Fire Hazard and MSDS - University of Technology and Applied Sciences

Chapter 4 : MSDS AND FIRE HAZARD University of Technology and Applied Sciences- Nizwa Sultanate of Oman COURSE CODE: EGHS1140 1 Fire hazard 2 Introduction  Fire accidents cause severe injuries,...

Chapter 4 : MSDS AND FIRE HAZARD University of Technology and Applied Sciences- Nizwa Sultanate of Oman COURSE CODE: EGHS1140 1 Fire hazard 2 Introduction  Fire accidents cause severe injuries, fatalities and death.  Stop the spread of fire is the key in prevention of fire accidents.  Fire is a combustion chemical reaction where the combustible material reacts with oxygen to produce heat and carbon dioxide.  It also results in the formation of smokes containing particulates(spm) and carbon monoxide and other products of combustion. 3 Fire Hazards and Fire Protection All measures must be taken to act and acknowledge the following in the work place.  Fire Protection  Fire Safety  Fire Prevention  Fire Control 4 To understand the start and spread of fire, the knowledge of various elements of fire is required and is depicted in the fire triangle How is a fire created? Fire is created when three elements are present. 1.Fuel or flammable gas- liquid or solid 2.Oxygen from air or oxidizing substance 3.Heat or ignition sources- hot surfaces, electrical overheating, static electricity, naked flame, etc. 5 FIRE TRIANGLE The three elements described previously can be represented by the sides of a triangle which is known as a Fire triangle. = Fuel + Oxygen + Heat Figure: Fire triangle (Courtesy: www.highspeedtraining.co.uk) 6 Principle: Fire Triangle “In the absence of any one of the elements in the fire triangle ( fuel or oxygen or heat), a fire will not start or will not be created!” Controlling the fire by removing any one of these elements. o Removal of the source of ignition (Cooling) o Controlling the fuel supply (Starving) o Smothering (Blanketing) -Cutting off oxygen supply 7 Cooling the system! – taking away heat from the fire thereby reducing the ignition temperature; Example- using water as an extinguisher can limit or reduce the temperature Starving the fire! – limiting the fuel supply; isolating the flow of flammable liquids or gases; removing wood and textiles from the fire; Example- switching off electrical power Smothering the fire! – limiting the oxygen supply and preventing the continuous mixing of oxygen and flammable vapor; Example- using a foam or a fire blanket can limit the oxygen supply to the fire 8 Classification of Fire  Fire is classified on the basis of fuel and the means of extinction.  Fire is classified as A,B,C,D and K Class A Fire Caused due, to wood, cloth, paper, rubber, plastic. Can be extinguished by water 9 Classification of Fire Contd.. Class B Fire Caused due to flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, petrol, diesel etc. Class C Fire Caused due to flammable gases such as methane, LPG etc. Foam, carbon dioxide, dry powder and halon can be used for extinguishing. 10 Classification of Fire Contd.. Class D Fire Caused due to metals such as magnesium, potassium, titanium, and other combustible metals Specific type of dry powder (sometimes sand) extinguishers are used for this type of fire. Class K Fire Caused due to combustible vegetables and unsaturated animal fats. Wet chemical fire extinguishers are used for extinguishing the fire of this type 11 Flash Point Flash point is the minimum or lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to form an ignitable mixture in air. “When the material has lower the flash point, the greater will the danger/ hazzard.” 12 Flash Points of Flammable Liquids & Combustible Liquids For flammable liquids, Flash Point is below 100 ⁰F, can ignite at room temperature. For combustible liquids, Flash Point is at or above 100 ⁰F, can also cause fire and explosion when heated. 13 Types of Fire Extinguisher Fire extinguishing is an act of removing one of three major elements from an existing fire. Water Fire Extinguisher – for Class A Fire Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher – for Class A,B,C & D type Fire CO2 (Carbon dioxide) and Halon Fire Extinguisher – for Class B & C type Fire Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher – for Class A, C, K 14  Different types of Fire Extinguishers Figure: Fire extinguishers and their suitability for different types of fire 15 (Courtesy: www.marineinsight.com) Class, Fuel, Extinguishers and Method of Extinguishing Fire CLASS FUEL EXTINGUISHER METHOD A Wood, Paper, Cloth, Water Cooling, Plastic Smothering Starving B Oil, Grease, Gasoline, Dry Powder, CO2 , Halon, Smothering Paint, Etc. Sand; No Water! , Starving C Methane, LPG, etc. CO2, Halon, Dry Powder, Smothering Foam;No Water! D Combustible metals Special Powder, Sand; Dry Smothering (Na, Ti, Zirconium, K) powder, No Water! 