Rabdan Academy SCI-100 Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) PDF

SCI-100 Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS)  SCI-100 Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Fire Hazard & Electrical Hazard  Learning Outcome Understand Fire Hazard Understand the element of Fire Triangle Analyze firefighting measure  In...

SCI-100 Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS)  SCI-100 Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Fire Hazard & Electrical Hazard  Learning Outcome Understand Fire Hazard Understand the element of Fire Triangle Analyze firefighting measure  Introduction UAE Civil defence teams responded to more than 3,000 incidents in 2022, including 2,169 building fires – up 3 per cent from 2,090 in 2021 and 10 per cent from 1,968 in 2020. The majority of fires took place in residential areas, with homes and apartments accounting for 1,385 of the incidents, the ministry said.  UAE Legislation on Fire Safety Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice 2018  Also known as “Civil Defense Fire Code”  Govern life safety and fire safety requirements 20 Chapter & 2 Annex 4  UAE Legislation on Fire Safety Fire Prevention, Planning and Control - Discontinued  Hot Work Operations (e.g Welding and Cutting) – 2016 Preventing fire  Permit to Work Systems- 2019 5  Definition Fire A fire is the result of a combustion process. A fire is a chemical reaction Fire is a process in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke; combustion or burning. FIRE HAZARD: A material, substance, or action that increases the likelihood of an accidental fire occurring: 6  Fire Triangle For combustion to take place, certain prerequisites for a fire must be in place at the same time. FUEL - A combustible material (gas, liquid, or solid) OXYGEN - Oxygen from the air to forms an ignitable mixture. HEAT - An igniting energy is added, fire erupts. Whenever one of these components is missing, the danger of ignition no longer persists.  Atmosphere contains 21% oxygen. During combustion, the oxygen is sufficiently Sources of heat provide provided from the air. When the oxygen content falls the energy necessary to below initiate combustion. 15%, fire will begin to smolder. Fuel is a source of energy is needed to sustain Fire. A fuel is a combustible solid, liquid, or gas Fire stages  Causes of Fire Many fires are caused by faulty electric wiring, negligent everyday behaviour, and human error.  Common Fire Cause 1. Electrical problems: Electrical problems are among the leading causes of workplace fire. For example;  Overloading Electrical Circuits And Outlets.  Damaged Or Frayed Wiring  Misuse Of Extension Cords And Power Strips  Outdated Electrical Systems 2. Smoking: Improper use and disposal of smoking materials, such as cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes, are leading causes of workplace fires  Common Fire Cause 3. Human Error: Mistakes or oversights can lead to dangerous situations and increase the risk of fires. Common human errors that can cause fires:  Unattended Cooking Or Heating Appliances.  Improper Storage Of Flammable Materials.  Inadequate Training On Fire Safety Procedures. 4. Combustible Dust: In certain industries, especially those that process powders, grains. This dust can accumulate on surfaces and equipment and ignite, causing a fire or explosion. These industries include food processing, chemical manufacturing, wood processing, and metalworking  Common Fire Cause 5. Arson: Intentional fires set by employees or outsiders can cause significant damage to the workplace. 6. Heating Equipment: Heating equipment is another common cause of fires in the workplace, especially during colder months.  Space Heaters.  Central Heating Systems.  Boiler and Furnace Malfunctions  Common Fire Cause 7. Poor Housekeeping: The accumulation of clutter, waste materials, and debris can block emergency exits, create fire hazards, and impede the ability of employees to evacuate the building quickly. 8. Mechanical Friction: Overheated machinery, equipment, or their components can ignite flammable materials, liquids, or dust in the vicinity.  Overheated Machinery And Equipment.  Lack Of Proper Maintenance.  Common Fire Cause 9. Flammable Liquids And Gases: Flammable liquids and gases are present in many workplaces and pose a significant fire hazard if not stored and handled properly. Gasoline, solvents, paints, propane, and natural gas. 10. Negligence: Negligence is a factor that can contribute to workplace fires, particularly in situations where employees fail to follow safety protocols or fail to report potential hazards.  Failure To Follow Safety Protocols (such as smoking in prohibited areas, overloading electrical circuits, or mishandling flammable liquids).  Failure To Report Potential Hazards (such as damaged electrical cords, malfunctioning equipment, or blocked fire exits)  Classes of Fire  Fires are classified based upon the type of fuel  Personnel can quickly choose appropriate extinguishing agents for the expected fire and associated hazards.  Fires are classified into 5 (five) general classes.  