Fire Safety
Fire safety questions are practical: the fire triangle, classes of fire, which extinguisher to use, the PASS technique, and the evacuation drill. A guard is normally the first person at the scene.
The fire triangle
Fuel, heat and oxygen sustain fire; remove any one and it stops. Extinguishing works by cooling (water), smothering (foam, CO2, blanket) or starving the chain reaction (dry chemical powder).
Classes of fire and correct media
- A - solid combustibles: wood, paper, cloth. Water or foam.
- B - flammable liquids: petrol, paint, oil. Foam, CO2, dry powder.
- C - flammable gases: LPG, CNG. Dry powder; isolate the gas supply.
- D - metals: magnesium, sodium. Special dry powder only.
- E - electrical equipment. CO2 or dry powder; never water.
PASS technique
Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side from a safe distance, keeping an escape route behind you.
Prevention on duty
No smoking in prohibited areas, no overloaded sockets or daisy chains, no obstructed exits or fire equipment, fire doors kept closed, hot-work permits for welding, and housekeeping free of oily rags and waste.
Emergency actions
Raise the alarm, call 101, evacuate by the nearest exit, never use the lift, go to the assembly point, take a roll call, and do not re-enter until the fire officer permits it. If clothes catch fire: stop, drop and roll. In smoke, stay low and cover the nose with a wet cloth.
Worked example
A waste-paper bin burns beside a computer desk. The guard reasons: paper is Class A, but live electrical equipment is nearby, so water could cause shock and damage. He isolates the power if it can be done safely, then uses CO2 aimed at the base of the flames, keeping the exit behind him.
Traps that cost marks
- Water on electrical or oil fires.
- Using a lift during evacuation.
- Re-entering to save belongings.
- Blocking extinguishers with stored stock.