Basics in Fire Safety: The Fire Extinguisher

The Fire Extinguisher, most of us of course have seen this usually red or blue painted cylinder somewhere but unfortunately only a few know how to use it or even has the courage to use it in times of emergency.

But this little fellow could not only save you but everybody and everything you have when the circumstances are still right.

In todays homes a fire extinguisher is a must, of course a little tag price but for the investment it can save you its worth the price. Buying one won't do much either if nobody or just a few knows how to use it and when to use it.

Lets us put this straight first, ONLY use the proper Fire extinguisher for small fires which it can still manage, this precaution is for your own safety so please reconsider. Let's leave the real firefighting to the professionals shall we?

When is small fires still manageable?

A good question really but in order not to gamble your life and to be safe its when the fire just started and can still be confined to a small area where your fire extinguisher range and capacity is still in excess and in folds. whew too technical... okay its when the fire just starts and when you can still run for safety and also everybody, feeling much better?

Who should learn how to use Fire Extinguishers?

Practically everybody! it is ideal for the first person to spot the fire to immediately respond to extinguish it at the earliest possible time. This is the win win scenario, so everyone at home, in work places, or in school need to know how to use and handle small fires.

Don't Try other Methods Use the extinguisher Soonest...

Sometimes our reflex are quick and we try to contain fire with whatever we got at hand but often times this action could actually worsen the scenario and spread the fire...

The best way is to immediately grab the fire extinguisher and use it the smaller the fire still the better chance for you to clear it. So heroics is not an option and there's no camera tricks in real fires so don't waste time in blowing the fire because your just feeding it unless your blowing a candle for your birthday party? :)

What's in the fire extinguisher?

There are different types of fire extinguisher intended for different types of fire. They vary from the materials they used and for the type of fire it can pout off.

Fire Extinguishant Materials

•Water - class A only - cools /removes heat

•Dry Chemical - class A, B, or C - interferes with chemical reaction

•Carbon Dioxide - class A, B, or C (usually C) - removes Oxygen /

smothers fire

•Metl-X - class D only - specialized dry chemical for metal fires

•Foam – Class B, holds down vapors

Oh forgot about the ABCD's thing of fires? click here

How to Use the Fire Extinguisher?

Remember this T-P-A-S-S

T-P-A-S-S System

•T – Twist Pin to break seal

•P – Pull Pin

•A – Aim at the base of the fire or leading edge

•S – Squeeze Handle (top of handle activates extinguisher)

•S – Sweep across base or leading edge of fire

Whalah...simple right? with presence of mind and no panic not only you can save lives but investments as well. Simple things matter with a quick judgement your hard earned things and even your loved ones will never be part of the ashes after a fire gone out of control but could have been controlled. Only if you knew how to use that thing hanging in a corner called the Fire Extinguisher.

And in a fire situation remember this also R-A-C-E

•R escue – rescue people in immediate danger.

•A lert – yell out “Fire”, pull fire alarm, dial emergency phone number.

•C lose – Close energy sources, all doors and windows.

•E xtinguish/Evacuate – Extinguish small fires, evacuate if necessary.

For inquisitive minds heres a few more you should know about fire extinguishers.

Fire Extinguisher Table

more interesting topics to be posted... :)

Previous posts links:

Fire Safety: The Basics in Fire Safety

Basic Laboratory Safety Tips

Best Laboratory Safety Practices

Fire Safety: The Basics in Fire Safety

Fire Safety is one of most useful and very important tool that everyone should be aware.

When you're at home, in your work place, in school, or in anywhere else being aware and equipped with the knowledge is an outright leverage in case of any fire incident.

To understand Fire Safety we must know what we are dealing with and to begin with..

How about we start with What is FIRE?

To produce fire it needs three components Fuel, Oxygen, and Heat or source ignition. One cannot sustain without the other and this basic concept of the relationship of the components is the very essence on how to deal with a fire.

We mention fuel and they are of many kinds, but classified in three distinct states.

You probably have noticed some letters in the markings of fire extinguishers in your school, work place, or if you have one at home. They are actually classification of the type of fire they can be used for. Fires are classified by Letters A,B,C, and Class D fires.

Now we know how they are classified but?

