In our safety training orientation during my first week at work, I had learned fire safety basics — I knew that there were different types of fires (although I have to admit that I was confused about some of the terminology. For example, what was the difference between a Class B and a Class C fire?) and I also knew that there were several types of extinguishers hanging in the office. But, I quickly forgot much of this information — it was simply a blur with all the other orientation details. And, I assumed that we were never going to have a fire. And, if we did have a fire, I convinced myself that I would know what to do in the moment.

But, you know what they say about assumptions …

And, I learned this the hard way when paint caught on fire in our office (what I now know is a Class B fire). Rather than grabbing the dry chemical extinguisher, I reached for the water and foam extinguisher and what had started as a small and manageable fire quickly turned into a roaring inferno.

Luckily, I escaped with my life and a large number of painful second degree burns on my hands and arms. But, not everyone is this lucky — workplace fires still pose a deadly hazard across sectors.

In many workplaces around the country, there are hundreds of fire hazards — ranging from old electrical that can start fires within a building’s walls to flammable chemicals that may be improperly stored. And this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential fire hazards. Other risks that may often be overlooked are environmental dust that can get caught up in sensitive equipment (sparking fires or even explosions), as well as human error.

These different fire hazards result in different categories or classes of fire. Most fires that are seen in the workplace fall into one of three classes — class A, B, or C. Class A fires are fires that happen when products like paper or wood catch on fire. On the other hand, Class B fires refer to fires that are the result of flammable liquids or gases igniting. And finally, Class C fires are electrical fires.

Just as there are many types of fires that can occur in the workplace, there are also countless different fire extinguishers on the market. These fire extinguishers are available at different price points and are designed to address different types of fires. For example, a water and foam fire extinguisher is meant to be used on Class A fires. In other words, if a pile of papers catches fire in the filing or storage room, a water and foam extinguisher may be a good choice to put it out. But, this same fire extinguisher would not work on a Class B fire — in fact, if someone tried to use it, it could dangerously spread the engulfed chemicals, creating an even bigger fire. In the case of a Class B fire, one of the best options is a dry chemical fire extinguisher. This extinguisher can also be safely used in Class C electrical fires.

Given the complexity of the situation — countless fire hazards, numerous classes of fires, and a market that is saturated with different types of fire extinguishers — it is essential that employers invest in adequate training programs. It is not enough to train employees once when they are initially hired. Instead, there should be regular fire safety refresher courses and training on what extinguishers to use when. To further eliminate the risks of a person using the wrong extinguisher in a chemical or electrical fire, employers should consider replacing all water and foam extinguishers with multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers that can be used across all fire classes.

Fires are a real risk in most workplaces — from piles of paper and waste products that may catch on fire to flammable chemicals that may be improperly stored. To minimize these risks, it is important for employers to not only train employees on comprehensive fire safety, but also to have the proper equipment and fire extinguishers on hand. And, given a choice, comprehensive dry chemical fire extinguishers are definitely the way to go.