Free Safe Operating Procedure (Fire Blanket Use) Template

Purpose of the Free Safe Operating Procedure (Fire Blanket Use) Template

Effectively managing fire risks requires clear, pre-defined steps for emergency response. Our Free Safe Operating Procedure (Fire Blanket Use) Template provides a framework for documenting the correct method for tackling small, containable fires before they escalate.

A documented SOP is a critical component of any workplace fire safety plan, ensuring that team members can act decisively, correctly, and safely to minimise the risk of injury and property damage.

This procedure template outlines the essential steps, from assessing the fire to deploying the blanket and post-incident reporting. Formalising this process helps standardise your emergency response, provides a consistent basis for worker training, and demonstrates a commitment to proactive risk management.

Integrating specific procedures like this into broader WHS management systems is fundamental to creating a robust safety culture within your organisation.

How to use the Free Safe Operating Procedure (Fire Blanket Use) Template

To implement this Safe Operating Procedure, simply download the DOCX file and customise it for your specific operational environment. While the template is based on established Australian WHS practice, it must be adapted to be effective.

Key Customisation Steps:

• Site-Specific Information: Clearly mark the locations of all fire blankets on your site plans and list them within the document.
• Emergency Details: Add your workplace’s specific emergency contact numbers, assembly points, and the names or roles of fire wardens.
• Risk Context: Identify the particular fire hazards present in your work areas (e.g., cooking oils in a kitchen, flammable liquids in a workshop) and tailor the instructions accordingly.
• Responsibilities: Assign and document clear roles and responsibilities for personnel during a fire emergency.

Please note: This template is a starting point. We have drafted it to be broadly applicable, but you must customise it to reflect the specific hazards, equipment, and procedures of your workplace.

If you need assistance tailoring this or other documents to ensure they are fit-for-purpose, our WHS consulting services can provide expert guidance.

When is a Fire Blanket the Right Choice?

A fire blanket is an effective first-response tool for specific types of small, contained fires. It works by smothering the fire and cutting off its oxygen supply. This SOP is designed for situations involving:

• Cooking Oil & Fat Fires (Class F): Ideal for fires in kitchens or canteens where cooking oils have ignited. Attempting to use water on these fires can cause a dangerous explosive reaction, making a fire blanket the correct and safe choice. The instructions here complement a detailed Safe Operating Procedure for deep fryer use.
• Clothing Fires: If a person's clothing catches fire, a fire blanket can be used to wrap them tightly and extinguish the flames quickly.
• Small Contained Fires (Class A): Effective for smothering small fires in items like a wastepaper bin or other contained objects.

It is equally important to know when not to use a fire blanket. This procedure is not suitable for large, uncontained, or rapidly spreading fires.

In these scenarios, the priority must always be to evacuate the area and contact emergency services immediately.

Who Needs This Safe Operating Procedure?

This Safe Operating Procedure is a vital resource for a range of personnel within any organisation that has fire blankets installed. Its users and audience include:

• WHS Managers and Supervisors: Responsible for implementing, training workers on, and ensuring compliance with all fire safety protocols.
• Workers: Especially those working in high-risk areas such as kitchens, laboratories, and workshops where hot work is performed. All employees should receive training on how to recognise a suitable situation and use a fire blanket safely.
• Emergency Wardens and First Aid Officers: As a key document supporting their roles in managing workplace incidents and emergencies.

The effectiveness of this SOP should be regularly verified through practical drills and included as a checklist item in regular WHS compliance audits. For more procedural documents to support your safety system, you can browse our entire free WHS resources library.