SAFETY WORK: FIRE SAFETY

Watch this video to have a short brief regarding safety work: fire safety before we learn much more about K3/OSHA on this specific topic ↴

• FIRE PROTECTION

Fire is a chemical reaction that requires three elements to be present for the
reaction to take place and continue. The three elements are:

→ Heat, or an ignition source

→ Fuel

→ Oxygen

These three elements typically are referred to as the fire triangle. Fire is the
result of the reaction between the fuel and oxygen in the air. Scientists
developed the concept of a fire triangle to aid in understanding of the cause
of fires and how they can be prevented and extinguished. Heat, fuel and
oxygen must combine in a precise way for a fire to start and continue to
burn. If one element of the fire triangle is not present or removed, fire will not
start or, if already burning, will extinguish.
Ignition sources can include any material, equipment or operation that emits
a spark or flame including obvious items, such as torches, as well as less obvious items, such as static electricity and grinding operations. Equipment or components that radiate heat, such as kettles, catalytic converters and mufflers, also can be ignition sources. Fuel sources include combustible materials, such as wood, paper, trash and clothing; flammable liquids, such as gasoline or solvents; and flammable gases, such as propane or natural gas. Oxygen in the fire triangle comes from the air in the atmosphere. Air contains approximately 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. OSHA describes a hazardous atmosphere as one which is oxygen-deficient because it has less than 19.5% oxygen, or oxygen enriched because it has greater than 23.5% oxygen. Either instance is regarded by OSHA as an atmosphere immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) for reasons unrelated to the presence of fire. Depending on the type of fuel involved, fires can occur with much lower volume of oxygen present than needed to support human respiration. Every roofing project has all three of the fire triangle elements present in abundance. The key to preventing fires is to keep heat and ignition sources away from materials, equipment and structures that could act as fuel to complete the fire triangle.

• LAWS AND REGULATIONS

→ UU No. 1 Tahun 1970 Pasal 2 ayat (2)

(a) Made, tried, worn or used by any dangerous machinery, aircraft, appliances, tools, equipment or installations or may result in an accident, fire or explosion

(b) Manufactured, processed, used, traded, transported or stored explosive, flammable, toxic, infectious, infectious

→ UU No. 1 Tahun 1970 Pasal 3 ayat (1)

(b) Prevent, reduce and extinguish fires

(c) Prevent and reduce the damage cause by explosion

(d) Provide an opportunity or a way of escape in times of fire or other dangerous events

(g) Prevent and control the emerge or spread of temperature, smoke, steam and gas

→ UU No. 1 Tahun 1970 Pasal 9 ayat (3)

The manager is required to provide guidance for all workers under his leadership, in the prevention of accidents and fire prevention and improvement of occupational safety and health, as well as in the provision of first aid in accidents.


➝ KEPMENAKER No Kep 186/Men/1999 Pasal 2 ayat (1)

The manager or employer is obliged to prevent, reduce and extinguish fires, fire-fighting training at the workplace.

➝ KEPMENAKER No Kep 186/Men/1999 Pasal 2 ayat (2)

(a) Controlling every form of energy
(b) Provision of detection, alarm, fire extinguisher and evacuation facilities
(c) Controlling the spread of smoke, heat and gas

(d) Formation of fire fighting units in the workplace.
(e) Exercise and training of fire fighting regularly

• TECHNICAL RULES AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS OF FIGHTING FIRE

➤ Controlling energy

- PERMENAKER 02/89, Lightning Protection

- KEP. MENAKER KEP. 187/1999, Chemical Hazards

- PER. KHUSUS “EE”, Combustible Substances

- PER. KHUSUS “K”, Explosive Substances

➤ Fire protection for facilities

- PERMENAKER 04/80, APAR or Fire Extinguisher

- PERMENAKER 02/83, Fire Alarm

- INSTRUCTIONS OF MENAKER 11/1997
Regarding on the special control for K3
Fire Fighting:
1. Fire Rating Guidelines
2. Springkler Guidelines
3. Indonesian Building Standards

