Taxi Driver Online

Every since I've been driving a taxi (since the old King died) I've had a fire extinguisher in the drivers compartment.
At overhauls the CO would shake it (as if it was a cocktail mixer),or the more experienced would tap it with his pen (to get the right ting) to check it was working.
I have never used an extinguisher and have never been told or shown how to fight a blaze.

With the advent of the TX4 fires,the extinguisher has prove irrelevant,indeed the PCO issued a notice http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/ ... s-tx4s.pdf
telling drivers to
''• stop the cab quickly and safely;
• immediately remove him/herself and any passengers from the vicinity of the cab; and
• call the fire brigade.
Drivers should not open the bonnet.''

Note we are not told to use the extinguisher.

Given that most materials are fire retardant and the TX4 will have a fire suppressant system installed,do we still need an extinguisher?

_________________
Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html

Yes. It is in the conditions so therfore you need one. Is it relevent to the safety of passengers? I doubt it. The same can be said for the first aid kit. Unless you are a trained first aider you cant use anything in the kit to treat a passenger. When challenged on this point, our licensing officer said that in the event of an accident, there may be someone present that is trained in first aid and they could use your kit.
Also with fire extinguishers, how many councils have an age restriction on them? I know in Nottingham they have to be replaced after 5 years even if they have not been used.

_________________
Grandad,

I keep mine in the door pocket of the drivers door.
it will make a really good club if I get attacked, and I have to have it there by law.

our regs require an item with a guage, no tapping required.

in a fire id be phoning 999 from 100 yds down the road

Why wait 2 minutes before phoning. Well thats how long 100 yds takes me.

_________________
Grandad,

let it burn and you get a new motor . if they put it out it takes 4-5 months to get it repaired

I'm no fireman so I won't be using mine

My LA require 2 fire extinguishers (because it's a people carrier ) + first aid kit. Extinguisher must be within expiry date or have a pressure guage with the needle still in the green bit.

_________________

http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I think you'll find you must carry a first aid kit due to the Health and Safety at work act.....its possibly likewise with the fire extinguisher.

Application of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 to self-employed workers

If you are self-employed, you are required to ensure you have adequate equipment to provide first aid to yourself while at work.

You must make an assessment of the hazards and risks in your workplace and establish an appropriate level of first aid provision. What this means in practice is that if you work in a low hazard activity, eg clerical work at home, a normal domestic first aid box would be adequate. If your work involves driving long distances or you are continuously on the road, the assessment may identify the need to keep a personal first aid kit in your vehicle.

Many self-employed people work on mixed premises with other self-employed or with employed workers. Although you are legally responsible for your own first aid provision, it is sensible to make joint arrangements with the other occupiers and self-employed on the premises. This would generally mean that one employer would take responsibility for first aid cover for all workers on the premises. HSE recommends there is a written agreement for any such arrangement.


CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It's all a load of rubbish.

What value is there in drivers trying to put out a fire with a soppy little extinguisher that will last seconds?

Once a fire has started under the bonnet the car is a right off, concentrate on getting yourself and your punters out safely, and let the bloody thing burn.

_________________
IDFIMH

As I pointed out to our LA when asked where my fire extinquisher was and also where my spare wheel was "I don't know, do I look like I might use them in any event. I've joined the AA to change my tyres and the fire dept are more able to put out any fires in my vehicle so I don't need to know where they are, but if you look they will be there as required in our regulations" on the same ocassion the LA bloke said he nearly lost his fingers in the tread on tyres they were so deep and I pointed out that the vehicle was all of one week old and they don't put cra**y tyres on new vehicles but had he checked my plate at the back he would have known that. It is all in good humour but sometimes they say the stupidest things

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

a driver took a BMW 5 series to the Council for plating

as the vehicle uses run flat tyres, he was asked to produce his spare, they was told there is no spare wheel that comes with the vehicle, [cos its got run flats fitted]

they wernt having that, so he had to go out and buy a spare wheel

whilst the vehicle was being inspected on the ramp, the council fitters said to the driver after noticing a BMW safety sign underneath, " no vehicle jacking except at manufactors jacking points", to which the council fitter asked "have you stuck this sign underneath this vehicle"