Product Overview

Summary: This Firefighting Equipment Usage SOP sets out clear, practical steps for selecting, operating and maintaining firefighting equipment in Australian workplaces. It helps your workers respond quickly and safely to incipient fires, while supporting compliance with WHS duties and fire safety legislation.

This Firefighting Equipment Usage Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach for the safe and effective use of portable firefighting equipment across Australian workplaces. It covers the full lifecycle of equipment use, from pre-use checks and understanding fire classes, through to correct operation of fire extinguishers, fire blankets and hose reels, and post-incident actions. The SOP is written in plain, practical language so that workers, wardens and supervisors can follow it confidently during training and in real emergencies.

Inadequate knowledge of how to use firefighting equipment can turn a minor, controllable incident into a major emergency, exposing workers to burns, smoke inhalation and panic, while placing the business at risk of prosecution and reputational damage. This procedure addresses those risks by standardising how firefighting equipment is selected, positioned, checked and used, aligning with Australian fire safety standards and WHS obligations. It helps businesses demonstrate due diligence, support emergency planning, and integrate equipment usage into broader emergency response and evacuation procedures. The result is a safer workplace, more confident staff and a defensible, documented system for managing fire-related risks.

Key Benefits

• Ensure workers can confidently select and operate the correct firefighting equipment for different classes of fire.
• Reduce the risk of injury, property damage and business interruption from small, controllable fires.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS duties and fire safety requirements through a documented, repeatable procedure.
• Standardise training for fire wardens and staff so responses are consistent across shifts, sites and contractors.
• Support integration of firefighting equipment usage with broader emergency response, alarm and evacuation procedures.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Fire Wardens and Emergency Wardens
• Facilities and Building Managers
• Site Supervisors and Leading Hands
• Operations Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Laboratory Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Office Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Burns and thermal injuries from direct flame contact
• Smoke inhalation and exposure to toxic combustion products
• Incorrect selection of extinguishing agent (e.g. using water on electrical or flammable liquid fires)
• Explosion or fire escalation due to improper firefighting techniques
• Slips, trips and falls while accessing or operating firefighting equipment
• Manual handling strains from moving and operating heavy extinguishers or hose reels
• Reduced visibility and disorientation during fire response
• Uncontrolled spread of fire due to delayed or ineffective first response

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Fire Classifications (A, B, C, D, E, F)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Officers, Wardens, Workers)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Types of Firefighting Equipment (Extinguishers, Blankets, Hose Reels, Hydrants – overview)
• 6.0 Equipment Selection and Limitations of Use
• 7.0 Pre-use Checks and Inspection Requirements
• 8.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Portable Fire Extinguishers (PASS method and variations)
• 9.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Fire Blankets
• 10.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Fire Hose Reels
• 11.0 Decision-making: When to Fight a Fire vs Evacuate
• 12.0 Communication, Alarms and Coordination with Emergency Wardens
• 13.0 Post-incident Actions, Reporting and Equipment Tag-out
• 14.0 Training, Competency and Refresher Requirements
• 15.0 Maintenance Interface and Contractor Coordination
• 16.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Controls and PPE Requirements
• 17.0 Recordkeeping and Document Control
• 18.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations – Emergency plans and emergency equipment provisions
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• AS 1851: Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
• AS 2444: Portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets – Selection and location
• AS 3745: Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 1670 series: Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems – System design, installation and commissioning (as applicable to interface with firefighting equipment)