ECI – Engineers Construction

This week’s safety focus is Fire Safety, which is an important consideration at all jobsites, in the shops, in our office, and at home.  It  is particularly important when we are doing hot work like torch work, arc welding, thermite welding, etc.

The physics behind fire protection is understanding the fire triangle which consists of fuel, oxygen, and heat.  Fighting a fire, and preventing a fire, involves removing one of the three from the process.

Fires are classified as:

A – Trash/Wood/Paper

B – Flamable Liquids including petroleum products, paints, and propane

C – Involving Energized Electrical Equipment or Wiring

D – Reactive Metals (for example: thermite welds)

K – Cooking Oils

Make sure that the fire extinguisher is rated for the type of fire.  Using the wrong extinguisher can spread the fire or cause electrocution in the case of a type C fire.  Many of ECI’s extinguishers are ABC for any of these three types.

Finally, take the time today to do the following for all extinguishers in your work area:

1. Check for the proper charge (check monthly)
2. Familiarize yourself with the type of extinguisher and consider whether it is appropriate for the types of potential fires in your work area.
3. Verify that the tag has not expired.  Return expired extinguishers to Stu/Matt for replacements.

This reference link provides a handy reference for fire safety:   www.fireextinguisher.com