osha fire safety

8/12/2019 OSHA Fire Safety

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Course Info

This course carries the following continuing education credits:

l P.A.C .E. Contac t Hours: 1.00 hour(s)

Course Number: 578-026-12

l Florida CE: Supervision/Administration, Q uality Control/Quality Assurance, and Safety: 1.00 hour(s)


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About Fire

Introduction

Fire is a chemical reaction that requires the rapid burning of fuel. A combination

of hea t, oxygen, and fuel are the components required to c reate fire.

Removing any one of these elements will extinguish the fire. For example:

l Covering a fire will remove its oxygen source, extinguishing the fire.

l Applying water to a fire removes its heat, extinguishing the fire.

About Fire

Be Alert and Knowledgeable

The laboratory contains numerous materials that could create or

contribute to a fire, including:

l Regular combustibles like, paper, cardboa rd, and p lastics

l Flammable chemicals

l Compressed gases

l Electrical equipment

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA), fire is the MOSTcommon of the serious hazards that workers

fac e in a typical laboratory. Individua ls should remain alert to the

potential fire hazards in your workplace and be knowledgeable about

methods of fire prevention and containment.

About Fire

Ungraded Practice Question


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Which of the following statements conc erning the laboratory and fire is INCORRECT?

Plea se selec t the single b est answer

About Fire


Which of the following statements conc erning the laboratory and fire is INCORRECT?

nmlkj Heat, oxygen, and fuel are the three components of fire.

nmlkj Fire is NOTa safety concern in the clinical laboratory.

nmlkj The laboratory contains numerous materials that could create or contribute to a fire.

nmlkj Fire is one of the MOSTcommon serious hazards in the typical laboratory.

Plea se selec t the single b est answer

Feedback

It is definitely incorrec t to say that fire isNOTa safety concern in the laboratory. Individuals should a lways remain a lert to the

potential fire hazards in the workplace and be knowledgeable about methods of fire prevention and containment.

Fire is a chemical reaction that requires the rapid burning of fuel. A combination of heat, oxygen, and fuel are the c omponents

required to create fire.

The laboratory contains numerous materials that could create or contribute to a fire, including:

l Regular combustibles like, paper, cardboa rd, and p lastics

l Flammable chemicals

l Compressed gases

l Electrica l equipment

Ac cording to the O ccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), fire is the MOSTcommon of the serious hazards that

workers face in a typical laboratory.

Three C lasses of Fire

Classes of Fire and Proper Types of Extinguishers

The National Fire Protec tion Agency (NFPA) is a non-profit organization

dedicated to protec ting human life and property from fire. The NFPA has

nmlkj Heat, oxygen, and fuel are the three components of fire.

nmlkj Fire is NOTa safety concern in the clinical laboratory.

nmlkj The laboratory contains numerous materials that could create or contribute to a fire.

nmlkj Fire is one of the MOSTcommon serious hazards in the typical laboratory.


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designated classes of fire based on the type of material that is fueling the

fire.

In order to properly extinguish a fire, you must be familiar with the three

MOSTcommon classes of fires:

l Class A

l Class B

l Class C

The MOSTcommon types of laboratory extinguishers are:

l Pressurized dry chemical (ABC or BC)

l Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Note:Water-filled fire extinguishers are NOTappropriate for laboratory use

due to the presence of c lass B and C ignition sources.


Class A Fires

Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials such as

pa per, wood, or cloth. This type of fire is the MOSTcommon and

is fairly simple to conta in and extinguish.

Types of fire extinguishers used to extinguish a c lass A fire:

l General purpose, pressurized dry chemical ABC

extinguisher

l Water extinguisher

Important comments:

l

Water extinguishers are NOTappropriate for use in alaboratory setting.

l Class A fires tend to smolder for long periods of time.

l ABC extinguishers are theBESTall-around choice for

extinguishing a class A fire, but leaves a messy blanket of

non-flammable material that is potentially abrasive and

can be c orrosive to metal.

l ABC extinguishers are NOTrecommended for use around

computers or sensitive equipment.


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Class B Fires

Class B fires involve flammable liquids and gases, inc luding

chemicals and grease.

Types of fire extinguishers used to extinguish a class B fire:


extinguisher

l BC pressurized dry chemical extinguisher

l Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher

Important comments:

l NEVERuse water on a c lass B fire since this will only

increase the hazard.

l Class B fires can flash back and reignite after being

extinguished.


Class C Fires

Class C fires involve electricity and electrica lly energized

equipment.

Types of fire extinguishers used to extinguish a c lass C fire:

l Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguisher


extinguisher

Important comments:

l NEVERuse water on a class B or C fire since this will only

increase the hazard.

l CO2may be preferred because it does not leave a


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corrosive residue.

l CO2extinguishers can become extremely cold and cause

cold burns if not handled properly.



