Page 267 - Computer - 10(A&B)

Fire Hazards in the Workplace

Fire hazards in the workplace pose significant risks to employee safety and property. Some common fire hazards
found in workplaces are:

v Overloaded Circuits: Excessive use of electrical outlets can lead to overheating and fires.
v Faulty Equipment: Defective or outdated electrical equipment can pose fire risks.
v Combustible Liquids: Chemicals, paints, solvents, and cleaning agents can catch fire, if not stored properly.
v Oily Rags: Rags soaked in oils or chemicals can spontaneously combust, if improperly disposed of or stored.
v Faulty HVAC Systems: Malfunctioning heating, ventilation, or air conditioning systems can overheat and
ignite combustibles.

Fire Prevention

v Workplace should always come up with a fire emergency plan to make sure everyone knows and understand
it.
v Practice fire drills once a month.

v A good ventilator should be installed as it helps to reduce the toxins in the air, and thus eliminate highly
flammable vapours.

v Fire extinguishers must always be available at the workplace.
v In case of fire, first find out the cause of the fire.
v Never splash oil, grease, or water on the fire.
v Always use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire.
v If you found any defect in electrical, fire prevention or material handling equipment, report it to your
supervisor.
v No flammable material should be placed around exit doors.
v Make sure all equipment is grounded properly to avoid accidents.

Identification of Material and Ignition Sources

Materials are categorized by their risk level and organized based on these fire classifications:
v Class A Materials: This category includes items like wood, cloth, and paper. These materials do not catch
fire on their own but will continue to burn once they come into contact with a heat source.
v Class B Material: This category comprises liquids, greases, and gas materials that can ignite when exposed
to an ignition source, such as a flame or spark.
v Class C Material: This category comprises electrical materials and equipment that can lead to rapid fire
escalation and pose a significant risk of electrical fires, including arc flash.
v Class D Material: This category comprises highly volatile materials that can ignite quickly, including
magnesium, potassium, and sodium. These materials require special handling due to their volatile nature.

All the flammable materials that can cause a fire or explosion through an object by producing heat, sparks or
flames are considered as ignition sources.Some examples of ignition sources at the workplace are:

v Open Flames: This includes welding torches, propane tanks, candles, and matches that can ignite flammable
materials.
v Heating Devices: Space heaters, radiators, and other heating devices can become ignition sources, especially
if placed near combustible materials.
v Smoking Materials: Cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that are improperly disposed of or used near flammable
materials can easily ignite a fire.

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