Firefighting equipment and appliances

This training course instructs you in the total concept of fire prevention. Fire prevention encompasses not only knowledge and practical experience of using portable firefighting equipment and appliances, but covers a wide range of other disciplines.

It includes practicing “good housekeeping” procedures, which are designed to minimize the risks of an outbreak of fire. A checklist of these preventative measures is produced below.

Ensure that:

• When not in use, all electrical appliances are switched off and isolated from the main circuit.
• All electrical motors are clean and free of dust and grime.
• All electrical points, plugs, motors etc are serviced regularly and maintained.
• All electrical points, plugs switches and wiring are checked periodically.
• Electrical leads are renewed at the first sign of wear in the outer covering.
• Electrical points are not overloaded.
• All hazardous materials are stored under lock and key in a safe compound, preferably away from the main building.
• Flammable liquids are marked and identified clearly in the proper containers and stored in safe conditions.
• Flammable chemicals are not kept any longer than necessary.
• If you smell gas, no switches are thrown and no sparks or glowing embers generated.
• All doors are kept closed.
• Smoking materials are carefully discarded.
• Matches and lighters are kept in safe places.
• Waste materials, such as oily cotton waste, rags etc are disposed of correctly.
• Waste paper, carton, etc are cleared away regularly to a proper refuse area, and removed from site each working day.
• Impromptu kitchen arrangement is not set up in offices or workshops.
• The use of portable heaters is discouraged. If they are used, the heaters must be carefully and sensibly positioned.
• An employee is appointed with responsibility for fire safety, no matter how small the company. In multi-level buildings an employee must be nominated on each floor, or section of floor area for larger premises.
• All employees attend a training course annually for tuition in fire prevention and in the theoretical and practical use of portable fire extinguishers. Extinguishers are only as efficient as the people who operate them, and training in fire fighting procedures by qualified personnel builds confidence, which may prevent panic in a real emergency.
• A build-up of dust is to be avoided to prevent possible dust explosions.

Should more specialized prevention measures be necessary do contact Kevcor for assistance.