Page 36 - OHS, April/May 2025

F I R E S A F E T Y
A Hybrid Approach: Fire Training That Works
How combining hands-on experience with tech-enhanced methods improves fi re
response readiness.
BY DAVID KOPF
classroom lectures and compliance
Eff ective fi re training goes beyond
checklists. To prepare workers for
emergencies—whether it’s a Class A
blaze involving paper and wood, or a Class B
fi re fed by fl ammable liquids—safety profes-
sionals must off er practical, scenario-based
instruction. Th at’s where a hybrid approach,
combining traditional hands-on training
with the latest technological tools, can help
employees retain critical fi re response skills
and boost workplace preparedness.
Th ese were some of the insights shared
during the March 11 webinar, “Mastering
Fire Safety: Class A and B Fire Training,”
hosted by Occupational Health & Safety
Magazine. Th e talk featured veteran fi re-
fi ghter and technical rescue expert Kevin
Shea, and Matt Gardner, Director of Mar-
keting at LION Group Inc., who shared ef-
fective training strategies. You can watch the
full webinar at ohsonline.com/webinar.
The Power of Hands-on Fire Training
When it comes to fi re response, theory has
its limits. “Th e best training is the training
people will actually do,” Gardner empha-
sized. Th at means replacing passive instruc-
tion with physically engaging exercises.
Hands-on training—whether live fi re
drills or extinguisher exercises—allows em-
ployees to build muscle memory. Th is is espe-
cially important for high-pressure incidents
where panic can override logic. By practic-
ing fi re extinguisher use, evaluating escape
routes, and responding to alarms in real time,
workers become more confi dent and capable.
Shea, a retired FDNY fi refi ghter, ex-
plained that the eff ectiveness of hands-on
training comes down to its realism. “People
don’t rise to the occasion; they fall to their lev-
el of training,” he underscored. Shea said that
in his experience, both in municipal fi refi ght-
ing and industrial settings, confi dence under
pressure is forged in drills that replicate the
stress and constraints of real emergencies.
Live fi re training still has a role to play,
particularly for fi re brigades or facilities
with signifi cant Class B hazards such as
petrochemicals or LP gas storage. But as
Sitthikorn/stock.adobe.com
Gardner noted, these scenarios require
more logistics and risk management.
“Live fi re is valuable, but it’s the most
diffi cult to achieve—it requires safety mea-
sures, weather coordination, and oft en
creates a mess,” he said. “It’s also the least
inclusive. Some people are afraid to partici-
pate in that kind of training.”
Th at’s why many companies are leaning
into hybrid methods—starting with digital
or simulated training before progressing to
full-scale fi re exercises.
Building Confi dence Through
Technology
As training needs have evolved, so too have
the tools. Safety technology providers now
off er a suite of tech-enhanced training aids,
including digital fi re simulators and virtual
reality (VR) headsets. Th ese resources al-
low safety managers to run realistic drills
in low-risk, controlled environments.
“Products like our Bullseye simulator
let you practice right next to the equip-
ment that could cause a fi re—like a plas-
tic extruder or a kitchen range—without
needing to go outside or deal with a mess,”
Gardner explained. “And you can do it
again and again. Th at repetition builds
muscle memory.”
Virtual reality tools add another layer of
realism. Using VR systems, employees can
enter a fully immersive environment where
they must assess the fi re type, choose the
right extinguisher, and react accordingly.
“In VR, you can teach lessons you’d
never be able to safely replicate in real
life,” Gardner explained. “For example, in
a kitchen fi re scenario, the extinguisher
doesn’t work until you turn off the gas
source. Th at kind of interactivity leaves a
lasting impression.”
Plus, because the VR experience can be
projected on a screen, safety teams can use
it as a collaborative learning tool. “Every-
one in the room watches and learns from
the scenario—even if only one person is
wearing the headset,” he added.
According to Shea, the technology isn’t
just eff ective—it’s essential for today’s com-
plex fi re risks. However, it also has to refl ect
real-world scenarios.
“Some facilities have electrical hazards,
others store lithium-ion batteries, some are
in confi ned spaces like manholes or water
tanks. Th ere’s no one-size-fi ts-all solution,”
he said. “But no matter the environment,
training must refl ect real hazards.”
Tailoring Training to the Facility
One major takeaway from the webinar was
the importance of understanding your fa-
34 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL/MAY 2025 www.ohsonline.com