"How do we prevent a fire?"

To find means to prevent and control a fire we must understand how it works. We go back to the Fire Triangle, as we have mentioned. In order to create and sustain a FIRE, it needs its three components Fuel, Heat, and Oxygen.

"TO PREVENT A FIRE WE NEED TO REMOVE OR ISOLATE ONE COMPONENT."

The most effective way to prevent a fire is to keep our sources of fuel separate from our sources of HEAT or ignition, if we can achieve this we can prevent ignition or the start of a fire.

There is little that we can do about oxygen , it is ever present in the air we breathe.

Think about how we segregate sources of Fuel and Heat at work, in school, and at home.

Still more to this post soon.... :D

Check out my other posts:

Basic Laboratory Safety Tips

Best Laboratory Safety Practices

Basic Laboratory Safety Tips

In any Lab there are golden rules we have to follow they may differ from each lab

but all of which are related to your own safety and your fellow.

Some lab has a lot of these rules that often are just merely written than actually done or sometimes we are just bored with the rules.

But if you like the way you are right now better take some of the important tips you should keep in mind when your in a lab.

These basic tips you could keep could not only save you in a lot of trouble but even save your life as well.

Here are some of the most important tips that you have to carry on while working or playing? in a lab...

On the top of the list?

You don't need special or expensive equipment but this you should really consider? I bet you don't want a drop of Acid in your lovely eyes like this guy right?

Oh don't worry if thats a strong acid you don't need that much...a drop will do!

Second on the list? "Read the Signs!"

When it says so NO don't try for your own good of course no one else....

Warning signs should be visible in any good lab and they are not for decorations but to tell you what you must and must not in a colorful and way, Just read carefully when its Red...

Wear "Proper ProtectiveClothing"

A lab Coat for a laboratory, but for some special laboratories proper protective clothing must be used. For Instance, a Radio active area need special protective clothing to minimize radiation exposures.

Especially for labs handling corrosive substance it is best to implement close toed shoes inside the lab. A safety shoes is best recommended which is close toed and oil proof. If passing a manufacturing plant or heavy objects are being moved around it is also best recommended to have a steel toe safety shoes anti slip and if working on flammable area better use shoe grounding to prevent static ignition.

Sometimes when we established laboratory policies its just not practical to list like 40 rules for your laboratory. For documentation purposes fine especially if your lab is aiming to be health and safety certified but for the implementation written policies ain't enough. The best way is to train and established visual signs which will remind not only the personnel of your lab as well as ocassional visitors as well.

Here's more visual signs that are actually basic lab safety tips themselves:

Warning signs specific to the area is also very effective visual reminder of policies like the signs below:

Labeling is important in any lab but safety labeling is the best. Laboratory personnel should be trained with HMIS or Hazardous Materials Identification System this is being implemented internationally thus you may see this in some of your chemical containers such as this one:

HMIS ratings are standard color coded ratings which gives information on the hazard classification of a substance. You can create your own label format and use the information supplied by your materials supplier which can be found in its Materials Safety data Sheets or MSDS. Requiring your suppliers to submit MSDS together with thei products is a standard safety practice.

In this label Format Letters H stands for Health Hazard, F for Flammability, R for Reactive, and PE for Protective equipment you should use. The numbers 1,2,3, and 4 designates the severity or rating of each category example 4F means a very volatile flammable liquids with flash points lower than 23°C which may ignite spontaneously with air and 3F are flammable liquids with flash point below 38°C and can be ignited under normal temperatures. for Protective equipment letters are used to designate a set of Protective equipment that should be used in handling this specific substance.

Every lab must have an emergency response plan if personnel are trained and equipment available in the lab should be easily recognized for rapid deployment when emergency situation arise. Although emergency management system would be best discussed separately it is well recommended that a even a simple emergency plan is a must have in every laboratory.

Hazardous Materials Safety Handling

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HANDLING

HazMat to the technical persons this name rings a bell but for the regular Joe this may still be unheard of. Hazmat or hazardous materials are actually everywhere not just in big chemical plants but even in our own homes. Yep there are a few things we keep at home that are actually Hazmat and are usually called Hazardous Household chemicals. Oh, we cant do without them either because they are usually the good cleaners we used at home to clean stains and to keep our bathroom smelling fresh and good.

