Basic Fire SafetyBasic Fire Safetyfor the Mining Industryfor the Mining Industry

Costs in Lives and property damageCosts in Lives and property damage

Fire kills more Americans than all natural Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combineddisasters combined

Every year more than 5000 people die in fires and Every year more than 5000 people die in fires and over 25,000 are injuredover 25,000 are injured

Estimated property loss of over 9 billion dollars.Estimated property loss of over 9 billion dollars. What would your losses be?What would your losses be?

Fire preventionFire prevention Through proper safety trainingThrough proper safety training Good maintenance of electrical and mobile Good maintenance of electrical and mobile

equipmentequipment Good housekeepingGood housekeeping Proper storage and clean up of combustible and Proper storage and clean up of combustible and

flammable liquidsflammable liquids Good communications between management, Good communications between management,

labor, state and federal agencieslabor, state and federal agencies Basically “Basically “all fires”all fires” in the mining industry can be in the mining industry can be

avoidedavoided

Diesel fuel precautionsDiesel fuel precautions

Flammable or combustible liquid spillage or leakage shall be removed in a Flammable or combustible liquid spillage or leakage shall be removed in a timely manner or controlled to prevent a fire hazard.timely manner or controlled to prevent a fire hazard.

All diesel-powered machines are required to have at least one 10A:60B:C All diesel-powered machines are required to have at least one 10A:60B:C portable fire extinguisherportable fire extinguisher

Two portable fire extinguishers must be installed when a 5 gallon diesel fuel Two portable fire extinguishers must be installed when a 5 gallon diesel fuel safety can is carried on the vehiclesafety can is carried on the vehicle

Good housekeepingGood housekeepingYou can prevent a fire incident by using You can prevent a fire incident by using “common sense”.“common sense”.

HOUSEKEEPINGHOUSEKEEPINGNo person shall smoke or use an open flame where flammable or combustible No person shall smoke or use an open flame where flammable or combustible liquids, including greases, or flammable gases are--liquids, including greases, or flammable gases are--(a) Used or transported in a manner that could create a fire hazard; or(a) Used or transported in a manner that could create a fire hazard; or(b) Stored or handled.(b) Stored or handled.

Waste or rags containing flammable or combustible liquids that could create a Waste or rags containing flammable or combustible liquids that could create a fire hazard shall be placed in the following containers until disposed of properlyfire hazard shall be placed in the following containers until disposed of properly

A program for regular cleanup and removal of accumulations of coal and float A program for regular cleanup and removal of accumulations of coal and float coal dusts, loose coal, and other combustibles shall be established and coal dusts, loose coal, and other combustibles shall be established and maintained. maintained.

Coal dust, including float coal dust deposited on rock-dusted surfaces, loose coal, Coal dust, including float coal dust deposited on rock-dusted surfaces, loose coal, and other combustible materials, shall be cleaned up and not be permitted to and other combustible materials, shall be cleaned up and not be permitted to accumulate in active workings, or on diesel- powered and electric equipment accumulate in active workings, or on diesel- powered and electric equipment therein. therein.

Solid Combustible precautionsSolid Combustible precautions

Gasoline precautionsGasoline precautions

Underground-Industrial MineralsUnderground-Industrial Minerals

Gasoline should not be stored underground. Storage for this purpose means quantity Gasoline should not be stored underground. Storage for this purpose means quantity in excess of the amount that will used in a 24 hour period.in excess of the amount that will used in a 24 hour period.

A fire extinguisher should be installed on any internal A fire extinguisher should be installed on any internal

Surface & Underground –Industrial MineralsSurface & Underground –Industrial Minerals

Circuits shall be protected against excessive overload by fuses or Circuits shall be protected against excessive overload by fuses or circuit breakers of the correct type and capacity.circuit breakers of the correct type and capacity.

Maintenance and Inspection of Electrical EquipmentMaintenance and Inspection of Electrical Equipment

Fire DrillsFire Drills

Familiarize yourself on the fire alarm system.Familiarize yourself on the fire alarm system. Fire alarm procedures or systems shall be Fire alarm procedures or systems shall be

established to promptly warn every person who established to promptly warn every person who could be endangered by a fire.could be endangered by a fire.

Fire alarm systems shall be maintained in operable Fire alarm systems shall be maintained in operable condition.condition.

Mine operators shall establish emergency Mine operators shall establish emergency firefighting, evacuation, and rescue procedures. firefighting, evacuation, and rescue procedures.

Who will come if you call and how long will it take.Who will come if you call and how long will it take.

Escapeway drills- what is required?Escapeway drills- what is required?

Industrial Minerals-SurfaceIndustrial Minerals-SurfaceMine operators shall establish emergency firefighting, Mine operators shall establish emergency firefighting, evacuation, and rescue procedures prior to an accident evacuation, and rescue procedures prior to an accident occurring. occurring.

These procedures shall be coordinated in advance with available These procedures shall be coordinated in advance with available cooperative firefighting and support organizations.cooperative firefighting and support organizations.

Not all materials burn the same way.Not all materials burn the same way.