Match each of the following descriptions to the a ppropriate fire class or extinguisher type.

Se le c t the c o rre c t ma tch fo r eac h i tem f rom the d rop -down bo x



Match each of the following descriptions to the a ppropriate fire class or extinguisher type.

6Choose The MOSTcommon types of laboratory fire extinguishers

6Choose Type of fire that involves flammable liquids and gases

6Choose The MOSTcommon class of fire, involving ordinary combustible materials

6C hoose A type of fire extinguisher tha t isNOTappropriate for laboratory use

6C hoose Type of fire involving elec tric ity

Se le c t the c o rre c t ma tch fo r eac h i tem f rom the d rop -down bo x

Feedback

The MOSTcommon types of laboratory fire extinguishers are:

l Pressurized dry chemical (ABC or BC)

6Choose ABC, BC, or CO2 The MOSTcommon types of laboratory fire extinguishers

6Choose Class B Type of fire that involves flammable liquids and gases

6Choose Class A The MOSTcommon class of fire, involving ordinary combustible materials

6Choose Water-filled A type of fire extinguisher that is NOTappropriate for laboratory use

6Choose Class C Type of fire involving electricity


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l Carbon dioxide (CO2)

C lass B fires involve flammable liquids and gases, including c hemicals and grease. An ABC, BC, or CO2extinguisher can be used to

extinguish a c lass B fire.

C lass A fires involve ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, or cloth. This type o f fire is the MOSTcommon and is fairly

simple to contain and extinguish. Any general purpose, pressurized dry chemica l extinguisher can be used to fight a c lass A fire.

Water-filled fire extinguishers are NOTappropriate for laboratory use due to the presence of class B and C ignition sources.

C lass C fires involve electricity and c an be extinguished using a CO2or general purpose, pressurized dry chemica l ABC extinguisher.A CO

2extinguisher may be preferred because it doesn't leave a corrosive residue.

Fire Safet

Fire Safety Responsibility

Management staff are required to comply with applicab le local, state, and federal guidelines, standa rds, and regulations to

help ensure safe laboratory operation. Additional responsibilities include:

l Implementing a safety program that includes a thorough and c omprehensive fire prevention p lan

l Providing initial training and a t least annua l review of the fire protec tion p lan

l Performing at least annual audits to uncover potential fire safety hazards and help ensure that fire-fighting equipment,

alarms, and evac uation procedures are appropriate and ready for a fire emergency

The responsibility to provide a safe work environment does NOTstop at the management level. ALL laboratory assoc iates are

required to follow fac ility specific proc edures designed to reduce that potential for a fire-related emergency. At a minimum, these

safe work practices include:

l Ac tive participation in safety training and fire drillsl Identification o f potential fire hazards and immediate reporting to management staff or safety officer

Fire Safet

Laboratory Situations That May Create or Contribute to a Fire

Always be alert for any conditions that could cause or contribute to a

fire and notify a supervisor or safety officer immediately. These situations

could include:

l Improper storage, use, or spills of flammable or combustible

chemicals

l Overloaded electrical circuits

l Poorly maintained or damaged electrical equipment, including

loose elec trical switches or frayed equipment cords

l Elec trica l malfunctions

l Improper storage or handling of compressed gas cylinders

l Improper placement of heat-producing equipment around


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combustible materials

l Over-accumulation of regular combustibles like paper,

cardboard, plastics

Fire Safet


Drag and drop each of the following examples into the category that it represents.

Drag ea c h item f rom the le f t in to the a pp rop r ia te g ray bo x on the r igh t .

Having p roblems with this question?Try alternate question format

Fire Safet


Drag and drop each of the following examples into the category that it represents.

All laboratory assoc iates actively participate

in fire drills

Heat-producing equipment is located in

close proximity to c ombustible materials

When a potential fire hazard is identified, it is

immediately reported to management or

the safety officer

Overloaded electrical circuits

Labcoat hung on an unsecured gas cylinder

Helps to Ensure a Safe LaboratoryEnvironment

May Create or Contribute to a LaboratoryFire

Drag ea c h item f rom the le f t in to the a pp rop r ia te g ray bo x on the r igh t .
https://www.medialabinc.net/courses/printableversion/page.aspx?brandid=20&pageid=469907&pagetype=content&showcorrectanswer=no&asmatching=true


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Feedback

In order to help ensure a safe environment, all laboratory assoc iates should ac tively pa rticipate in fire drills. Assoc iates should alway

be alert for any conditions that could cause or contribute to a fire and notify a supervisor or safety officer immediately. These

situations could include:

l Improper placement of heat-producing equipment around combustible materials

l Overloaded electrical circuits

l Improper storage or handling of compressed gas cylinders

Fire Prevention - Minimizing Ris

Fire Safety Policies and Procedures

Fire prevention includes ongoing, c onsistent compliance of laboratory fire safety policies and procedures by all assoc iates.

