
- CARBON DIOXIDE - red with a black band
- WET CHEMICAL - red with a brown band
- VAPORISING LIQUID - red with a yellow band
Extinguishing Agents
- WATER - because of its availability and low cost water is the most
commonly used extinguishing agent - its effectiveness is due to its
ability to absorb heat from both the burning fuel and the heated
vapour
- FOAM - forms a blanket on the surface of a liquid, thus denying the
fire oxygen and since 90% of firefighting foam is water, foam also
reduces temperatures
- CARBON DIOXIDE - will smother the fire by replacing oxygen available
to the fire
- DRY CHEMICALS - will not conduct electricity, unlike foam and water,
but will smother the fire and aid in breaking the chemical chain
reaction
Fire Fighting Techniques
- STARVATION - the removal of fuel sources from the vicinity of the fire
- SMOTHERING - the removal of oxygen (can also be achieved by the
application of an extinguishing agent, such as foam)
- COOLING - the reduction of temperature to below that which is
required for combustion
- STOPPING THE CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION - a range of chemical
powders which when applied to a fire prevent or interrupt the
chemical chain reaction

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- COMBINATION OF METHODS - a combination of the above methods

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