Familiar with this on your stock rooms?

Household chemicals such as degreasers, cleaners, descalers, and declogging chemicals are considered hazardous chemicals. They are harmful to one's health if not properly stored and used. Also batteries even though we commonly perceived chemicals to be liquid form used batteries should be disposed off properly as they contain some toxic chemicals harmful to our health. Just imagine your kid sucking a used battery if this things are just kept anywhere at in the house.

Household chemicals we commonly know are usually irritant and corrosive and even some may caused adverse effects if mishandled.

But we cant do without this chemicals at home it would be a lot of work if not for these chemicals in maintaining the well being of our homes. The very basic precaution we can manage is proper usage and storage. Proper storage may extend to a secure storage appropriate to the nature of the chemical being stored. Such information are readily available in the safety labels or searchable on the internet. Special care should be taken if there are children in your home some products are packed with child-proof seals which is highly recommended for your children safety. Better yet a safe and secure segregated storage area will be ideal. Oxidizing and highly flammable substance may be better off away from each other and the use of secondary containment in the event the primary container had leaks is advisable also for storing these chemicals. Ventilation is important for flammable chemicals and should be away from any heat source so proper designation of the storage area would save you from mishaps at home.

Best Laboratory Safety Practices

Laboratory Safety? Lab safety? Good Laboratory Practice(GLP)?

They may come in all sort of terminologies but the essence is just plain and simple as how can we be safe inside our little play ground... The laboratory of course!

We may come from different walks of life and expertise but this simple safety rules are sometimes taken for granted, or even non existent at all!

Oh signs may be everywhere but how many you think really know what it means? Can you Identify what these sign says?

Oh Great! Easy right? for those who have been used to seeing this sign everyday it takes a glance and they know it, but of course knowing it is different from practicing or doing it. Its usually the guys who have been there a long while who have been complacent and take for granted what's the risk we live daily...of course they may disagree but look around and look how you do things daily there are simple things we take for granted that may become a risk.

We may pity those who are not informed but being informed does not give you a guarantee either if you are not practicing it as well. There are those who have great documented procedures in their lab but yet risk is still existent and even persistent. Management wise its a strong commitment to achieve the full potential and prevent loss of life and investment in such unfortunate event in the neglect of a basic safety practice.

A lot of safety tips and common laboratory rules have been made and practice and these basic rules already saved lives, so for now I will not bragged too much on the basic lab safety practices but I would rather share the Best Laboratory Safety Practices.

I learned that safety practices are best taught not in code books, HSE Manuals, guidelines, and a long list of do's and don'ts. It is best learned and taught by sharing best safety practices from different labs who has their own innovative idea to solve their own problems.

The common everyday risk we encounter in a laboratory environment are:

• fire hazard
• explosion
• poison
• spill
• burns (chemical or heat)
• exposure
• and more you can identify in your own lab

There are some rule of thumb in dealing with the risks that we can identify:

1. Eliminate the risk
2. if 1 is not possible, employ engineering controls
3. if 2 cannot reduce the risk to a very very small percentage the last resort is to use Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)

Option 3 or using PPE is the last resort and the last line of defense of a person in the laboratory if these is breached risk of injury or death is inevitable so wearing a PPE address a risk is really a misconception.

Lets not take this too long Here are some of the best safety practices we can share in a laboratory environment:

A GOOD FUME HOOD

A good fume hood should be spacey, comfortable, and well maintained. Of course, ventilation is very important and added protection to the user like spill traps and the like

A FUME HOOD IS NOT ENOUGH? An Overhead flexible suction will do!

This is an added ventilation its advantage is flexibility and reach. Some job is not that convenient to do on the fume hoods due to the restricted spaces it has but this one is a good alternative for what it can offer in directed ventilation.

A Safe Way to transport Reagent bottles Inside the Laboratory.

Carrying Reagent Bottles May Pose risk especially for carrying Hazardous Reagents such as Very Strong Acids this plastic Reagent carrier will be very good in protecting the Reagent in any unfortunate event like slip or fall. It also act as secondary containment in case of leaks or breaks in the original container.