Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

Which fire extinguisher is most commonly used in general situations?

1. Only fire extinguishers containing pressurized water

2. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers only

3. Fire extinguisher ABC

4. Extinguisher C only

The correct answer is: Fire extinguisher ABC

The choice of fire extinguisher labeled as ABC is the most commonly used in general situations because it is classified to handle multiple types of fires, making it versatile for various environments. Specifically, an ABC fire extinguisher is effective against: 1. **Class A fires** - which involve ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, and textiles. 2. **Class B fires** - which involve flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and grease. 3. **Class C fires** - which involve energized electrical equipment. This broad range of classifications allows the ABC extinguisher to be suitable for use in many locations, such as homes, offices, and industrial settings, where different types of fires might occur. The adaptability of ABC extinguishers to address the most common fire hazards contributes to their prevalence and importance in fire safety. The options specifying only pressurized water or carbon dioxide are limited to specific fire types and do not cover as wide a range of fire risks as the ABC extinguisher. Similarly, the option referring to Extinguisher C alone would apply only to electrical fires, which is narrower in scope compared to the comprehensive coverage provided by the ABC extinguisher. This makes choice C the most effective and practical option for general