Fire Extinguishers - On the job Tool Box Talks

Armed with the right type of fire extinguisher, a person can often extinguish or contain a fire before it becomes a major blaze. But to effectively fight a fire, an individual must be prepared with the right type of extinguisher, have it readily available, and know how to use it properly. Failure to be properly prepared to extinguish a fire not only reduces the chances of containing the blaze, but may also place the individual in an extremely hazardous situation.

If you lack the tools or the skills to fight a fire, no matter how small, get out of the building, call your local fire department and wait for them to arrive.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
There are several types of fire extinguishers available, but the best type is a multipurpose "ABC" type extinguisher. ABC type extinguishers generally use ammonium phosphate as the active chemical to extinguish a fire and are capable of putting out most common fires.
Extinguishers are rated for the type of fire they are made to extinguish.
- A - Ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, hay, etc.
- B - Flammable liquids such as gas, oil, grease and other petroleum products.
- C - Electrical fires.

As this listing shows, an ABC type extinguisher is capable of extinguishing most fires. When pulling out a generator or using other flammable materials or liquids, make sure there is a fire extinguisher readily available. Knows where your Fire Extinguisher is located and make certain that it is fully charged. A dead fire extinguisher is useless. Visually inspect the Fire Extinguisher daily to for proper charge.

To Operate a Fire Extinguisher:
1. Take extinguisher from mounting bracket.
2. Remove locking pin, ring, clip, level, etc. Get into a crouching position on the upwind side of the fire.
3. Point extinguisher nozzle at base of fire and squeeze the lever or handle.
4. Discharge using a sweeping motion from side to side at the base of the fire.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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Flammable Liquids, on the job tool box talks

They’re called flammable liquids, but it’s not the liquid that you need to worry about—it’s the vapor that begins to form as soon as the container is opened. This vapor can explode at the first spark from a tool, a match, simple friction, static electricity or even high temperatures. Most flammable liquids are volatile, that is, they evaporate quickly and reach a concentration in the air that could lead to an explosion. Flammable vapors are especially dangerous because you can’t see them, and often you can’t smell them. Solvents, cleaning fluids, acetone, alcohol and fuels are some of the flammable liquids you may use on the job.

Working Safely With Flammable Liquids

- Control the three potential hazards: temperature, concentration of vapor and ignition sources.
- Read the safety data sheet (SDS) for each liquid you use so you’ll know its flash point as well as its upper and lower explosive limits—the range in which vapors are at the right concentration to explode if they’re ignited.
- Follow your employer’s flammable liquids safety policy.
- Always wear the correct, properly fitted personal protective equipment.
- Ventilate the area to keep vapor concentration down.
- Know which chemicals, such as oxidizers, increase the fire dangers of flammables.
- Know the location of the correct fire extinguisher to use in a flammables fire.
- Never smoke in areas with flammable liquids.
- Avoid mixing flammables; even small amounts of highly volatile liquids can lower the flash point of the mixture to dangerous levels.
- Check with your supervisor for instruction on how to dispose of flammable liquids.
- Store flammable-soaked rags and other waste materials in tightly covered, specially designated containers.
- Never pour flammable liquids down drains.
- Keep flammables away from welding, cutting and grinding operations.
- Be cautious with empty drums that have contained flammable liquids.
- Never do repair work or welding on an empty flammables drum without getting clearance first.
- Make sure that areas below where you’re working are ventilated or sealed off to prevent the vapors from flowing down into them.
- Special spark-proof switches and fixtures should be installed in areas where flammable liquids are used.

Storing Flammable Liquids

- Keep flammable-liquid containers tightly covered, and store away from other chemicals and ignition sources in well ventilated, temperature-controlled areas.
- Storage areas for flammables should be equipped with non-sparking electrical systems and heat sources.
- Store flammables separately from other chemicals, especially reactives such as oxidizers, in well-ventilated, temperature controlled areas.
- Make sure flammables are stored in authorized containers and are correctly and clearly labeled for flammability. Liquids with a flash point of 80° F or less must be marked with a red label.
- Make certain containers are fireproof and have vapor screens and vapor-tight caps.
- Attach grounding wires to flammable storage containers to prevent static electricity buildup.
- Before transferring flammable liquids from a drum to a container, be sure to connect the container to the drum with a bonding wire before pouring the liquid, since the friction of pouring can ignite the vapors.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

MSDS for Construction

OSHA requires that construction workers who come into contact with hazardous chemicals be provided with thorough and accurate information on each hazardous chemical present at their worksite. The material safety data sheet, or MSDS, is the means used to provide the required information on worksite chemicals and hazards.

MSDSs are easily stored and can be readily accessible to employees. Your safety director should tell you where those MSDSs are located at your site. If you don’t know where they are, find out.

MSDSs come in all kinds of formats. As long as all the prescribed information is presented on the MSDS in English, requirements have been met. Most MSDSs come on paper sheets; however, technology has led some companies to computerize MSDSs. OSHA approves of this method, but only if the information is in English and readily available to workers. Here are the MSDS sections you will find and what information they contain:

Chemical identity — The identity used on the label, except trade secrets.

Physical and chemical characteristics — Vapor pressure, flash point, and other characteristics.

Physical hazards — Including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity.

Health hazards — Including signs and symptoms of exposure, and any medical conditions which are generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the chemical.

Primary route(s) of entry — Including skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.

Exposure limits — Exposure limits used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the MSDS, where available.

Carcinogenic properties — Whether the hazardous chemical is listed in the official lists of carcinogens and potential carcinogens.

Precautions for safe handling and use — Any generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use, including hygienic practices, personal protective measures, and procedures for cleanup of spills and leaks.

Control measures — Any generally applicable control measures, such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices, or PPE.

Emergency and first aid measures — How to treat workers who are exposed.

Date of preparation — The date of preparation of the MSDS or the last change to it.

Manufacturer, importer, or responsible party — The name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer, or other responsible party preparing or distributing the MSDS, who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

GHS Pictograms

OSHA has updated the hazard communication (HazCom) standard to include the Globally Harmonized System. This will require that all containers of hazardous chemicals be labeled with GHS-compliant labeling.

Part of that label may be pictograms - a black symbol inside of a red diamond border. Each pictogram has a specific meaning to convey health, physical, and environmental hazard information for a chemical's hazard class and category.

OSHA requires the use of nine different pictograms. Since you will be working with these labels, it's important that you become familiar with the pictograms.

 Flame Over Circle represents oxidizers.

Flame represents flammables, self-reactives, pyrophorics, self-heating materials, substances that emit flammable gas, and/or type B, C, D, and F organic peroxides.

Exploding Bomb is used to represent explosives, self-reactives, and type A and B organic peroxides.

Skull and Crossbones represents acutely toxic materials.

Corrosion represents skin corrosives, eye corrosives, and materials corrosive to metals.

Gas Cylinder represents gases under pressure.

Health Hazard is used to represent carcinogens, respiratory sensitizers, reproductive toxicity, target organ toxicity, mutagenicity, and aspiration toxicity.

Exclamation Mark is used for irritants, skin sensitizers, acute toxicity, narcotic effects, and respiratory tract irritants.

Environment is used for aquatic toxicity.

This information was provided by Assurance Agency.