LAB FIRE SAFETY AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING Department

LAB FIRE SAFETY AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING Department of Public Safety Environmental Health and Safety Fire and Life Safety Emergency Management and Homeland Security 1

CBLS TRASH CAN FIRE Fire Extinguisher 30 Gallon Plastic Trash Can Safety Shower Bunsen Burner Combustible Materials 2

LAB SAFETY ORIENTATION n Checklist q q q n Fire Alarm Pull Station Fire Extinguisher Safety Shower Videos q q Introduction Video Meet Jimmy Video 3

CBLS SAFETY EQUIPMENT n Fire Alarm Pull Station q n Entrance to stairwells Fire Extinguisher q Recessed Enclosures n n n Research Labs – In lab Teaching Labs – In hallways Safety Shower q Pull down handle on the wall n n Research Labs – In lab Teaching Labs – In hallways 4

HELP IS AVAILABLE n Emergency Numbers q q q n n Kingston Fire Department URI Public Safety Department q q n On campus: 2121 Off campus: 874 -2121 Fire Alarm Pull Stations (near stairwells and exits) University Police and Security Fire and Life Safety Environmental Health and Safety Emergency Management and Homeland Security URI Emergency Medical Services 5

HOW DOES A FIRE WORK? n n n Three components Need all three components to start a fire Fire extinguishers remove one or more of the components 6

POTENTIAL IGNITION SOURCES IN THE LAB n n n n Bunsen Burners and Torches Electrical Equipment Oil Baths Furnaces/Ovens Flammable Solvents Air and Water Reactive Chemicals Static Electricity 7

PRUDENT PRACTICES n Minimize use of open flame q q Use electrical heating sources such as heating mantles Alternatives to flame sterilization include n n Safety laboratory burner Micro sterilizers Disposable sterile loops If using open flame, remove combustible materials from the immediate area q q Lab notebooks, trash cans, bench liners, etc. Pull back long hair No loose clothing, scarfs, etc. Wear a flame resistant lab coat 8

PRUDENT PRACTICES n n n n Keep flammable liquid containers closed Store flammables that are not actively in use in a flammable storage cabinet Minimize the amount of flammables in the lab Use proper grounding and bonding for flammable liquid transfer Use water and air reactive chemicals in a glove box under an inert atmosphere Minimize storage of combustibles in the lab (paper, cardboard boxes, etc) Do not store anything within 18” of sprinkler heads or 24” of the ceiling 9

PRUDENT PRACTICES n Keep Emergency Equipment Accessible q q q n n Fire alarm pull stations Fire extinguishers Safety showers Electrical panels Evacuation routes Keep Fire Doors Closed Know Evacuation Routes and Rally Point 10

UCLA LAB ACCIDENT n n n n Sheri Sangji, 23 -year-old chemistry research assistant Using tert-butyllithium (t. Bu. Li), a pyrophoric chemical which was accidentally exposed to air and ignited Open flask of hexane was knocked over, also ignited Sangji’s clothes ignited She did not use the nearby safety shower First responder tried to smother flames with a lab coat then used water from a nearby sink Sanji passed away from her injuries two weeks later Chemical & Engineering News August 3, 2009 11

FIRE AND SMOKE CAN SPREAD QUICKLY n n National Institute of Standards and Testing Video Living Room Fire (1: 15, 4: 15) q q n Smoke Density Flashover Exit slide show to show video 12

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES n If you find or suspect a fire or smell smoke q q q n n n Activate the fire alarm pull station Leave the building Proceed to the designated evacuation location. Notify Public Safety Dispatch at 874 -2121. Call from a safe location. Report to first fire truck on-scene or command post to brief responders. Don’t delay calling for help, fire and smoke can spread very quickly If there is a fire, you will not get in trouble for pulling the fire alarm or calling Public Safety Dispatch By letting the fire department know what is going on, the response will be more effective allowing the building operations to return back to normal more quickly. 13

