Fire Safety Training: A Guide for Industrial Workers

Once upon a time, tragedies like the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire were incredibly common. Building codes, fire codes, and workplace safety laws have drastically reduced the frequency of these incidents, but they’re still not as rare as we’d like them to be.

As an employer, how do you promote fire safety, prevent workplace fires, and contain the damage when the worst happens? Fire safety training is a key part of the answer. Below, we’ll discuss workplace fire statistics, what you should look for in a fire safety training program, and more.

How Common Are Industrial or Workplace Fires?

According to data collected by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are 16,500 office and store fires every year. Additionally, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that fire departments respond to over 36,500 fires a year at industrial and manufacturing properties.

It’s also worth noting that the number of non-residential fires per year has been trending up since 2013.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Workplace Fires?

Across all workplaces, hot work, including welding, cutting, or brazing, is the source of ignition in 34% of workplace fires.

In your average office, the most common source of workplace fires is electrical (22%), though cooking equipment outstrips electrical fires in facilities where that’s relevant.

In terms of industrial safety, it gets a lot more complicated. According to a 2023 report by the NFPA, the leading cause of fires at industrial properties were:

• Equipment or heat source failure in 24% of cases
• Electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer equipment in 21% of cases
• Mechanical failure or malfunction in 17% of cases
• Arcing in 15% of cases
• Electrical failure or malfunction in 13% of cases

Shop tools and industrial equipment are involved in ignition in 11% of industrial fires.

Why is Fire Safety Training Important?

Workplace fire safety training is important from many angles, including the preservation of life and property, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and increased productivity and profit.

Protecting Life

The most important outcome of fire safety training is to prevent serious injury and death due to workplace safety incidents.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workplace fires and explosions lead to more than 5,000 injuries and 200 deaths a year. The most common injuries sustained include skin burn injuries, broken bones, lung damage due to smoke inhalation, cuts, lacerations, concussions, other traumatic brain injuries, and nerve damage.

Preserving Property

Workplace fires can cause serious damage to expensive property and equipment, resulting in repairs, replacements, downtime, delays, and more.

According to FEMA records, non-residential fire losses in 2022 cost $3.74 billion in direct property damage. This is not just a question of industrial safety – fires in stores and offices account for nearly a billion dollars of that total.

As a result, fire safety measures – including training – represent an investment in the protection of assets across a wide range of industries.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Every workplace is subject to a complex and overlapping set of federal, state, and local regulations related to fire safety as a result of hard-won lessons from the past. Fire safety training is a regulatory requirement through state and federal occupational safety and health (OSH) agencies.

Increased Productivity and Profit

Fire safety training is also good for your bottom line. Workplace fires are common and expensive – skipping or skimping on relevant training can result in workers’ compensation claims, days away from work, property damage, regulatory fines, legal fees, and more.

Fire safety measures aren’t just about workplace safety. They’re also for workplace profit.

What Does Fire Safety Training Cover?

The topics in a workplace fire safety training course will vary a little by industry, role, and provider, but a basic one-hour course will typically cover different types of fire, fire extinguisher use, fire-related injuries, fire protection systems, emergency preparation, and evacuation plans.

Fire Extinguisher Certification

Training in the use of fire extinguishers – sometimes referred to colloquially as “fire extinguisher certification” – is required by OSHA under §1910.157.

Employers must provide “an educational program to familiarize employees with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting” at the start of employment and at least once a year, after that. Additional training is required for employees designated to use firefighting equipment as part of the workplace’s emergency action plan.

As a result, fire safety training typically involves training in the types of fire extinguishers as well as fire extinguisher use and maintenance.

Fire Protection Systems

In addition to fire extinguishers, fire safety training will typically review other types of workplace fire protection systems including suppression systems, detection systems, and alarm systems.

Fire-Related Injuries and First Aid

Fire safety training includes education on common fire-related injuries like burns, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and traumatic injuries. Training will also typically introduce first aid information for these injuries, including do’s, don’t’s, and myths.

Emergency Preparation and Evacuation

Each workplace will require a unique emergency action plan, and employees must be trained in what to expect or do. For offices, this may be limited to evacuation routes and procedures, while industrial settings may also require emergency shut-down procedures as well.

Fire Prevention

General fire prevention topics are included in fire safety training, but not every workplace has the same types of fire hazards. As a result, fire safety training is largely focused on response, while other OSHA courses will address task-specific fire hazards and fire prevention.

Examples include welding safety, chemical labeling, and materials storage.

Where Do You Get Workplace Fire Training?

Fire safety training will always require a worksite-specific component, but Fire Protection courses like ours can convey general fire safety information and principles effectively, efficiently, and without hassle.

We’ve been a trusted OSHA-authorized training provider for over 20 years. Our courses are online and self-paced, covering all types of workplace safety and health topics. Enroll today!