These include:

l Storing flammable chemicals and gases properly

l Reading labels and the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for any flammable chemicals

l Minimizing quantities of flammable chemicals and gases

l Cleaning spills involving flammable chemica ls immediately

l Keeping work areas clean and free of c lutter

l

Discarding and removing flammable waste promptlyl Keeping fire barriers in place (closed doors)

l Correc ting fire hazards if possible or reporting to laboratory management


Helps to Ensure a Safe LaboratoryEnvironment

Correct answers

All laboratory assoc iates actively participate

in fire drills

When a potential fire hazard is identified, it isimmediately reported to management or

the safety officer

May Create or Contribute to a LaboratoryFire

Correct answers

Heat-producing equipment is located in

close proximity to c ombustible materials

Overloaded electrical circuits

Labcoat hung on an unsecured gas cylinder


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Know the Work Area

All workers should know the locations of the nearest:

l Fire extinguishers

l Fire alarm pull stations

l Evacuation exits in assigned work area

l Emergency equipment, such as showers, eyewash stations, and fire blankets


Good Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of fire. At a minimum:

l Keep the workplace neat and orderly.

l Do NOTpermit large qua ntities of combustibles, such as empty boxes, to

accumulate.

l Keep ha llways, doors, and ac cess to emergency equipment unobstructed at

all times.l Do NOTallow boxes, equipment, or other objects to block fire exits.



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Proper Storage of Flammable or Combustible Liquids and Gases

Controlling the conditions that can ignite or fuel a fire is a

primary component of laboratory fire prevention. To reduce the

risk of fire, the following storage considerations for combustible

or flammable liquids or gases should be followed:

l Store flammable liquids in compliant containers, plac ed

inside a National Fire Protec tion Assoc iation (NFPA)approved cabinet, rather than on open shelving.

l Store flammab le gases in compliant cylinders located in a

special room specifica lly for flammable gases. All gas

cylinders should be secured in racks or by some other

means.

l Doors leading to areas where materials are stored that

present a fire hazard should have signage a lerting to the

hazards that are present.

l If required, use only approved refrigerators or freezers

approved for storage of combustible or flammable liquids.

Standard refrigerators can NOT be used and should be

labe led to prohibit the storage o f such liquids.

l Eliminate ignition sources and excessive heat.

l Limit the a mount of flammable liquids or gases withingeneral work areas to a one week working supply.

l Properly segregate incompatible materials.


Fire Plan & Fire Drills

It is important to become familiar with the facility fire p lan and review it

period ica lly. Thorough training and regularly scheduled drills to prac tice

evacuation procedures can directly influence the outcome of an

emergency situation.

Fire drill requirements are regulated by the local and state fire codes,

ac crediting agencies, and insurance requirements for individual

organizations.

While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does

not provide specific requirements as to the frequenc y of fire drills, it is

recommended that they should be conducted at least annually. OSHAstandard 1910.156(c)(2) states that if a fire brigade exists and the

members are expec ted to perform interior structural fire fighting, fire drills

should be conducted at least quarterly.

Generally, ALLstaff should partic ipate at leastANNUALLYin fire exit drills.

Some hea lth care fac ilities will adopt more frequent drills, as

recommended by the National Fire Protection Assoc iation (NFPA)

standards. NFPA requires quarterly drills on every shift.

Every fire alarm that sounds should be treated as a true emergency.

During a drill, important elements of fire safety training are tested,

including:


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Responding to Fire

Remain Calm

Panic has caused more dea ths and injuries during building fires than haveflames. It is of the utmost importance to remain ca lm and help to reassure

others. O rderly evacuation, NOTspeed, is a critical factor when evacuating a

building that has a direc t correlation with saving lives. Memorizing the proper

steps to take in case of a fire, such as RACE and PASS, helps to remind you wha t

to do during a panic situation.

Responding to Fire

Decision to Fight or Evacuate

To fight or evacuate when faced with a fire is a c ritica l dec ision. The ultimate goa l is the protection of life.

Decide to Fight

Small laboratory fires are not uncommon and when p roperly trained to use a fire extinguisher, laboratorians can contain and

extinguish the beginning stages of a fire. The decision to fight a fire is based on the policies and procedures of the individual

laboratory.

Do NOTattempt to fight a fire unless ALLof the following are TRUE:

l The fire is small, contained, and has NOTspread past the point of origin

l The exit is c lear and you can stay low and fight the fire with your back to the exit

l You can avoid smoke

l You are trained to use the fire extinguisher and the appropriate extinguisher is in the immediate vicinity

l The fire alarm has been ac tivated

l Personnel have been evacuated from the vicinity of the fire

It is also important not to use more than one fire extinguisher at the same time. In that scena rio, it is possible to "blow" the fire on

top of another person.

