Course Description
The course takes learners through the subject of fire on a step-by-step basis, from initial basic knowledge on the ways fire develops, and what can accelerate it, to more advanced modes of protection, including what type of fire equipment should be applied to varying kinds of fire.
However, it’s important that you don’t stop there. Instead, it is hugely beneficial to provide professional fire safety training for your staff, or chosen designated employees, ensuring that they have the knowledge to respond safely and effectively in the event of a fire.
Certification
Successful candidates credited with this unit standard are able to:
- Discuss and explain procedures for dealing with fires in the workplace
- Identify the type of fire, its context and select the appropriate fire-fighting procedures
- Identify, select and check appropriate firefighting and safety equipment
- Fighting containable/extinguishable fires
- Retreat from fire site and hand over to appropriate personnel
- Report/record status of fire and equipment
Basic firefighting learning outcomes
Most fire safety courses offer a mix of classroom-based learning and practical training experience, educating candidates on how to respond in the event of an emergency, how to use fire protection equipment (such as fire extinguishers), how different types of fire can start and the best ways to combat these fires. The area of focus of this programme will be.
Outcome 1
Programme introduction
Legislative requirements
- Legislation applicable to employers
- General duties of employers to their employees
- General duties of employers and self-employee’s persons to persons other than their employees
Legislations applicable to employees
- General duties of employees at work
Outcome 2
Introduction to fire fighting
Define fire
The fire triangle
- Common fuel sources
- Oxygen sources
Forms of combustion
Fire classes
Fire-fighting equipment
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire extinguisher components
- Types of fire extinguishers
- Care and maintenance of your fire extinguishers
Fire buckets
Fire fighting safety equipment
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (scba’s)
- Closed circuit (scba’s)
- Open circuit (scba’s)
- Typical (scba) components
- Limitation of (scba’s)
Fire blankets
Protective clothing
Safety signs and symbols
- Fire-related safety symbols
Outcome 3
Fighting fires
The emergency scene
- Fire fighters task relating to the emergency scene
The emergency site
- Arriving at the emergency scene
- Typical hazards
- Attacking a fire
- Alerting the emergency services
- Procedure to follow when contacting emergency services
Measuring fire
Extinguishing a fire
Extinguishment considering the fire tetrahedron
- Starvation
- Smothering
- Cooling
Preventing fire spread
- Convection
- Conduction
- Radiation
- Combination of all three methods
- Breaking the chain reaction
Combustible hazards
Factors affecting fire and explosion risks
- Form and physical state
- Temperature and pressure
- Confinement
- Fire risks involving chemical oxidizers
- Fire risks from other chemical reactions
- Dust explosion risks
- Effect of particle size on dust explosion risk
Means of first intervention
Using a fire extinguisher
- How a fire extinguisher works
- Guidelines for handling fire extinguishes
Extinguish fires
Extinguishing electrical fires
- Electrical hazards and safeguards
- Fire-fighting procedures
Extinguishing gas fires
- Approach
- Basic precaution
- Fire-fighting procedure
- Fire, explosion and toxic conditions
Outcome 4
Emergency and fire-related procedures
- Prevent panic
- Fire prevention and protection
- Basic housekeeping
- Fire hazards
- Plant plan
Who This Course is for
Entry level requirements into this programme?
- Certified copy of your id document
- School certificate grade 7 or skills certificate equivalent Nqf level 1
Learning assumed to be in place and recognition of prior learning:
- Communication at Nqf level 1 or equivalent
- Mathematical literacy at Nqf level 1 or equivalent
Target audience
- All employees responsible for workplace firefighting and appointed workplace firefighters