16 Fire Extinguishing The act of putting out the fire or reducing the spread of fire is known as Fire extinguishing. Fire extinguishers are available commercially that are employed for fire extinction. Figure: Fire extinguisher 17  Procedures to be followed when a fire breaks out: RACE ( immediate reaction to control the fire) Rescue > Alarm > Contain > Extinguish 18 PASS ( use of the fire extinguisher) P – Pull the safety pin in the extinguisher A – Aim the nozzle towards the base of the fire S – Squeeze the levers to open the passage for the extinguishing substance; squeeze to flow. S – Sweep the nozzle side by side at the base of the fire 19 Halon Contains chlorine derivatives An extraordinarily effective fire extinguishing agent, even at low concentrations. Halon - breaks the chain reaction. It is harmful to ozone layer. 20 Dry powder Contains ammonium phosphate or sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. Dry Powder fire extinguisher is most widely used. It is much safer than the Halon fire extinguisher. 21  Other Precautions For Fire Signs and Training - to be provided and especially on the escape routes.  Lifts and Escalators – not to be used Fire Alarms-must be available  Fire Detection/ Smoke detection-must be installed. 22  Hydrant Systems (allows the supply of water to control a fire)- must be in place  Automatic Sprinkler Systems-must be installed 23  Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) ,also known as Chemical Safety Data Sheet (CSDS) is the main form of communication provided by the supplier. Generally it contains:  Name of manufacturer and contact details of hazardous ingredients.  Physical characteristics of the substance.  Chemical characteristics of the substance.  Fire hazard data 24  Explosion hazard data Reactivity data Health hazard data Precautions Safe handling procedure and control measures. 25  Sections of MSDS OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Administration) standard 29 CFR ( Code of federal regulation)1910.120 promotes the need of communicating the potential hazards to the employees and general public who might get exposed to hazardous chemicals. 26 The main objectives of MSDS are: Help the user to clearly understand the suggested safety measures and on what basis. Assist the user to identify the consequences of exposure. Helps in the preparation of strategies for safe usage. Cautioning the user about the effects of noncompliance to the recommendations 27 Mandate to include 16 MSDS sections as per OSHA standards. The sections with their role are given below. Section 1: Identification Section 2: Hazards identification Section 3: Ingredients information Section 4: Fire-aid measures Section 5: Fire-fighting measures Section 6: Accidental measures 28 Section 7: Handling and Storage Section 8: Personal Protection Section 9: Physical and Chemical properties Section 10: Stability and reactivity Section 11: Toxicological information Section 12: Ecological information Section 13:Disposal considerations Section 14: Transport information Section 15: Regulatory information Section 16: Other information-Details of date of preparation of MSDS and revisions. 29  Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard An International Standard that is followed by chemical manufacturers or producers and users to safeguard the people from ill-effects of chemical substances. Concept: Employees have the need and the right to know the hazards and the identities of chemical substances they handle or are exposed to when working. Employees need to know what protective measures are available to prevent adverse or harmful effects of chemical substances from occurring. 30 Hazard Communication (HazCom) Standard HazCom Standard applies to all types of industries dealing with chemicals, including importers, employers and employees exposed to the chemical hazards. HazCom Standard requires labeling of products accompanied with Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS, and formal training programs for personnel in the workplace. 31