Or Evacuate

If the slightest doubt exists about control of the situation, staff should evacuate.

l Staff members should NEVERbe required to fight a fire.

l Remember to close the door behind you when evacuating.

l When the laboratory staff evacuates the workplace, a predetermined employee meeting place should have been identified

In the event of an emergency, conducting a head count at the designated meeting place will help to determine if anyone is


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missing.

Responding to Fire


Which of the following must be TRUEbefore deciding to fight a fire? (Choose all that apply.)

More than one answeris c orrec t. Plea se selec t a ll c orrec t a nsw ers

Responding to Fire


Which of the following must be TRUEbefore deciding to fight a fire? (Choose all that apply.)

gfedc The fire is large and spreading into adjac ent areas.

gfedc The assoc iate is trained to use the fire extinguisher and the appropriate extinguisher is available.

gfedc The room has filled with smoke.

gfedc The fire alarm has been ac tivated and personnel have been evacuated.

More than one answeris c orrec t. Plea se selec t a ll c orrec t a nsw ers

Feedback

The decision to fight a fire is based on the polic ies and procedures of the individual laboratory.

Do NOTattempt to fight a fire unless ALLof the following are TRUE:

l The fire is small, contained, and has NOTspread past the point of origin.

l The exit is c lear and you can stay low and fight the fire with your back to the exit.

l You c an avoid smoke.

l You are trained to use the fire extinguisher and the appropriate extinguisher is in the immediate vicinity.

l The fire alarm has been ac tivated.

l Personnel have be evacuated from the vicinity of the fire.

gfedc The fire is large and spreading into adjac ent areas.

gfedc The assoc iate is trained to use the fire extinguisher and the appropriate extinguisher is available.

gfedc The room has filled with smoke.

gfedc The fire alarm has been ac tivated and personnel have been evacuated.


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Responding to Fire

PASS

To use a fire extinguisher, remember the ac ronym PASS. This stands for:

l PULLthe pin

l AIMthe hose at the base of the fire

l SQUEEZEthe lever

l SWEEPthe hose from side to side

View this course online to access video c ontent.

Responding to Fire


Place the following ac tions in the correc t order when operating a fire extinguisher.

Drag it ems up a nd d ow n to p u t them in to the co rre c t o rde r.

Sweep the hose from side to side

Squeeze the lever

Pull the pin

Aim the hose at the base of the fire

Having p roblems with this question?Try alternate question format
https://www.medialabinc.net/courses/printableversion/page.aspx?brandid=20&pageid=469917&pagetype=content&showcorrectanswer=no&asmatching=true


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Responding to Fire


Place the following ac tions in the correc t order when operating a fire extinguisher.

View this course online to access video c ontent.

Drag it ems up a nd d ow n to p u t them in to the co rre c t o rde r.

Feedback

To use a fire extinguisher, remember the ac ronym PASS. This stands for:

l PULLthe pin

l AIMthe hose at the base of the fire

l SQUEEZEthe lever

l SWEEPthe hose from side to side

Responding to Fire

RACE

RACE is a useful ac ronym that helps staff to remember the proper steps in the correc t

order when responding to a fire emergency. This proc edure can be used by an individual

working alone, but is better applied by using teamwork.

l RESCUE:remove anyone in danger. If necessary move patients behind the next set

of fire doors.

l ALARM:activate the nea rest fire a larm.

l CONTAIN:confine the fire by closing the surrounding windows and doors.

l EXTINGUISHor EVACUATE:if the fire is small and you c an extinguish it safely, use an

extinguisher. If you cannot safely extinguish the fire, evac uate.

Pull the pin

Aim the hose at the base of the fire

Squeeze the lever

Sweep the hose from side to side


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Reference

References

CAP C ommission on Laboratory Ac creditation- Laboratory Ac creditation Program. Lab orato ry Ge nera l Che c k list. Northfield, IL:

College of American Pathologists; J uly 2013.

C linica l and Laboratory Standards Institute. Clin ica l La bo ratory Safe ty ; App roved Gu ide l ine. 3rd ed. CLSI doc ument GP17-A3.

Wayne, PA: C LSI; June 2012.

National Fire Protection Agenc y. NFPA 99: Sta nd a rd for Hea lth Ca re Fa c ili t ies. National Fire Protection Agency. Quincy, MA; 2012.

Occupational Safety and Hea lth Administration (O SHA) Standard, 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart L,Fire Prote c tion. Availab le at

http:// www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/ owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_pa rt_number=1910. Accessed on

Dec ember 2, 2013.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910

osha fire safety

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