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Chris Williamson
Member - 1 post
do company vehicles (in the case delivary vans) require a fire extinguisher in order to comply with health & safety ?
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Alex Davies - Workplace Law Network
Online advisor - 11 posts
In answer to your query, provided the vehicle travels only within the UK, and doesn't carry dangerous goods, there is no requirement under health and safety legislation for vehicles to carry fire extinguishers. Different laws apply in Europe, and all vehicles must be fitted with safety equipment in countries such as France and Spain.
If the vehicle is to carry dangerous goods, furher information on the requirement for fire extinguishing equipment can be found on the HSE website, at http://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/manual/crew.htm#fireext. I hope this helps.
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Diarmuid Fahy
Member - 16 posts
When I am asked, my advice is always NOT to provide fire extinguishers in company vehicles. The provision of the equipment throws up myriad complications in terms of training and maintenance and, to be honest, in the event of a vehicle fire, the last thing I'd want is to encourage my driver to endanger themselves by attempting to tackle it on their own.
If a vehicle catches fire, get everybody out, retreat to a safe distance and call the fire brigade.
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James Fairchild
Member - 226 posts
Note that a PSV by law MUST carry a fire extinguisher - not sure about a taxi.
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John Fitzgerald
Member - 3 posts
I understand where you are coming from Diarmuid but in the case of someone being trapped in the back of the car/truck and not able to get out a mobile fire extinguisher could be the means of saving their life. The car would be completly burnt out by the time the fire brigade arrived and the people dead.
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george partridge
Member - 1 post
Surely there is a legal requirement to train all staff which must mean that this also covers what to do and what not to do in the event of a vehicle fire.
in regard to extinguishers the same must apply if fitted to a vehicle also to maintain it (check that is still fitted etc).
also given that a large CO2 extinguisher 2kg (building type) has only a discharge time of approx 12secs. whether or not the small CO2 extinguishers fitted to most vehicles would have any impact on any vehicle fire.
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