LAB FIRE SAFETY AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING

Department of Public SafetyEnvironmental Health and Safety

Fire and Life Safety

Emergency Management and Homeland Security

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CBLS TRASH CAN FIRE

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30 Gallon Plastic Trash Can

Bunsen Burner

Fire Extinguisher

Safety Shower

Combustible Materials

LAB SAFETY ORIENTATION

Checklist Fire Alarm Pull Station Fire Extinguisher Safety Shower

Videos Introduction Video Meet Jimmy Video

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CBLS SAFETY EQUIPMENT Fire Alarm Pull Station

Entrance to stairwells Fire Extinguisher

Recessed Enclosures Research Labs – In lab Teaching Labs – In hallways

Safety Shower Pull down handle on the wall

Research Labs – In lab Teaching Labs – In hallways

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HELP IS AVAILABLE

Emergency Numbers On campus: 2121 Off campus: 874-2121 Fire Alarm Pull Stations (near stairwells and exits)

Kingston Fire Department URI Public Safety Department

University Police and Security Fire and Life Safety Environmental Health and Safety Emergency Management and Homeland Security

URI Emergency Medical Services

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HOW DOES A FIRE WORK?

Three components Need all three

components to start a fire

Fire extinguishers remove one or more of the components

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POTENTIAL IGNITION SOURCES IN THE LAB

Bunsen Burners and Torches Electrical Equipment Oil Baths Furnaces/Ovens Flammable Solvents Air and Water Reactive Chemicals Static Electricity

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PRUDENT PRACTICES Minimize use of open flame

Use electrical heating sources such as heating mantles Alternatives to flame sterilization include

Safety laboratory burner Micro sterilizers Disposable sterile loops

If using open flame, remove combustible materials from the immediate area Lab notebooks, trash cans, bench liners, etc. Pull back long hair No loose clothing, scarfs, etc. Wear a flame resistant lab coat

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PRUDENT PRACTICES

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

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PRUDENT PRACTICES

Keep Emergency Equipment Accessible Fire alarm pull stations Fire extinguishers Safety showers Electrical panels Evacuation routes

Keep Fire Doors Closed Know Evacuation Routes and Rally Point

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UCLA LAB ACCIDENT Sheri Sangji, 23-year-old chemistry research assistant Using tert-butyllithium (tBuLi), 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

FIRE AND SMOKE CAN SPREAD QUICKLY

National Institute of Standards and Testing Video Living Room Fire (1:15, 4:15)

Smoke Density Flashover

Exit slide show to show video

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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

If you find or suspect a fire or smell smoke 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.

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FIRE ALARM PULL STATIONS

Most are dual action Lift and pull Push and pull

Tamper proof units Local alarm when cover is lifted Pull down to activate building alarm

Location At exit doors At stairwells on each floor

Alarm sounds Generally consist of a standardized temporal code 3 audible tone New buildings may have voice warning three times, then tone

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SURVIVAL INFORMATION

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.

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SURVIVAL INFORMATION

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.

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SURVIVAL INFORMATION

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.

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TYPES OF FIRES

Class A - Wood, paper,cloth,trash Class B - Flammable liquids, oil, gas, grease Class C - Electrical, energized electrical

equipment Class D - Combustible metals

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All Purpose Water (A) Carbon Dioxide (B,C) Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical (A,B,C)

Provided in the labs Monoammonium Phosphate Non-toxic Limit inhalation of powder

Combustible Metals (D)

TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS

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WHEN NOT TO FIGHT A FIRE

Never fight a fire if: 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

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WHEN TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

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

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P.A.S.S. METHOD

Pull the pin

This will allow you to squeeze the handle in order to discharge the

extinguisher

Prop

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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.

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P.A.S.S. METHOD

Squeeze the handle

This will release the pressurized

extinguishing agent

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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.

HANDS ON TRAINING

Fire Extinguisher Training Simulator

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SAFETY BRIEFING

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

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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

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

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FIRE SAFETY SUMMARY Prevention

Take care when working with open flame, eliminate combustibles from the area Store flammable chemicals properly, keep containers closed, eliminate ignition

sources

Preparedness Know where emergency equipment is located Risk assessment – protect yourself first

Response 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

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!