Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) - Fire Hazards

Fire Hazard

• In 2022, UAE Civil defence teams responded to over 3,000 incidents, including 2,169 building fires, with the majority occurring in residential areas.
• UAE Legislation on Fire Safety includes the Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice 2018, also known as the "Civil Defense Fire Code", which governs life safety and fire safety requirements.
• Fire is a chemical reaction that combines substances with oxygen, typically producing light, heat, and smoke.
• Fire Triangle: three prerequisites for a fire to occur - Fuel, Oxygen, and Heat.
• Fire stages: not specified in the text.
• Causes of Fire:
  • Electrical problems (e.g. overloading electrical circuits, damaged or frayed wiring, misuse of extension cords and power strips, outdated electrical systems)
  • Smoking (improper use and disposal of smoking materials)
  • Human error (e.g. unattended cooking or heating appliances, improper storage of flammable materials, inadequate training on fire safety procedures)
  • Combustible dust (e.g. in food processing, chemical manufacturing, wood processing, and metalworking industries)
  • Arson (intentional fires set by employees or outsiders)
  • Heating equipment (e.g. space heaters, central heating systems, boiler and furnace malfunctions)
  • Poor housekeeping (e.g. accumulation of clutter, waste materials, and debris)
  • Mechanical friction (e.g. overheated machinery, equipment, or components)
  • Flammable liquids and gases (e.g. gasoline, solvents, paints, propane, and natural gas)
  • Negligence (e.g. failure to follow safety protocols, failure to report potential hazards)

Classes of Fire

• Fires are classified based on the type of fuel:
  • Class A: Ordinary combustibles (e.g. wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics)
  • Class B: Flammable and combustible liquids and gases (e.g. gasoline, alcohols, and propane)
  • Class C: Energized electrical equipment
  • Class D: Combustible metals (e.g. magnesium, sodium, titanium, powdered aluminum, potassium, and zirconium)
  • Class K: Cooking media (e.g. fats, oils, and greases)

Controlling Fire

• Starving: removing or separating fuel from the fire
• Smothering: inhibiting or displacing oxygen to a volume of below 15%
• Cooling: absorbing heat with water or other coolants
• Controlling the Chain Reaction: introducing chemical agents to inhibit the chemical chain reactions

Fire Extinguisher

• Using the "PASS" system: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep at the fire

Electrical Hazard

• UAE Legislation on Electrical Safety includes the OSHAD Code of Practice (COP 15) - Electrical Safety
• Electrical Principle: Voltage, Current, Conductors, Insulators, Earthing, and Short Circuit
• Electrical Hazards and Injuries:
  • Electric shock
  • Electric burns
  • Electric fires and explosions
  • Arcing
  • Portable electrical equipment
  • Secondary hazards (e.g. falls, trips, noise, and vibration)
• Electric Shock: can vary from a slight tingling sensation to death, depending on the size of the current and voltage
• Electrical fires and explosions: 25% of all fires have an electrical origin, caused by short circuits, overheating, and ignition of flammable gases and vapors

OSHAD COP 15 - Electrical Safety

• No Work On or Near Live Conductors
• Working Space, Access, and Lighting
• Temporary Electricity Supplies: 110 volts
• Inspection and maintenance strategies
• Protective systems: fuse, insulation, isolation, reduced low-voltage systems, residual current devices, and double insulation
• Lock-out/Tag-out system: a protection system against unintentional exposure to hazardous energy from equipment and machinery

Ergonomic and Working Environment

• Ergonomic issues: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major concern, accounting for 33% of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
• Definition of Ergonomics: The science of fitting jobs to people, designing the workplace to ensure safe and efficient worker use.
• Ergonomic design: The application of knowledge to design the workplace, tasks, equipment, and environment for safe and efficient worker use.
• Good ergonomic design: Makes the most efficient use of worker capabilities while ensuring job demands do not exceed those capabilities.
• Common ergonomic symptoms: Discomfort, burning, pain, swelling, tingling, numbness, loss of motion/flexibility, spasticity, stiff joints, and paralysis.
• Common work-related MSDs: Affect the back, arms, elbows, shoulders, neck, hands, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles, and feet.

How Ergonomic Injuries Happen

• Overexertion of the body from lifting or carrying
• Bodily reaction to stimuli
• Repetitive motion during work
• Working in awkward postures or same postures for long periods
• Localized pressure into the body part
• Prolonged vibration from equipment

Ergonomic Control Methods

• Engineering controls: Work station design and setup, ergonomically designed tools, equipment, and load weight reduction.
• Examples of proper work practices: Proper lifting techniques, team lifts, stretching, work rotation, task variety, and increasing rest breaks.
• Examples of PPE: Gripping gloves, knee pads, vibration gloves, thermal gloves, lifting straps, shoulder harness, and lifting braces.

Benefits of an Ergonomic Program

• Towards employees: Provides comfort, reduces fatigue, prevents injuries, increases job satisfaction, and decreases boredom and stress.
• Towards employers: Reduces worker's compensation costs, increases productivity, minimizes errors, and maintains product quality.

Environmental Hazards and Controls

• Types of environmental hazards: Temperature, vibration, radiation, and noise.
• Effects of exposure to physical hazards: Rash, cramps, exhaustion, stroke, hypothermia, frostbite, and hearing loss.
• Protection against heat: Engineering controls (air conditioning, ventilation, cooling fans), administrative controls (emergency plan, acclimatization, work/rest cycles), and PPE (insulated PPE, thermal clothing).
• Protection against cold: Engineering controls (heaters, shielded work areas), administrative controls (warm liquids, buddy system, monitoring), and PPE (layered clothing, hat, gloves, insulated boots).
• Protection against radiation: Engineering controls (enclosure, shielding, interlocked doors), administrative controls (clear marking, minimizing exposure time), and PPE (RF/MW protective suits, safety glasses).
• Protection against vibration: Engineering controls (vibration reduction equipment, dampeners), administrative controls (proper positioning, job rotation, limit duration), and PPE (anti-vibration gloves).
• Protection against noise: Engineering controls (low-noise tools, barriers), administrative controls (increasing distance, altering work schedule), and PPE (ear plugs, ear muffs, hearing bands).

OSHAD Regulations and Guidelines

• OSHAD COP 14: Manual Handling and Ergonomic: Employees shall be trained on procedures to request an ergonomic worksite assessment, early warning signs of an ergonomic injury or illness, and reporting procedures.
• OSHAD COP 11: Safety in the Heat: Employees shall be aware of the hazards of working in heat, maintaining good hydration, recognizing signs of heat illness, and prevention measures.
• OSHAD COP 3: Occupational Noise: Employees shall be trained on noise risk assessment, hearing conservation program, hazard communication, and audiometric tests.
• OSHAD COP 3.1: Vibration: Employees shall be trained on vibration exposure limit values, risk assessment, signs and symptoms of vibration-related injuries, and control measures.
• OSHAD COP 23: Working at Heights: Employees shall be trained on preventing falling object injuries, emergency and rescue planning, PPE and fall arrest, public protection, guardrail/protection, and risk assessments.