*INTRODUCTION:*
Although no-one can guarantee to prevent fires from happening, this training would help you to reduce the chances of fire, or reduce the impact should a fire start.
Fire can be termed as “a good servant” but at the same time “a bad master”. The wish of everybody is to make fire a servant; it must not be given a chance to assume the role of a master.
Millions of lives and properties worth billions of naira have been destroyed by FIRE outbreak. Rendering many homeless, miserable and deformed due to the injuries sustained from fire disasters. Fire can be termed as ‘A good servant’ but at the same time a bad master’. The wish of everybody is to make fire a servant; it must not be given a chance to assume the role of a master.
80 % of building fire is often accidental, such as those caused by poor electrical wiring, careless behavior or unsafe practices. It is therefore necessary that all Staffs are aware of Fire and how to approach and manage a fire incident. We use power in our daily activities thus best practices to prevent fire incidents in our locations, should be a priority capability we should develop and sustain as workers.
For better understanding, watch the video using this link:
https://youtu.be/h6Kd5goRgr4
Sure it will answer some* of your questions.
*IMPORTANCE OF FIRE SAFETY*
FIRE - strikes when you can least afford them and when they are least expected. Many businesses are wiped out completely after a fire crisis and never to trade again. Even a relatively small fire can halt production or services sufficiently, for customers go elsewhere, and once they have found another supplier, they may never return.
Fire Strikes anytime: Fire is a hazard that can potentially strike any workplace/Home. Fires can strike any type of workplace or home at any time, resulting in property damage, injuries, and deaths. The adverse financial effects can be felt by an organization long after the fire is extinguished.
*BENEFITS OF THIS FIRE AWARENESS COURSE*
Generally, employees/workers/occupants can contribute substantially to achieving the goals of safety and health but only if they have the awareness of recognized safety standards, and the ability to identify unsafe and unhealthy situations. Therefore, we believe that the education and training of each employee is a primary factor in achieving a safe and secured workplace.
Such education and training should also enable employees to identify mechanisms to eliminate identified hazards. With such knowledge and information also comes the ability to interact with the management and other Health and Safety Representative(s) that exist within the establishment.
If we all agree to the above assertion, then let us proceed with the definition of fire.
*WHAT IS FIRE*:
Fire is a rapid combination of substances and oxygen resulting in the production of heat and light. It is a series of chemical reactions in which heat and light are produced. Fuel, oxygen and heat are the three conditions/element needed before fire can occur and these form tetrahedron of fire.
Before fire outbreak, there must be an object and there must be an abnormal situation, i.e. there must be series of chemical reaction with an object producing heat and fire. The object must be heated to an ignition temperature before it catches fire. Combustion is a chemical process in which substances combine with the oxygen in the air to produce heat and light. While Fire is the product of combustion, thereby giving out flame of smolders and in some cases smoke.
*VIDEO* https://youtu.be/zay7Z3Z1idg
Make out time to watch the video above 👆as it will give you more understanding about what fire is.
*THE FOUR STAGES OF COMBUSTION*
Apart from Explosions, most fires begin gradually and grow through four stages:
*Incipient Stage*.
- At this stage, the fire begins gradually and it is often stage is invisible to the human eye.
*Smoldering Stage*. - At this stage, up to 10% of the burning item released at the surface of the fuel are visible. i.e You begin to see red heat fire.
*Flaming Stage*
- Heat from the decomposing fuel have increased and are at the stage where flames are developing and spreading’.
*Heat Stage*
- At this stage the burning has progressed to the point where the fire has grown, but generating sufficient heat to warm the air immediately around the fire, (due to increased fuel percentage fuel being burnt) sending warm burning items (products of combustion) upwards by conflagration.
The time required for a fire to develop through the first two stages is usually quite long when compared to the last two. It is therefore always necessary that we suppress fire at this point.
Depending on conditions, the time involved going through all stages may be anything from seconds to days.
*THE PREVENTATION GOALS:*
1) *Life Safety*
The primary goal of fire safety efforts is to protect the management and staff from injury and to prevent loss of life.
2) *Property Protection*
The secondary goal of fire safety is to prevent property damage.
3) *Protection of Operations*
By preventing fires and limiting damage we can assure that work operations will continue uninterrupted.
*THE STRATEGY OF PREVENTING FIRE*
A fire must have three things, with the aid of a chemical reaction, to ignite and maintain combustion.
The basic strategy of fire prevention is to control or isolate sources of fuel and heat in order to prevent combustion.
If all three are not present in sufficient quantities a fire will not ignite or a fire will not be able to sustain combustion TRIANGLE OR TETRAHEDRON OF COMBUSTION.
*FUEL*: Fuel comprises all burning materials i.e., Solids: These include wood, cloths, papers, plastics stationeries etc.
*Liquids*: These include kerosene, petrol, diesel, oil paints etc.