Materials are grouped by classification of Fire.Materials are grouped by classification of Fire. This determines how to extinguish the fire.This determines how to extinguish the fire. Where are the fire extinguishers located and how manyWhere are the fire extinguishers located and how many Where are the fire hoses, fire valves, nozzlesWhere are the fire hoses, fire valves, nozzles Is there enough pressure to extinguish the fireIs there enough pressure to extinguish the fire

RememberRemember To be forewarned is to be forearmedTo be forewarned is to be forearmed

What happens if a fire occurs?What happens if a fire occurs?

The Fire TriangleThe Fire Triangle

Now represents the Now represents the “smoldering”“smoldering” mode of combustion. mode of combustion.

Three things are needed for conditions to be right for Three things are needed for conditions to be right for a fire to get started.a fire to get started.

The Fire TetrahedronThe Fire Tetrahedron

Represents the Represents the “flaming”“flaming” mode of combustion mode of combustion

The chemical chain The chemical chain reaction has been reaction has been added to properly added to properly represent a represent a “burning”“burning” fire. fire.

If one of these four If one of these four items are taken items are taken away, the fire will away, the fire will extinguishextinguish

What about the By-products of the Fire?What about the By-products of the Fire?

Carbon Monoxide-Incomplete combustion-poisonousCarbon Monoxide-Incomplete combustion-poisonous Carbon Dioxide-Complete combustion-displaces oxygenCarbon Dioxide-Complete combustion-displaces oxygen Diesel Particulate Matter-unburned diesel fuel-Diesel Particulate Matter-unburned diesel fuel-

carcinogen(cancer causing)carcinogen(cancer causing) Carcinogen products-products from the chemicals to treat Carcinogen products-products from the chemicals to treat

belts and cables to be flame resistant, however will be belts and cables to be flame resistant, however will be releases at high temperatures of a fire.releases at high temperatures of a fire.

Smoke-unburned materials-can contain all of the aboveSmoke-unburned materials-can contain all of the above

Use ventilation to control by-products and heat

•Make sure that all persons in fire area are notifiedMake sure that all persons in fire area are notified

•Keep the ventilation at your back, don’t expose Keep the ventilation at your back, don’t expose yourself to the heat and the by-products of the fireyourself to the heat and the by-products of the fire

Class AClass AMaterials are:Materials are:

SolidsSolids WoodWood PaperPaper Plastic RubberPlastic Rubber

““A” stands for “ash”A” stands for “ash”

Takes place as wood, coal, conveyor belts or any Takes place as wood, coal, conveyor belts or any carbon based products decomposes from the action of carbon based products decomposes from the action of the heatthe heatRemember, it is the vapors that burn, not the solid.Remember, it is the vapors that burn, not the solid.

How does a How does a solid burn?solid burn?

How to extinguish a Class A fireHow to extinguish a Class A fire

Adding Adding waterwater

Class A Class A fires fires onlyonly

Use a fire Use a fire extinguisherextinguisher

Usually Class Usually Class A, B & C firesA, B & C fires

Place a lid on it,Place a lid on it,

Usually oily rags Usually oily rags or paper in a or paper in a waste containerwaste container

Limit material Limit material burningburning

Shovel away Shovel away material material

Add rock dust to Add rock dust to remaining fuelremaining fuel

Examples

Reported fires since 2002Reported fires since 2002 8 fires due to use of stoves near combustible 8 fires due to use of stoves near combustible

materialsmaterials 1 fire set deliberately by outside persons1 fire set deliberately by outside persons 5 belt fires5 belt fires 1 electrical fire1 electrical fire

Class BClass BMaterials are:Materials are:

LiquidsLiquids Gasoline, Oil, Diesel fuelGasoline, Oil, Diesel fuel Greases, Hydraulic fluidGreases, Hydraulic fluid Gases; i.e.Gases; i.e.Acetylene, PropaneAcetylene, Propane

Natural GasNatural Gas

““B” stands for “boil”B” stands for “boil”

Special care when using flammable and combustible liquidsSpecial care when using flammable and combustible liquids

The The “ flash point”“ flash point” is when at is when at

the right temperature, the right temperature,

vapors are released that will ignitevapors are released that will ignite

Flammable LiquidsFlammable Liquids

Flash point under 100Flash point under 100ooFF

•GasolineGasoline(-42(-42ooF)F)

•TolueneToluene(73(73ooFF

•BenzeneBenzene(12(12ooF)F)

•Cleaning fluidsCleaning fluids

Combustible LiquidsCombustible Liquids

Flash point over 100Flash point over 100ooF & under 164F & under 164ooFF

•Diesel fuelDiesel fuel(110(110ooF)F)

•KeroseneKerosene(102(102ooF)F)

•Home heating fuelHome heating fuel(120(120ooF)F)

•Hydraulic fluidsHydraulic fluids

Kitchen Fire Instructions

How to extinguish a Class B fireHow to extinguish a Class B fire

Not Not recommenrecommendedded

Water can Water can cause the cause the fire to fire to spreadspread

Remove excess Remove excess liquid fuel or shut liquid fuel or shut off bottled gas off bottled gas cylinderscylinders

Put a lid on itPut a lid on it

No oxygen, no fireNo oxygen, no fire

Use a BC or ABC Use a BC or ABC fire extinguisherfire extinguisher

Class CClass CMaterials are:Materials are:

““Energized” ElectricalEnergized” Electrical

Equipment & CablesEquipment & Cables

Always treat “C” fires as though power is still on!Always treat “C” fires as though power is still on!