➤ Management of K3
- PERMENAKER 04/87, P2K3

- PERATURAN PEMERINTAH NO. 50/2012, SMK3

- KEP. MENAKER KEP. 186/MEN/1999 UNIT PENANGG. KEB. DI TEMPAT KERJA

• SCOPE/ENVIRONMENT

↷ Planning, manufacture, installation or assembly, use or operation, and maintenance of fire protection facilities

↷ Personnel responsible for K3 fire prevention

• FIRE CLASSIFICATIONS

Fires are classified as A, B, C, D or K based on the type of substance that is the fuel for the fire, as follows: Class A—fires involving ordinary combustibles, such as paper, trash, some plastics, wood and cloth. A rule of thumb is if it leaves an ash behind, it is a Class A fire. Class B—fires involving flammable gases or liquids, such as propane, oil and gasoline Class C—fires involving energized electrical components Class D—fires involving metal. A rule of thumb is if the name of the metal ends with the letters “um,” it is a Class D fire. Examples of this are aluminum, magnesium, beryllium and sodium. Class D fires rarely occur in the roofing industry. Class K—fires involving vegetable or animal cooking oils or fats; common in commercial cooking operations using deep fat fryers.

• FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

There are different types of fire extinguishers designed to put out the different classes of fire. Selecting the appropriate fire extinguisher is an important consideration for a roofing contractor. The wrong extinguisher actually may make a fire emergency worse. The following table illustrates the types of extinguishers, fire classes for which each is used and the limitations of each extinguisher.

Roofing contractors typically purchase dry-chemical fire extinguishers because they can extinguish three fire classes (A, B and C). Extinguishers also must be inspected on a regular basis and maintained fully charged.

• USING FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

When using fire extinguishers, employees should employ the “PASS” system of early-stage firefighting.
P—Pull the pin on the extinguisher
A—Aim at the base of the fire
S—Squeeze the handle
S—-Sweep at the fire, moving from side to side

Employees should be instructed that if a fire cannot be extinguished using one full extinguisher, they should evacuate the site and let the fire department handle the situation.

• FIRE PREVENTION

Fire prevention requires segregating the three elements of the fire triangle. In practice, a method to achieve that goal is to post—and enforce—nosmoking signs around flammable liquids and gases and have fire watches on all work involving torch-applied materials of a minimum of two hours after the last torch is turned off.

1. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Proper storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids will help prevent fires from occurring; only approved, closed containers for storage of flammable or combustible liquids may be used under OSHA rules. Such containers include safety cans or containers approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. A safety can is a container that has a selfclosing lid, internal-pressure relief and flame arrestor with a capacity of not more than 5 gallons. Inexpensive, plastic cans without those features previously mentioned, such as those typically bought at hardware stores or gas stations, are not approved for use in roofing operations. However, manufacturers do sell plastic containers that meet the OSHA requirements for safety cans. Flammable liquids that are extremely viscous, or difficult to pour, like singleply adhesive, can be left in their original shipping containers. Similarly, OSHA allows the use of original containers of flammable liquids that are in quantities of one gallon or less. Static electricity may be generated when transferring liquids, gases or solids through pipes or hoses. It is important to dissipate this electric charge when handling flammable and combustible materials. When transferring flammable or combustible liquids from one container to another, the two containers must be “bonded” together. The bonding process involves attaching a wire with alligator clips on each end to both containers. The clips must penetrate the container coating and touch metal. You may need to score the paint with the alligator clips. To dissipate static, the container receiving the liquid must be in contact with the ground and not insulated from contact with the ground. For example, plastic or composite pickup truck bed liners prevent the flow of static electricity to ground because the liner does not conduct electricity. The receptacle container must have a clear path to ground, by direct contact or use of a grounding strap or wire, to effectively eliminate static. Service or fueling areas at job sites must have a 20BC-rated fire extinguisher within 75 feet of each pump. Safety cabinets allow for greater quantities of flammable and combustible liquids to be stored safely inside buildings. Up to 60 gallons of a flammable liquid or as much as 120 gallons of a combustible liquid may be stored indoors in a safety cabinet. Each cabinet must be labeled “Flammable— Keep Fire Away.” Up to three cabinets may be stored in one room. Without a safety cabinet, only 25 gallons of either flammable or combustible liquids are allowed to be stored inside a building.

2. Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas) is used widely in the roofing industry to heat kettles and torches. Because LP gas is a compressed gas, fairly large quantities can be stored in relatively small containers. As a point of reference, LP gas expands at a ratio of 270-to-1. This means that one liquid drop of LP gas would expand to a gas state 270 times greater in volume. LP gas collects in low-lying areas because its vapor density is heavier than air. Employees should be warned that if they suspect a leak in a cylinder, they must not use fire to attempt to find the hole. Instead, they are to use soapy water and look for bubbles. Employees should not attempt to extinguish fires involving LP gas. If an LP gas fire breaks out, employees should evacuate the area immediately and call the fire department. Fighting an LP gas fire requires specialized training that only the fire department can provide. Employee attempts to extinguish the fire could create larger hazards.

3. Torch-applied Roofing Materials
Torch-applied roofing materials pose a serious fire hazard to roofing contractors and building owners. Sometimes the hazards are obvious―such as torching to a combustible deck or near flammable liquids, while other concerns are less obvious―such as torching around drains or penetrations where flames can be drawn into a building. Roofing contractors must instruct employees that they must:
→ Never torch directly to combustible decks or materials
→ Never torch to areas that cannot be seen fully
→ Not use torches near vents or air intakes
→ Never use a torch to heat a propane tank that begins to frost on the outside
→ Have appropriate fire extinguishers within easy reach at all times
Whenever working with torch-applied roofing materials, fire-watch inspections must be conducted for at least two hours after the work has been completed and the last torch has been turned off. More information on torch safety can be found in NRCA/MRCA Certified Roofing Torch Applicator Program at NRCA’s Web site, www.nrca.net.

4. Fire Alarm Devices
OSHA requires an alarm system be established by an employer to alert workers on the job site and local fire departments of fire emergencies. Jobsite telephones and employee entrances must have alarm codes and reporting instructions at employee entrances. A roofing contractor’s emergency action plan for the job site must include:
→ Emergency escape procedures
→ Equipment operation procedures prior to evacuation
→ Procedures to account for all employees
→ Rescue and medical duties for those employees responsible for such duties
→ Preferred means of reporting emergencies
→ Names and titles of employees with duties under the plan

5. Employee Training
OSHA requires that all employees be trained to use fire extinguishers. Training is required upon employment and at least annually thereafter. It is recommended the training session cover how to determine when a fire is too big to handle; what type of extinguisher to use; and the PASS system of early-stage firefighting. It also is recommended that live fire training be conducted periodically (this level of training is not needed each year). Live training exposes employees to the pressure released from a fire extinguisher when the handle is squeezed and provides hands-on practice extinguishing a fire. Some local fire departments and most fire extinguisher suppliers offer this type of training. All company fire-prevention training sessions should be documented. If an outside organization conducts the training, it would be a good idea to obtain training certificates for the attendees.

• EVACUATION

Employers must prepare a written emergency action plan and procedures for reporting fires must be written into the plan. Emergency escape procedures and routes must be a part of the action plan. Post floor plans of these routes in all rooms and work areas of the business. Show main and alternate routes on these plans whenever possible and define them by different colors. Some requirements in the OSHA include minimum width of the exit routes, access to exits, occupant load egress capacity, design of exit doors and walking surfaces. Clear marking of exits, as well as doors that are not exits, is mandated. The size of exit signs and sources of illumination for them must conform to the standard. Nothing must be allowed to obscure the view of any signage or exit doors. Compliance with the exit route provisions makes you compliant with OSHA’s exit route requirements. OSHA requires an alarm system to alert employees to a fire emergency. Audible alarms must be distinctive and must be loud enough to be perceived above the ambient noise level in the workplace. If any employees have vision or hearing impairments, alarms must be designed to alert them. Otherwise a variety of alarms is acceptable. Test alarm systems every two months.

Teach each employee the action plan so that they know what actions they must take in each type of emergency. The written plan must contain the job titles of persons who can be contacted by the employee for further explanation of duties under the plan. Teach all employees the correct sequence of actions in a fire emergency. When a fire is discovered, the first thing to do is sound the alarm. The second action is to call the fire department or company fire brigade if there is time to do so. The employee should identify her/himself, the location and type of fire. The third thing to do, and only after completing the first two, is to try to fight a small fire. It must be emphasized that the employee should do this only if they have been trained in the use of the extinguisher and if the situation allows the following three conditions; the employee has their back to the exit route, another person is present to help out, and the room is not full of smoke.

