Safety in the garage..

[Crazyjake8493]

One thing that I learned working in building equipment maintenance was checking fire extinguishers. We did it monthly, and I went around with my rubber mallet and turned over and tapped all the dry powder extinguishers, and still do that at home. I have a CO2 extinguisher in each of the 3 rooms of my garage/shop plus some 2A:10BC in the house. I think I should get a couple more. At my job, we had annual training where we took turns extinguishing a couple of practice fires out in a parking lot by the central shop., which was helpful.
I also have a first aid kit in the shop with regularly updated band aids and adhesive tape.

One of my goals over the winter is to update and improve our first aid kits in the house, garage, and vehicles. One of those things you often don't think about until an emergency happens.

 

[Monza Harry]

@bobg03 Thanx for an always timely reminder! I also have fitted some welding/cutting carts with a large squirt bottle of water [about 1L/quart for $1.99 @ HD pre C-19]. Many people will worry about the cost, mess and commotion/attention of pulling the trigger on a small fire caused while welding or using a torch, but will hose the #€!! with a (nearly) free squirt of water. All of my life including my safety systems are in disrepair, time to get fixing some of that! Thanx Again for that needed gentle push! Also we need to remember to NOT panic time is your enemy in emergency situations. That is the reason training is important to help counteract the natural instinct to panic. Harry

 

[LopezBart]

One thing that I learned working in building equipment maintenance was checking fire extinguishers. We did it monthly, and I went around with my rubber mallet and turned over and tapped all the dry powder extinguishers, and still do that at home. I have a CO2 extinguisher in each of the 3 rooms of my garage/shop plus some 2A:10BC in the house. I think I should get a couple more. At my job, we had annual training where we took turns extinguishing a couple of practice fires out in a parking lot by the central shop., which was helpful.

I heard a local museum on the next island over was getting rid of an old CO2 fire extinguisher, so I headed over and snagged this unit. From the weight it appears fully charged. I'm not sure how useful this would be, but it's certainly a conversation piece. Otherwise we have various 4A-40BC units. When I was on the emergency response team at a previous job, I got first aid and fire extinguisher training; the latter with gasoline flaming on a baking sheet. The dry powder units are quite effective if properly deployed - aimed at the base of the fire, mostly.

 

[ambenz]

I have 2 extinguishers but they are the small plastic head ones you mentioned.
I have a Uncle "In Law" who owns a Fire Extinguisher service company, he is getting a call on Monday.
Since I have a detached natural gas heated garage, I did put a smoke detector on the ceiling and installed a baby monitor to hear the smoke alarm in the house, should anything get smokey. I can call the Fire Department ASAP...its a mile west of me, on the same road.