Learn How to Use the PASS Technique with Fire Extinguishers
Written by Staff Writer
Ask someone if they know how to use a fire extinguisher. Most will say yes. Pull the pin, aim, spray and done.
But real fires aren’t that neat, and, in the moment, details get fuzzy. Which extinguisher do you grab? How close should you stand? What if smoke starts rolling in?
That’s why the PASS method exists. It gives workers a simple, repeatable way to act fast instead of freezing up during a fire emergency.
Why This Technique Matters in Real Workplaces
In a training room, PASS looks straightforward. On a job site, it’s different. Noise is louder, exits might be cluttered and smoke can turn a familiar area into something unrecognizable.
This method helps because it reduces decision fatigue. It’s a short sequence that makes sense even when adrenaline is high. It also fits the way many employers structure fire safety expectations for incipient-stage fires, especially when portable extinguishers are provided for employee use.
The Quick Decision Before Anyone Touches an Extinguisher
Many fire extinguisher incidents happen before anyone pulls the pin. They don’t happen because of bad technique, but because of a bad first decision.
You can do PASS perfectly and still make things worse. How? By staying when you should leave.
OSHA says the basics come first. Sound the alarm. Call for help if needed. Know your exit before you move toward the fire.
Pause for four quick checks:
- The fire is small and steady, not growing
- The air is clear enough to breathe
- Your exit stays behind you the whole time
- The right extinguisher is within reach
If any of these fail, you leave. Fast. No hero points in a smoky hallway.
How Do You Pick the Right Extinguisher? Fire Classes Help
Did you know extinguishers aren’t universal? It’s true, they differ in many ways, and the type matters since they work differently on different fires. Grabbing the wrong one can waste precious seconds or create new hazards.
Fire classes help you choose the right extinguisher. OSHA’s portable extinguisher standard is organized around Class A, B, C and D hazards. In addition, Class K is commonly used for commercial kitchen cooking oils and fats and requires a dedicated extinguisher.
Class A
These ordinary materials are everyday combustibles like wood, paper and cardboard. Most workplace trash fires fall into this category.
Class B
These flammable liquids involve fuels, solvents and many kinds of oils. Spills that ignite almost always count as Class B.
Class C
These fires from energized electrical equipment involve live panels, tools or wiring. The electricity is the main hazard, not just the flames.
Class D
These involve reactive metals like magnesium or sodium. They require specialized extinguishing agents, not standard ABC units.
Class K
These occur mainly in commercial kitchens from cooking oils and fats. Did you know special extinguishers are used because water makes these fires worse?
The Four Steps of the PASS Method
OSHA teaches the P.A.S.S. method (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) for early-stage firefighting with portable extinguishers.
1. Pull the Pin
The pin is the safety lock. Pulling it breaks the seal and makes the handle live.
One small habit matters here. Keep the nozzle pointed away from your body while you pull the safety pin. It saves a split second later.
2. Aim at the Base
Your instinct is to aim at the flames. Don’t.
Flames are the symptom. The base is the fuel. That’s where the agent needs to go.
If smoke is thick, aiming low also helps you stay oriented. Depth perception gets messy fast.
3. Squeeze the Handle
Squeeze firmly, but don’t panic-grip. Steady pressure works better.
Why? Extinguishers empty quickly, sometimes in seconds. You don’t want to waste that.
4. Sweep Side to Side
Sweep across the base, slowly. Think coverage, not precision.
As the flame shrinks, you can move in carefully, but always keep your exit behind you.
If it flares back up? Step back. Don’t push harder.
Common Mistakes Worksite Employees Encounter
These five problems can lead to big issues:
- Letting the fire sit between you and your exit
- Standing too close, then getting driven back by heat
- Grabbing the wrong type of extinguisher
- Forgetting to pull the alarm or call for help first
- Treating an extinguisher like a magic wand instead of a short-term tool
OSHA’s guidance specifically warns to identify a safe evacuation path before approaching and to discharge within the extinguisher’s effective range. This is where training earns its keep. It teaches people to think in sequences, not impulses.
Start With PASS, Then Build Strong Habits
PASS is short for a reason: It’s meant to be remembered when the brain is busy doing ten other things at once.
Workers who want skills that hold up under real conditions should think beyond the acronym. They should learn the decision points, the extinguisher types, the exit strategy and the limits of what a portable unit can do.
Training that Actually Helps Prevent and Detect Big Problems
When fire extinguisher PASS training is needed for a job requirement or a safer workplace routine, OSHA Education Center’s fire safety options, including the Fire Protection Certificate course and the Fire Prevention Certificate course, give workers and employers a reliable next step.
NYC construction workers pursuing a DOB Site Safety Training (SST) card can use a 1-Hour Fire Protection and Prevention class as an SST General Elective toward a Full SST card. When enrollment is open, OSHA Education Center’s online options are one way to complete that hour.
A final question tends to settle it. If a small fire starts on a normal workday, would the crew know what to do, or would they be hoping instinct is enough?