Class A: Normal Involve ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics. A rule of thumb is if it leaves an ash behind, it is a Class A fire. Water is usually the best extinguishing agent, because it can penetrate fuels and absorb heat. Dry chemicals used to interrupt the chemical chain reactions are also effective on Class Afires  Class B: Liquid or Gas Involve flammable and combustible liquids and gases such as gasoline, alcohols, and propane. Extinguishing agents that smother the fire or reduce the oxygen concentration available to the burning zone are most effective. Common extinguishing agents include foam, carbon dioxide, and dry chemicals.  Class C: Electrical Involve energized electrical equipment. Nonconductive extinguishing agents are used to extinguish. (Dry chemicals & inert gases are the most effective). Personnel should isolate the power to electrical equipment (Safely) before extinguisha the fire. Once electrical equipment is de-energized, it is considered a Class Afire.  Class D: Hot Metals Involve combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, titanium, powdered aluminum, potassium, and zirconium. Require special extinguishing agents that are usually produced for the specific metal  Class K: Cooking Oil Involves Cooking media (fats, oils, and greases), and most of the time are found in commercial cooking operations. Class K fire extinguishers are required in any location that cooks oils, grease, or animal fat. Every commercial kitchen should have a Class K extinguisher. Controlling Fire: Control the Fuel (Starving) When fire runs out of flammable materials, it will eventually burn out Remove or separate fuel from the fire. Fire involving stacks of wood pallets could be controlled by removing any exposed stacks of pallets to a safe location. Closing a valve feeding a gas or flammable liquid fire.. Controlling Fire: Control the Oxygen (Smothering) Oxygen to be inhibited or displaced to a volume of below 15%. Smothering a fire places a barrier between the flame and the atmosphere by: Fire blanket Foam to form a vapor barrier. Applying an inert gas to the fire (confined area), such as carbon dioxide Controlling Fire: Control the Heat (Cooling) Most effective approaches in fire extinction Cooling with water where the heat generated by the fire is absorbed by the water. Effective as long as the water can still absorb the heat  Controlling Fire: Control the Chain Reaction Inhibiting the chemical chain reactions by introducing chemical agent into the fire. Certain chemical agents can interfere with the sequence of reactions causing Dry chemical extinguishing agents (common in portable fire extinguishers) have this ability. How to Choose the Right Fire Extinguisher 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 Electrical Hazard 23  UAE Legislation on Electrical Safety OSHAD - Code of Practice COP 15 – Electrical Safety Requirements and standards associated with electricity risk Identified Assessed controlled Reduce risks to acceptable levels 24  Electrical Principle Voltage (volts V). Current (amps A). Conductors – electricity will flow easily. Insulators – Very poor conductors. Earthing – Connection to earth. Short circuit – Direct flow to earth. Low voltage – not exceeding 600 V. High voltage – exceeding 600 V. 25 Mains voltage – 220/240 V.  Electrical Hazards & Injuries Electrical Hazard – A dangerous condition such that contact or equipment failure can result in electric shock, arc-flash burn, thermal burn, or blast ( 2004 NFPA70E). Electrical hazards and injuries: Electric shock; Electric burns; Electric fires and explosions; Arcing; Portable electrical equipment; Secondary hazards (falls, trips, noise and vibration). 26  Electric Shock The effect of an electric shock can vary from a slight tingling sensation to death. The severity of the shock depends on the size of the current and voltage. Low-voltage shocks, below 110 V, are seldom fatal. Electric shock can also produce burns.  Electric Shock 25% of all electrical accidents are caused by portable electrical equipment. Faulty cables, extension leads, plugs and sockets. Inadequate maintenance. Use in flammable or damp atmospheres. 28 Misuse of equipment.  Electrical fires and explosions 25% of all fires have an electrical origin. Causes: Short circuits. Overheating of cables and equipment. Ignition of flammable gases and vapours. Ignition of combustible substances by static electrical discharges. Electric arcing. 29 Static electricity – lightning strikes.  OSHAD COP 15 – Electrical Safety No Work On or Near Live Conductors or stringent requirement Working Space, Access and Lighting Temporary Electricity Supplies to be in 110 volts. All owners of electrical systems shall ensure that appropriate inspection, maintenance and testing arrangements are in place for all systems. 31  OSHAD COP 15 – Electrical Safety Safe systems of work including permits to work; The use of protective systems; Inspection and maintenance strategies. Protective systems: fuse (and circuit breaker); insulation; isolation; reduced low-voltage systems; residual current devices; 32 double insulation.  A “Lock-out/Tag-out” system Lockout tagout is a protection system against unintentional exposure to hazardous energy from equipment and machinery. A lockout device, such as a padlock, secures the energy isolating device while a tagout device (i.e. a tag) warns employees not to use the equipment.  Summary Hazards Inadequate wiring Exposed electrical parts Wires with bad insulation Ungrounded electrical tools/systems Overloaded circuits Damaged power tools/equipment Overhead power lines All hazards are made worse in wet conditions