1. CHAPTER 3
FIRE SAFETY
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2. INTRODUCTION
Incidence of fire may occur in workplaces where there are:
a) Ongoing work processes such as welding, cutting, spray painting
and grinding works.
b) Confined spaces where there are flammable chemicals or oxygen
content of over 23.5 %
c) Faulty equipment
d) Storage areas/ warehouse where there are flammable materials
or where the process of oxidising occurs.
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3. Causes of
FIRE
a) Short circuit
b) Equipment failure such as valves and safety devices
c) Welding activities, cutting of metals, grinding works
d) Overflow/ leakages of flammable liquid or gases
e) Overheating
f) Contact with hot surfaces
g) Leakage or failure of pipes
h) Human factor such as intentional burning.
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4. Factors contribute to
the incident of
FIRE
a) System failure such as fire sprinkler, smoke detector
b) Insufficient water supply for the spraying system
c) No spraying system
d) Operator/ human error
e) Existence of flammable materials
f) Breakage/ explosion of containers containing flammable
materials
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5. Basic of
FIRE
Fire can be defined as:
“ A chemical reaction that occurs when a flammable material and
oxygen comes into contact with a heat source or ignition”
What the means????
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6. FIRE
Triangle
Heat
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7. Oxygen
• Fire requires oxygen in its initiation, occurrence and
continuation
• Source of oxygen is the air- Combination of 78 %
Nitrogen, 21 % Oxygen and1% other gasses such as
carbon dioxide and argon.
• Also come from various chemicals that may encourage fire
• These chemicals called agents of oxidisation . Eg
hydrogen peroxide.
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8. Heat :
•Usually known as the source of ignition.
• Form of energy that upon contact with oxygen and flammable
will start a fire.
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9. Burning process
•The occurrence of fire releases a form of energy that provides
the source of energy for it to continue burning and release heat.
•Vapour or gas may ignite due to sparks or small flames while
solid and liquids require 2-5 % more heat and oxygen.
•To reach the self ignition temperature that may cause fire, a
flammable material requires only a small flame.
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10. CLASSES
OF FIRE
Fire Class Material Type Example Agent
A Normal flammable Wood, paper, Water, dry
fabric, plastic chemical, foam
B Flammable liquid and Gasoline, oil, CO2, foam, dry
gas grease, LPG chemical, halon
C Working electrical item Electric motor CO2, dry chemical,
halon
D Metal flammable Magnesium, Dry chemical
sodium, pottasium powder
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11. FIRE HAZARD
CONTROLS
Fire hazard may be controlled by:
a) Fire prevention
i) Avoiding surge of flammables into the atmosphere
ii) Releasing of heat
iii) Controlling of heat sources ( Fire triangle )
b) Fire protection
i) Releasing of heat
ii) Enclosing or stopping supply of flammable
iii) Enclosing or stopping supply of oxygen
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12. Employer has to first formulate a safety plan as follow:
a) Hazard identification through:
i) HAZOP – Hazards and Operability studies
ii) Hazard checklist
iii) Fire and explosion index
iv) Chemical exposure index
b) Safety plan such as:
Selection of safe technology: Safe materials, equipments,
machineries, and processes includes user- friendly workplace,
environmentally safe technology and safe storage system
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13. c) Safety prevention system
i) Prevention of initial incident: detection and monitoring system,
safe handling procedure and engineering controls.
ii) Stop/ control the source of hazard a soon as the incident
happens: Extinguishing of fire, reducing supply of flammable,
dilution, emulsion, reducing oxygen content, disrupting the burning
process and reactions.
d) Safety protection system: Provides protection during fire
occurrence by stopping spread of fire.
i) Fire wall/ barrier to air flow
ii) Fire resistance isolator- isolate fire
iii) Trap fire to prevent explosion
iv) Layout of tank and equipments
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14. e) Emergency response plan
i) Hazard identification and risk assessment
ii) Control method
iii) Communication – Incident Command System ( ICS )
iv) Announce and update emergency
v) Cooperation of external parties
vi) Public relations
f) Medical treatment
i) Medical surveillance and treatment system includig
- Sending victims to medical center if exposed to :
• Toxic materials from fire
• Heat
ii) Ensure procedures for:
- Transportation of victims
- Appointment of officer in charge
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15. Safe Storage
Fire wall
Storage tank
Hump
Slope to hole
Fire hole
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16. Safe Storage
Storage tank
Hump Hump
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17. SAFETY PLAN
Selection of Safe Technology
Characteristic User-friendly
Substitution of CHEMICALS Avoid fire
Weakening of HAZARDOUS De-fridgerate atmospheric
CHEMICALS temperature
Dilution
Design of EQUIPMENT Reaction may be handled and
control Strong and suitable
Plant LAYOUT Break spread of fire and
isolate between equipments.
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18. SAFETY PLAN
Administrative and
Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls Engineering Controls
On the job training programme Better equipment
Instruction and written procedures Improved layout to minimised work hazard
Signages Location of valve, switch and instruments
Labelling of equipment Design of equipment – user friendly
Suitability of person to job Better manual handling method
Testing Decentralised computer control
Classroom teaching Design of equipment- able to prevent/ control mistake
Warning Online analysis
Incentive and punishment Online parameter assessment
Persuasion method to promote safe work
Practices
Inspection
Review 18

19. The end
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