*Gases*: These include cooking gas and cutting gas.
*OXYGEN*: There are many gases in the atmosphere but the only one that supports combustion is oxygen.
*HEAT (Source of ignition)*: When a fuel has been heated to its ignition temperature as a result of chemical reactions.
Combustion will however continue as long as these three factors are present. The absence of any of these 3 breaks the chains of the reaction thereby extinguishes the combustion or fire.
*CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE*
There are four classes of fire namely:
*CLASS A*: These are fires involving solid materials normally of organic nature in which combustion generally occurs with the formation of glowing embers (a piece of wood or cone that is not burning but is still red and hot). Class A fires are the most common and the most effective extinguishing agent is generally water in the form of a jet or spray.
*CLASS B*: These are fires involving liquids or liquefiable solids, the extinguishing agents are foam and Dry chemical powder.
*CLASS C*: These are fires involving gases or liquefied gases in the form of a liquid spillage of gas leak and this include methane, propane, butane, etc foam or Dry Chemical Powder can be used to control this type of fire, and water in the form of spray is generally used to cool the containers.
*CLASS D*: These are fires involving metals. Powdered graphite, powdered talc, soda ash limestone and dry sand area normally suitable for class D fires special fusing powders have been developed for fires involving some especially the radioactive ones.
*ELECTRICAL FIRES*
Electrical fire is not considered to constitute a class, since any material involved can fall under either class A, B, C or D. the normal procedure in such circumstance is to cut off the electricity and use an extinguishing method appropriate to what is burning. Only when this cannot be done with certainty will special extinguishing agents be required which are non-conductor or electricity and non-damaging to the equipment these include vaporizing liquids, dry powders and carbon-dioxide, although the latter’s cooling and condensation effects may affect sensitive electronic equipment.
*THE CHEMISTRY OF FIRE EXTINCTION*
The principles of fire extinction consist of the elimination or removal of one or more of the four elements. These principles are:
*COOLING*
The most commonly used firefighting medium is water. Water absorbs heat from the fire and cools the fuel to a temperature where it no longer produces flammable vapors that encourages the fire to grow.
*SMOTHERING*
By excluding the oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere, the fire will be extinguished.
*STARVATION* is achieved by removal of the fuel burning in the fire. Sometimes combustible material can be removed such as by shutting off gas valves or fuel flows, or even burning card board.
*STOP CHAIN REACTION*
Stop or interrupt the chain reaction between the fuel, heat and oxygen the fire will be extinguished.
Specific methods of extinguishing fires often involve a combination of more than one of the four principles.
*CAUSES OF FIRE & PREVENTIONS*
The Causes of Fire are two: *Natural causes and Man-made causes.*
*Natural causes:*- These are fires which occurs as a result of:
a) Lightning/Thunder
b) Solar Reflections
c) Violent storm
d) Volcanic action
e) Cyclonic action
f) Earthquake etc.
These harbingers of natural disasters can, in one way or the other, degenerate into fire in the course of their wrath on mankind.
ii. *Man-made causes:* These are divided into two:
(a) *Deliberate/Willful Act (Arson):* These are fire started as a result of intentionally or willfully setting fire to any place or thing by persons authorized or with personal intention, such as criminal motives, rioters, bush burning.
(b). *Carelessness:* These are acts of omission or commission on the part of everybody towards fire handling habits. These include:
a. Indiscriminate throwing of cigarette butts (ends) anywhere without crushing them out.
b. Sleeping off while cooking or abandoning the pot on the fire unattended.
c. Leaving office/home or going to bed without switching off all necessary electrical/electronic appliances.
d. Children playing with matches, lighted fire, fiddling with stove or gas cookers. e. Bush burning
f. Failure to protect or insulate live electric cables in the house or failure to warn other less enlightened fellows about the dangers of such practices.
g. Adulterating fuels e.g. in kerosene, lanterns and stoves and refueling while they are hot.
h. Tampering with electrical/electronic equipment when one is a novice on such fields.
i. Wrong application of fuel products, chemicals other inflammable materials and even explosives.
j. Wrong handling or storage of various fuel products in some containers resulting into contamination of such products and selling such to customers.
k. Candle and mosquito coils falling.