Once the power has been removed, you can probably treat it like a Once the power has been removed, you can probably treat it like a

Class A or B fireClass A or B fire, , but remember that cables & equipment can but remember that cables & equipment can hold electricity even after the power is off!hold electricity even after the power is off!

““C” stands for “current”C” stands for “current”

Not recommendedNot recommended

Water can conduct Water can conduct electricityelectricity

May not work May not work because of the high because of the high temperature of the temperature of the electric arcelectric arc

Shut off the powerShut off the power

May still have A or May still have A or B fire remainingB fire remaining

Use a BC or ABC Use a BC or ABC fire extinguisherfire extinguisher

How to extinguish a Class C fireHow to extinguish a Class C fire

Class DClass Dmaterials includematerials include

Combustible MetalsCombustible Metals MagnesiumMagnesium TitaniumTitanium ZirconiumZirconium SodiumSodium PotassiumPotassium LithiumLithium CalciumCalcium ZincZinc

D stands for “ding”D stands for “ding”

Class D materials are usually in alloy type metalsClass D materials are usually in alloy type metals

They are usually started by a Class A-B-C fire, and will They are usually started by a Class A-B-C fire, and will burn at extremely high temperaturesburn at extremely high temperatures

Not Not recommendrecommended-ed-

The OThe O2 2 and and

HH22 in the in the

water will water will accelerate accelerate the firethe fire Not recommended-Not recommended-

Unsure if ABC Unsure if ABC extinguisher will put out extinguisher will put out

Unsure of dangerous Unsure of dangerous by-product from the by-product from the reaction of the reaction of the chemicalschemicals

Shovel away all Shovel away all materials that can be materials that can be ignite by the high heat ignite by the high heat generatedgenerated

Attempt to isolate the Attempt to isolate the fire by covering with fire by covering with sand or rock dustsand or rock dust

Class KClass KThis covers the new synthetic oils & greases that are This covers the new synthetic oils & greases that are the market & the new ones being developedthe market & the new ones being developed

New synthetic oils & greases New synthetic oils & greases for industryfor industry

Problem…Problem… ABC type fire extinguishers may not work on these ABC type fire extinguishers may not work on these fires, a special Class K extinguisher may be needed!fires, a special Class K extinguisher may be needed!

Inquire about what new products that are available on mine Inquire about what new products that are available on mine sites that would fall into this new categorysites that would fall into this new category

Fire ExtinguighersFire Extinguighers

Dry ChemicalDry Chemical•Ordinary Base Ordinary Base “BC”“BC”

•Sodium BicarbonateSodium Bicarbonate•Potassium BicarbonatePotassium Bicarbonate•Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloride

Do not use on “A” fires, will put out only surface Do not use on “A” fires, will put out only surface area, heated core may re-ignitearea, heated core may re-ignite

•Multipurpose Multipurpose “ABC”“ABC”•Monoammonium PhosphateMonoammonium Phosphate•Ammonium PhosphateAmmonium Phosphate•Barium SulfateBarium Sulfate

When are fire extinguishers to be examined?When are fire extinguishers to be examined?

Fire extinguishers shall be inspected visually at least once Fire extinguishers shall be inspected visually at least once a month to determine that they are fully charged and a month to determine that they are fully charged and operable.operable.

At least once every twelve months, maintenance checks At least once every twelve months, maintenance checks shall be made of mechanical parts, the amount and shall be made of mechanical parts, the amount and condition of extinguishing agent and expellant, and the condition of extinguishing agent and expellant, and the condition of the hose, nozzle, and vessel to determine condition of the hose, nozzle, and vessel to determine that the fire extinguishers will operate effectively.that the fire extinguishers will operate effectively.

Classification of extinguishersClassification of extinguishers

Type(s) of Type(s) of fire it can fire it can put output out

How much How much fire a fire a “lay “lay person”person” can can put output out

For example, a 5:A will put out five square foot surface area of Class A fireFor example, a 5:A will put out five square foot surface area of Class A fire

A 20:BC will put out a twenty square foot surface area of Class B or C fire.A 20:BC will put out a twenty square foot surface area of Class B or C fire.

A properly trained person can extinguish 2 to 3 times the amount listed on the A properly trained person can extinguish 2 to 3 times the amount listed on the rating.rating.

P. Pull the pin A. Aim low S. Squeeze the trigger/handle S. Sweep side to side It is important that you should

attend an actual “hands on” fire extinguisher class to be proficient in their use

What should you do once the fire is extinguished?What should you do once the fire is extinguished?

Check the area closely for any signs of reignition

Clean up all unburned and burned materials Report the incident to the proper officials What caused the fire, and determine any safety

precautions to prevent future incidents Be careful the fire fighter or persons themselves

did not expose themselves to any noxious, toxic or carcinogen products.

Questions?