FIRE ALARM PULL STATIONS n Most are dual action q q n Tamper proof units q q n Local alarm when cover is lifted Pull down to activate building alarm Location q q n Lift and pull Push and pull At exit doors At stairwells on each floor Alarm sounds q Generally consist of a standardized temporal code 3 audible tone q New buildings may have voice warning three times, then tone 14

SURVIVAL INFORMATION n n n Feel doors prior to opening. If cool, open slowly. Crawl low under smoke. Cleaner, cooler air will be near the floor. Look for the exits and take the closest route. Close all doors as you exit. Doors are designed to keep heat and smoke from spreading through corridors and stairwells that would prevent escape. Elevators are not operational during a fire alarm. Never exit via an elevator. Heat and smoke can travel up an elevator shaft, power can fail and you could become trapped in the elevator car. 15

SURVIVAL INFORMATION n n n If smoke or heat is not tolerable, or the door is hot to the touch, keep door closed and remain in the room. Seal cracks around the door with a wet shirt or towel. Open windows from the top and bottom. Smoke will go out the top, and fresh air will come in from the bottom. Dial 874 -2121 and let Public Safety know your exact location. Hang or wave a shirt or towel from the window. Do not climb or jump out of windows - Help is on the way. 16

SURVIVAL INFORMATION n n If your clothing catches fire, do not run for help. Drop to the ground, pull your arms in to your side and roll to smother the flames. A safety shower can be used to extinguish the fire, if available Use only cool water on burns, never use ointments and seek professional help immediately. 17

TYPES OF FIRES n n Class A - Wood, paper, cloth, trash Class B - Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease Class C - Electrical, energized electrical equipment Class D - Combustible metals 18

TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS n n n All Purpose Water (A) Carbon Dioxide (B, C) Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical (A, B, C) q Provided in the labs n n Monoammonium Phosphate Non-toxic Limit inhalation of powder Combustible Metals (D) 19

WHEN NOT TO FIGHT A FIRE n Never fight a fire if: q q q You don’t have the proper fire extinguisher The fire is between you and the exit (unless you need to fight it to get out) The fire has spread beyond the point of origin You have emptied the fire extinguisher Your instincts tell you to get out Keep the extinguisher with you until safely out of the building 20

WHEN TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER n n n n You have been properly trained There is an extinguisher nearby The extinguisher is the correct type You are comfortable using the extinguisher Your back is to the exit The fire has not spread from its origin No more than one extinguisher is needed 21

P. A. S. S. METHOD Pull the pin This will allow you to squeeze the handle in order to discharge the extinguisher Prop 22

P. A. S. S. METHOD Aim at the base of the fire Aiming at the middle will do no good. The agent will pass through the flames. 23

P. A. S. S. METHOD Squeeze the handle This will release the pressurized extinguishing agent 24

P. A. S. S. METHOD Sweep side to side Cover the entire area that is on fire. Continue until fire is extinguished. Keep an eye on the area for re-lighting. 25

HANDS ON TRAINING n Fire Extinguisher Training Simulator 26

SAFETY BRIEFING n n n n Training involves live fire Training is voluntary Do not approach within 6' of the flames Resist the urge to move closer to the flames Pull back long hair No loose clothing (scarfs, etc. ) Hold the fire extinguisher vertically No smoking or other potential ignition sources allowed in the burn zone 27

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES n n n Call Public Safety Dispatch 874 -2121 Controller has "deadman" switch releasing the button extinguishes the flames Clothing fires - stop, drop and roll Dry chemical fire extinguisher available First aid kit available 28

FIRE SAFETY SUMMARY n Prevention q q n Preparedness q q n Take care when working with open flame, eliminate combustibles from the area Store flammable chemicals properly, keep containers closed, eliminate ignition sources Know where emergency equipment is located Risk assessment – protect yourself first Response q q In the event of a fire, pull the fire alarm pull station and evacuate the building – get the fire department on the way as quickly as possible Only use a fire extinguisher if it is safe to do so n n Report all fires that have been extinguished to Public Safety Dispatch Do not cleanup the fire area until it has been inspected by the Fire Department Contact the Fire Safety Inspector for a replacement extinguisher Take these lessons home with you!