[losthelm]

1. Cup of water is fairly standard though often for cooling tools.

4.Poking beads with tools in the flame depends entirely on the metal.
Brass has a fairly low melting point and will off gas. You only make the mistake once with a brass poke or knife working boro.

3. fire extinguisher should be standard water is useless against anything but solid fuels like paper or wood. Its standard equipment from a safety officer perspective.

2. As for distance they will likly be happy with a sheet of plexyglass, polycarb, or glass shield to avoid flying bits. Ask and if its acceptable go that route.

I suspect they are using some sort of checklist Or are coming from a different field offering their opinion.

Your looking at another $40 for equipment to fix these concerns.
$20 for a fire extinguisher and 20 for some plastic and wood to build the shield.
I have used a shield in the past in an L shape and just clamp to the bench.