Page 80 - Driving Commercial Vehicles Manual

driving commercial vehicles

• Ensure all your vehicle’s brakes, including the parking brake, are fully
released when your vehicle is moving. Dragging brakes generate heat
which can ignite grease in the hubs when the vehicle stops. Check your
hubs and brake drums often for overheating.
It’s always a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in your vehicle. Some
commercial vehicles are required to carry firefighting equipment.

Firefighting
Fighting a fire requires quick thinking and fast action. If your vehicle carries
fast fact firefighting equipment, check it daily. Make sure you know how to use any fire
extinguishers you carry and what types of fires they can extinguish. Learn any
You must be properly fire hazards associated with your vehicle or with the loads you carry.
trained before you carry any
dangerous goods. To reduce the risk at a fire, follow these general guidelines:
• Don’t risk your own life. Fuel fires can spread quickly or explode.
• Tell the first spectator to call the fire department. Warn others if there is any
danger of an explosion, or exposure to toxic substances. Tell them to keep
at a safe distance.
Assess the situation and decide whether it’s safe to take any further action:
• If a fire is on a combination unit, disconnect the tractor from the trailer and
separate the units. Do this only if it doesn’t put you in danger.
• Fight fires with the wind at your back if possible. This reduces the chances
of being asphyxiated.
• If the fire is in the electrical system, disconnect the battery cables. When a
vehicle is in a crash, shutting off switches and disconnecting battery cables
can prevent fuel fires.
• If a fire starts under the hood, direct the extinguisher from underneath the
vehicle or through the radiator. Don’t open the hood to fight the fire.
• Use your extinguisher to put out the flames, but try to keep some
extinguishing fuel in reserve in case of flare-ups.
• Don’t use water on gasoline or oil fires. Water will spread these fires. Use an
appropriate extinguisher, sand or dirt to smother them.

Fire extinguishers
There are two main categories of fire extinguishers: multi-purpose dry
chemical extinguishers and carbon dioxide (CO ) extinguishers. The multi-
2
purpose dry chemical extinguishers are easier and safer to use, but the CO
2
extinguishers are more effective.
Multi-purpose dry chemical extinguishers are available in two classes. If its
cylinder is marked BC, it can be used to put out grease, oil, gasoline and
electrical fires. If its cylinder is marked ABC, it will also put out Class A fires
such as paper, cloth, etc.
CO extinguishers are extremely effective but should never be used in an
2
enclosed space. You could smother yourself if you use these in a confined
space. You could also blister your skin.

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