HOW TO  ​

Safety Begins Here

Basic safety on Fire Fighting 
Purpose of identifying the nature of a fire
Fire related deaths can be reduced by understanding the basic facts about fire – the nature of fire. Below are some facts that explain the particular nature / characteristics of fire[1]:
  • Fire is fast. There is little time.  In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a room. In minutes, a building can be engulfed in flames. You won't have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.
  • Fire is hot. Heat is more threatening than flames.  A fire's heat alone can kill. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees Celsius at floor level and rise to 600 degrees Celsius at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin. In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once: this is called flashover.
  • Fire is dark. Fire isn't bright, it is pitch black.  Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. You may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around even in your own home you have lived in for years.
  • Fire is deadly. Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do.  Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape. CO (Carbon Monoxide) is often referred to as the silent killer it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating, toxic gas.
 Identify the context of fireThe context of the fire would include:
  • Where the fire is
  • The adjacent hazards
  • Structural materials
Workplace fire hazards would include:
  • Overloaded electrical outlets and extension cords
  • Misuse of space heaters
  • Mishandling of flammables
  • Improper storage of combustibles
  • Unsupervised cooking
  • Improper disposal of smoking materials on grounds
 
Let’s explore some specific hazards that could cause fires, such as:
  • Electrical hazards
  • Damaged wiring.
  • Damaged plugs.
  • Damp or wet wires.
  • Overloaded motors.
  • Broken switches, outlets, or sockets.
  • Problems with lighting fixtures.
  • Faulty heating elements.
  • Overloaded circuits.
  • Liquids near computers.
  • Computers without surge protectors.
 
  • Housekeeping hazards
  • Piles of scrap, waste materials, and trash.
  • Sawdust, metal or plastic powder that can form an explosive mixture with air.
  • Obstructed aisles.
  • Blocked emergency exits.
  • Material covering up fire extinguishers, exit signs, and alarms.
  • Blocked sprinkler heads. 
  • Friction hazards
  • Hot bearings.
  • Misaligned or broken machine parts.
  • Choking or jamming materials.
  • Poor adjustment of moving parts.
  • Inadequate lubrication. 
  • Process or operation-related hazards
  • Cutting and welding operations, which use open flames and produce sparks.
  • Molten metal, which can ignite combustibles or fall into cracks and start a fire that might not erupt after the work is done.
  • Processes that heat materials to high temperatures.
  • Drying operations where materials in dryers can overheat.
  • Grinding operations that produce sparks and dust.
  • Processes in which flammable vapours are released. 
  • Storage hazards
  • Material stacked too high blocking sprinkler heads (need 18-inches clearance from head).
  • Flammable or combustible material stored too close to heat sources.
  • Flammable materials not stored in special containers and cabinets. Inadequate ventilation in storage areas.
  • Material that might react with one another stored together.
  • Material stored in damaged containers.
  • Material stored in unlabeled containers.
  • Containers not tightly sealed. 
  • Smoking hazards
  • Ignoring "No Smoking" signs.
  • Smoking around flammable or combustible materials.
  • Throwing matches and cigarettes or cigars on tables or workbenches.
  • Tossing butts on the floor or grass without properly extinguishing them in an ashtray or ash can.
  • Tossing lighted butts or matches out windows or doors.
  • Smoking in bed.
  • Leaving a cigarette/cigar unattended.
Smoking in areas where there is an accumulation of sawdust, plastic or metal powders that may become explosive