Proper Fire Extinguisher Use Can Halt Fire Damage in Hyde Park, IL
Sam Simon
January 20, 2016The proper installation, maintenance, and use of fire extinguishers can greatly protect your employees and eliminate the need for fire damage restoration in your Hyde Park, IL office, retail store, clinic, hotel, or other type of business facility.
To help keep your employees safe from fire, there are certain fire extinguisher requirements that you, as a business owner or manager, must closely follow, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Here’s a brief synopsis of those requirements:
- Provide standard approved fire extinguishers. The first requirement you must comply with is to provide fire extinguishers that meet the guidelines administered by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). To verify the exact requirements for your business, you should consult with the local building inspector and the fire marshal.
- Location of fire extinguishers. You or one of your team members must install code-ready fire extinguishers within 50 feet of all employees. Following this requirement puts your business in compliance with the OSHA fire extinguisher placement requirements for businesses.
- Fire extinguisher training. In addition to the top two requirements, you must train your employees in the safe operation of the extinguishers. One good way to do this is to teach them to remember the word PASS.
- PULL the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and then release the locking mechanism.
- AIM low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- SQUEEZE the lever slowly and evenly while standing approximately 8 feet away from the fire.
- SWEEP the nozzle from side to side at the base of the fire and slowly move forward to extinguish the remaining flames.
- Annual inspections and Maintenance. An annual inspection of the extinguishers is required and must be documented. You and your business are responsible for the maintenance and testing of all portable fire extinguishers in the workplace.
If you find yourself in need of expert
fire damage restoration
in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood,
call
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons right away at 773-376-1110. No matter what type of business you’re in, we’ll put our highly skilled technicians to work immediately at restoring your facility to its pre-loss condition.
Sam Simon
Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.
He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.
Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.
In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.
Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career under the name Sam Zabadneh, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
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Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.
Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:
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