As far as I can remember, when studying for NEBOSH (dip) it actually said the opposite. It is in fact important you train your employees in their use, otherwise whats the point of having them if no one can use them?

One could argue, that if you fail to tackle a small fire safely with an extuinghuiser (e.g very minor electrical appliance). You could in fact be putting every occupant of the building/ workplace at increased risk plus the fire and rescuse service, as the building could likely burn down if the small fire is allowed to becaome a big one. Again, whats the point of having these extuinghuisers (just about every workplace does) if no one can use them?

Hi I am not sure the Reform Order does require training in first aid fire fighting equipment. "(2) The training referred to in paragraph (1) must— (a) include suitable and sufficient instruction and training on the appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in order to safeguard himself and other relevant persons on the premises; " It talks about what an employee should do to ensure their safety and the safety of others. Personally, for me, that means only if the exit route is blocked. Ian

Andy, it's exactly in residential homes and hospices that I've had fire officers advise me to tell staff not to bother with fighting fires. The idea is that if your means of protection are adequate the staff should be getting everybody two fire doors away from the source of the fire, rather than trying to fight it, John

Odd-I'd have thought that it would be easier to put out a burning wastepaper basket fire than trying to move a dozen residents. Note in both cases employees would have to remain in the building to either put out the fire or evacuate the residents.

I would love to come on one of your training courses as they sound much more fun that the dreary test-point-and-squirt courses I do!!! :) I think the fire safety industry tend to get their collective knickers in a twist about the use of extinguishers. First of all, extinguishers are very easy to use as most people have used an aerosol can before. Its when NOT to use them that is key. I spend the majority of my time on the rare FFE courses I do nowadays explaining they must only be used on 'small and simple fires', and defining what that means in practice, with the emphasis on if there's any doubt, walk away. On the whole, the people I meet are not stupid. With guidance and support it is possible to have a sensible strategy to fire extinguisher use. I throw my hands in the air with disbelief when I hear staff being told don't use them in any circumstances. But as so often in H&S, its so easy to 'ban' things (thereby feeding the Daily Mail's 'Elf & Safety' headline machine), whereas adopting a common sense/risk based approach can cost money and involve some corporate risk taking, but is surely the most professional methodology