*FIRE PREVENTION IN MOTOR VEHICLES*
a. Cleanliness of engine facilities, visual inspections and help eliminate inflammable oils and greases that can encourage fire outbre
b. Make constant and regular visual checks for exposed electrical connections to ensure the non-existence of loosed wires and electrical connections
c. When the dashboard indicators and gauges start behaving abnormally, stop and check the cause to avoid regrets later
d. The sense of smell, sight and sound should be put fully alert when driving to enable you guess right when something is burning or smoking, knocking or dragging
e. Avoid over decoration and over attachment of electrical gadgets involving much extra wiring
f. The battery terminals should be free from foreign metal contracts which could bridge the poles and generates intense heat and fire
g. Ensure that only qualified electricians undertake electric repairs, insist that all naked or bared cables be sealed with the correct insulation tape
h. Keep all rags away from engine compartment. No electric cable should be able to come in contact with the engine exhaust or other very hot parts of the engine
i. Blown off fuse should be replaced with correct type and rating (amp) don’t try ordinary wires
j. Watch out for any loose metal that may hand low and drag along the tarmac creating spark of fire leaks of any type should be located and stopped without further delay. Any spark could ignite leaking fuel lines on the tarmac
k. Avoid carrying reserve fuel in the booth
l. Carry vehicle for extinguishers always.
*AVOIDABLE HAZARDS*
▪ Warning caution such as “no smoking” should be strictly adhered t
▪ Tail ends of cigarettes should be properly disposed, crushed ‘dead’ inside an ashtray at home / office and under the foot along the road, or have it thrown into a gutter containing water
▪ Don’t allow electric cable to be placed under or above sharp objects, especially metals
▪ All junction boxes must remain covered always
▪ Consumers should decentralize outlet points in their buildings not to overload main outlets
▪ Unplug pressing irons and boilers when not use
▪ Switch off light when not in use be it at home, shop, office etc
▪ Lanterns, candle light, mosquito coils, matches, stove fire, firewood or charcoal fires, baking oven fires should be properly attended to when in use and extinguished when not in use
▪ Don’t go to bed with a stick of burning cigarette between your fingers under any influence
▪ Don’t refuel petrol engine, generating plant while running and it should be kept at some distance from living apartment in a well-ventilated enclosure
▪ Replace leaking gas cylinder and where leakage is noticed, natural or mechanical ventilation should be applied
▪ Provide ashtrays at home / office, filled with either sand or water
▪ Keep matches out of reach of children,
▪ Do not keep petrol at home
▪ Do not keep cooking gas cylinder inside the kitche
▪ Install Co2 fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen, kitchens are more prone to fire hazards.
*FIRST-AID FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENTS*
These are portable and handy fire extinguishers meant for immediate use at the early or primary stage of a fire outbreak. They are used to take care of the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade. They are kept in open and easily accessible place. They are in various types and sizes:
*WATER FIRE EXTINGUISHER*: Usually of 9 liters cylinder containing water under pressure for use on class “A” or ordinary fire. The colour is usually red.
*FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHER*: Usually of 9 liters containing foam for use on class “B” or oil fires. It is also use on class “A” fire. The colour is cream.
*CARBON-DIOXIDE (CO2) FIRE EXTINGUISHER*: They are of 1kg – 50kg on wheel cylinder containing compressed C02 under pressure used on class “C” fires. It is most versatile because it is equally effective on all other classes of fire. The colour is black.
*DRY CHEMICAL POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER*: It is also called A B C or all-purpose fire extinguishers usually of 1kg, 2kg, 6kg, 9kg, 50kg on wheel cylinder containing dry chemical powder, usable on classes A, B and C fires. It is usually blue.
*SAND/WATER IN BUCKET EXTINGUISHER*: This type is improvised and also old fashion but helps at the hour of need. Two Red Buckets kept side-by-side, one with water and the other with sand..
*FIRE SAFETY PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION*
*9 Tips on How and When to Use a Fire Extinguisher*.
1) Most fires start small. Except for explosions, fires can usually be brought under control if they are attacked correctly with the right type and size of extinguisher within the first 2 minutes!
2) A fire extinguisher should be "listed and labeled" by an independent testing laboratory. The higher the rating number on an A or B extinguisher, the more fire it can put out. Be careful, high rated units are often heavier models. Make sure you can hold and operate the model you are using.
3) Before attempting to fight a small fire, be sure everyone is out of the area. Ensure someone has called the fire department. If the fire starts to spread or threatens your escape path, get out immediately!
4) The operator must know how to use the extinguisher quickly without taking time to read directions during an emergency. Remember that the extinguishers need care and must be recharged after every use. IF YOU ARE TO FIGHT A FIRE, REMEMBER THE WORD P. A. S. S.
PULL . . . AIM . . . SQUEEZE . . . SWEEP.
5) PULL... the pin. Some extinguishers require releasing a lock latch, pressing a puncture lever or other motion.
6) AIM... low, pointing the extinguisher nozzle (or it's horn or hose) at the base of the fire.
7) SQUEEZE... the handle. This releases the extinguishing agent.
8) SWEEP... from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out. Watch the fire area in case fire breaks out again, and repeat use of extinguisher if necessary.
9) Read and follow the directions on your extinguisher. If you have the slightest doubt about whether or not to fight a fire – DON’T! Get out and close the door behind you.
Remember the word *ROAST*. (This will be treated in the Zoom session tomorrow).
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