It seems to me that fire extinguishers are not designed for use by untrained persons. I have seen some startling examples of the untrained using them completely ineffectually, or being unable to operate them at all. And that ignore the issue of proper selection when several types are maintained at one location.
The purpose of forbidding some classes of building occupants from using them is to prevent the untrained from attempting to use them on too large a fire, or from being trapped by a fire. This is not limited to academia. The policy at the large, multi-location manufacturing company where I worked for 30 years was that only trained people should try to use a fire extinguisher, and even then, if one extinguisher was emptied and the fire was not out, they were to stop and evacuate with everyone else. Communicating that limitation requires training of some sort.
The basic theory is that a room or building and its contents can be replaced but it is rather difficult to replace a person destroyed in a fire.
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY
PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of David C. Finster
Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2022 9:24 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Fire extinguisher use
It has come to my attention (anecdotally) that some academic institutions, as a matter of local policy, forbid students to use fire extinguishers. I am thinking more of research, than teaching, labs in this regard. I think this is a wrong-headed policy since some small fires can be easily extinguished using fire extinguishers (usually ABC) that are required to be in labs. Extinguishers are designed for use (using the PASS method) by untrained persons - although I would always argue for hands-on training. I would not favor the policy that requires extinguisher use (as this could lead someone attempting to inappropriately fight a “too large” fire) but forbidding use seems foolish.
I ask the list: 1) How common (do you think) is the policy of forbidding use? and 2) what are the arguments for this “no use” policy?
Dave
David C. Finster
Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry
Wittenberg University
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