In case of an emergency some employees may be required to perform shutdown of critical operations or systems prior to evacuating the premises. Include these duties in the written plan with the job titles of these people. If any employees are assigned rescue or medical duties, such duties must be in writing. Appoint fire wardens and train them to aid in evacuations. In multi- story buildings, assign a warden to each floor at a minimum. For businesses that schedule work by shifts, wardens have to be present on all shifts. Wardens and employees should be aware of and ready to assist any fellow employees who may be mobility impaired and might require assistance in an evacuation. The designated shutdown employees and wardens must be trained prior to implementation of the action plan.

Set up a safe area or refuge where all employees are to gather after the evacuation. It is important that the area be sufficiently far from the structure to be secure from possible further hazards that may occur after the evacuation and to allow emergency response personnel and vehicles free access. Develop a procedure to account for all persons who were in the structure prior to the evacuation. This should include any visitors, customers, delivery, or contractor personnel who might be on the premises. This accounting is normally an assignment for supervisors and/or fire wardens.

Schedule fire escape drills at the startup of business operations and at least twice a year thereafter. Drills are important for checking the effectiveness of the escape plan and improving it. Even more important, if duties and necessary actions are effectively conveyed to people, they will revert to their training in times of stress. This will combat panic. Panic is a major cause of injury and death in fire emergencies. As a key part of the training, make each employee simulate, in a safe manner, conditions of limited visibility on their route of egress. Some examples of this are to have employees memorize the number of footsteps and direction changes needed to reach safety or (for those who are able) practice moving to the exits in a position near the floor. For buildings where multiple businesses are located, all of the tenant companies should coordinate their evacuation plans and conduct joint drills.

• FIRE FIGHTING

Federal, state, and local codes may require portable fire extinguishers to be available in an enclosed workplace. Employers are required to provide, mount, and identify fire extinguishers so that they are readily available to employees. These extinguishers must be approved types and be selected on the basis of the types of fires that are expected to occur in the workplace. It is best to purchase multi-rated extinguishers for general protection. The most widely produced type of extinguisher is the dry chemical type rated for class A, B, and C fires.

Class A fires are those caused by burning of ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth or plastics.

Class B fires are those involving flammable or combustible liquids.

Class C fires are fires in energized electrical equipment.

Class D fires are those of combustible metals such as magnesium.

The initial evaluation of fire hazards will reveal the need for any specialized extinguishers. The employer is required to maintain the extinguishers in a state of readiness in their designated places at all times.

Extinguishers for class B fires must be located so that they are no more than 50 feet from the hazard area.

Those for class A and C fires can be no more than 75 feet of travel distance from any employee.

Do not mount extinguishers in any location that requires a portable device such as a ladder to access them. All extinguishers must be visually inspected on a monthly basis. They must undergo a maintenance inspection annually and records of the inspection dates must be retained for one year. Rechargeable dry chemical extinguishers must be emptied and examined internally every six years and hydrostatically tested every twelve years. Carbon dioxide and nitrogen extinguishers and pressure bottles must be hydrostatically tested every five years. When extinguishers are removed for maintenance, they must be replaced while maintenance is in progress. When an employer provides portable extinguishers for use by employees, training must be given in the use of the extinguishers and information provided on the hazards of fire fighting. Training in these hazards is of the utmost importance. Once again, give this training upon initial assignment of job duties and on an annual basis thereafter.

If a workplace only contains hazards for class A fires, the employer may choose to install a standpipe and hose system instead of portable fire extinguishers. The standpipes and hoses must be protected from damage so that they will be available in an emergency. Cabinets or hose covers must be used to protect the hoses from weather, dirt, and possible damage. Access to the hoses must be unobstructed. Inspect all hoses on an annual basis and discard them when they deteriorate. Hose is considered deteriorated when it can no longer carry water at the required flow rate and pressure.

Automatic fire control systems include sprinkler systems, dry chemical systems, systems that dispense gaseous agents and those that dispense foam or large amounts of water.

The sprinkler system must provide complete cover age for the areas in which it is installed. The employer must maintain the system properly and perform a main drain flow test every year. Every two years the inspector’s valve must be opened to assure the system operates correctly. Upon the completion of a new system, acceptance tests must be performed and documented. Water supply for the system must provide the designed flow for a minimum of 30 minutes. The employer may provide auxiliary hose connections to input more water for fire fighting use provided that the water source supplies the designed demand for the system. Protection for the system shall be provided against freezing and exterior corrosion. The sprinklers shall be protected against mechanical damage. The system must have the ability to be totally drained. A water flow alarm must be included on any system of more than 20 sprinkler heads. When materials are stored in sprinkler- protected areas, a minimum clearance of 18 inches must be left between the sprinklers and the mate rial below them.

Install a distinctive alarm to alert employees prior to the system discharging so that they may safely leave the area. Post hazard warnings at entrances to and inside areas where concentrations of the extinguishing agent may be hazardous to life and health. Provide safeguards to warn employees against entry into areas where the atmosphere remains hazardous after a discharge. Inspect the system annually. Check pressure and contents of refillable containers every six months. Non-refillable containers must be weighed every six months. All inspection and maintenance dates must be recorded on the containers. Maintenance and inspection personnel must be trained and annually reviewed on their training. In addition to the automatic release mechanism, one manual release must be included in the system. When systems are recharged after use, it must be with an identical agent to that previously used in the system. Systems using gaseous agents have a set of required times for extinguishing concentrations of the gases. All gases other than Halon must reach the extinguishing level within 30 seconds after start of the discharge.

Fire brigades are not required under OSHA standards. Employers must decide whether organizing and properly equipping a fire brigade is needed and is within the ability of the organization. If it is decided to create a fire brigade, create a written policy that outlines the organizational structure and size of the brigade, as well as the type and frequency of training it receives and its duties in the workplace. Make sure that the members of the brigade are physically capable of per forming the duties assigned to them. Conduct training at least annually. Content of the training must be equivalent to that conducted by recognized fire training schools in the various states. A large part of the standard is concerned with approved protective clothing and equipment for brigade members who are required to perform fire fighting inside structures.

• STUDY CASE

This is a case study on an actual fire accident that happened in July 2008, in a small office premise in Chennai.
 The fire occurred at about 10:30 PM. The duty staff comprised only two security guards and a security supervisor. This was in view of the cost reduction drive. It is doubtful whether a larger duty staff would have helped in this case.

The building consisted of:
A basement housing some meeting rooms, storage spaces, the utility controls and the security control room with fire panel, CCTV etc.
A raised ground floor with offices, customer service counter and kiosks.
First floor with offices, meeting rooms and server room.
The fire was attributed to a short-circuit in the Fan Coil Unit (FCU) of a split air-conditioning unit located within a kiosk in the front end of the building.

The FCU was mounted on to the partition wall made of commercial marine plywood.  The fire from the FCU spread onto the wooden partitions, that accelerated the burning and helped in spreading the fire further. Kiosk wall and equipment after the fire. The other views of the worst affected areas in the vicinity of the fire indicates the intensity of the heat generated. 
The actual burning down of the most affected area took less than 15 minutes. The local fire brigade reached the scene within 12 minutes of the fire alert and started the fire-fighting. The fire then spread above the false  ceiling, through cable trays and the ventilation ducts. Some of the damages above the false ceiling and soot stains near ventilation louvers are shown in the images given below. The customer service areas were totally devastated by the fire and could not be used till they were re-built. The other areas were also affected due to smoke stains, water logging, doubt on integrity of the electrical circuits, no data connectivity etc. The interiors were rebuilt in 12 weeks time and put back in use. The ground floor cabling was completely renewed, all the ducts were internally cleaned, and all the affected furniture replaced. In the other areas, everything was inspected for damage and only essential items were replaced or repaired.

Fires can happen from very minor faults and cause much damage to assets and property. We need to take precaution against the occurrence of fire rather than regretting later. Proper inspection and maintenance of all electrical installations, cleaning of electrical contacts, premises cleanliness, pest control (particularly rodent control), and a disciplined work force will all go a long way in avoiding fire accidents.