NOTE TO THE TRAINER

You need to keep the following things ready before this starting this
training session:

1. Keep one MCP (Manual Call Point) to demonstrate how to activate it.
2. Keep the site map with Assembly Points at your project to show the
participants.
3. Keep a list of fire incidents for using as examples most relevant to your
project.
Venkata Ravi Ram, Advisor - Safety
Fires occur in workplaces regularly. Fires are preventable catastrophes and can cause
crores of rupees of damage in the form of
• loss of production or generation
• loss of jobs
• loss of lives

Fire accidents are caused due to several causes in

a workplace. Some of the causes include poor
housekeeping, unsafe storage of
materials, electrical faults, welding/hot work, unsafe use of flammable liquid or
gases, mechanical heat and sparks.

Some of India’s biggest industrial disasters have been due to fires.

Fire started in a ship
carrying cotton,
explosives and gold

800 to 1300 persons

died due to the
explosion & fire.
Fire started when a small
supply ship hit an oil rig.
Fire spread fast on the oil
rig which got totally burnt.

22 persons died
due to the
explosion & fire.
Petrol leaked while
being transferred and
formed a large pool.

The petrol vapor

exploded causing
large scale fires.
11 persons died.
The good news is that fire
accidents don’t have to happen.
Most of the fire accidents could
have been prevented.

Preventing fires depends on

everyone working in this project.

And, the most critical element of

fire prevention is YOU.
Fire is a fast chemical process in which air(oxygen) combines(chemical reaction)
with another substance (fuel) in the presence of a source of heat.

A fire triangle illustrates the basic ideas for

starting, preventing and extinguishing fires.

a fire can start only when all four

components are present.
It can be prevented by strictly controlling all
these components
It will be extinguished when any one of the
chemical
these is removed or reduced.
reaction

FU
EL
 Air or Oxygen

Like life, fire also requires oxygen. It is

oxygen in the air that allows the flame in
the stove at your home. Air normally has FUEL
21% oxygen. For fire to start and continue
16% oxygen is enough.
Source of oxygen for fires include:
Air; Compressors;
Fans & Ventilation systems; Some types of chemicals.
Air cylinders;
 Heat

required to increase the temperature of the

fuel from where it can catch fire.
FUEL
Source of heat for fires include:
Open flames Mechanical, like friction, brakes, boilers;
Hot surfaces, Heaters; Electrical, like faults, short-circuits, static,
Smoking cigarette butts; Lighting;
Hot work, e.g. welding; Chemical, like heat generating reactions.
Arson;
 FUEL

what catches fire.

Fuels comes in different forms like, FUEL

SOLID LIQUID GAS

Coal, Wood, Paper, Petrol, Diesel, LPG, Butane, Acetylene
Plastics, Rubber, Foam, Paints, Thinners, (Gas cutting) Natural gas
Cloth, Waste materials Oils
Dry grass, Coal Dust
It is interesting to note that materials can catch fire by
themselves, if the temperature in their surroundings is
high enough.
How much the surrounding temperature should be to
start automatic fire depends on the material and its
condition.

For example:
Solid Coal requires a flame to catch fire.

While the same coal in in the form of dry dust can

catch fire or explode on a very hot summer day.
Fire needs heat and spreads where heat spreads.
Heat moves within a solid material from
hotter to cooler parts. Different materials
move heat at different rates.
Metals conduct heat well, for example if fire is
touching a steel column passing through a wall
or floor, it may become the route by which heat
can pass to start fire in adjacent rooms thus
spreading further.
Similarly a wall or ceiling may not burn by
itself but may become so hot that heat will
Here, fire is touching a steel pipe and is
be conducted through it and cause fire in conducted along it; and that heat results in
other rooms. spreading the fire to the floor above
Heat also moves through hot air that
rises in waves or currents causing the
buildup of hot gases under the ceiling.

Cooler air enters the vacant space when the

hot air rises, pushes the hot air, thus
spreading the heat around the place.
Hot embers move from place to place using
this hot air, setting off fires in other places.
Here, fire in one room spreads as the hot air is
moving up to the next floor. Cooler air (blue arrow)
rushes in helps the spread of heat & flaming embers
by pushing them up; resulting in spreading the fire
to the floor above
Remember warming yourself next to a campfire in winter?
That was heat from the fire moving
through the air warming you.
Heat movement through radiation causes
other parts of the room to heat rapidly.
Radiant heat will pass through windows or
through other openings and can spread fire
to an adjacent building.
It can also make escape routes unusable, if Here, heat from fire in one room is
doors or windows on the route are left open spreading through the space heating up
other material in the next room;
allowing the fire to radiate heat into the
resulting in spreading the fire to the
escape route. next room
Most of the time fire spreads through a combination of these
three modes.
Let’s see the simplest form where fire is applied directly. Like a lit
match burning a paper
You create heat on the match head when you rub it against the box,
The chemical on the box generates heat and sets the head on fire
and the match stick burns due to movement of heat within itself,
you can feel the heat in your fingers.
The hot gases in the flame move due to convection and strike
the paper.

Radiant heat will pass through space and further heat up the paper
making it easier to burn.
1. Can you think of some areas in this project from where fire can start
easily?
2. What is the emergency number for fire in this project?
3. When it comes to fighting fires, what is the difference between you
and a fire fighter?
4. Can closing doors & windows stop spread of fires? How??
5. Does fire need to touch a material to set it on fire? Can you give three
examples?
Fires start for many different reasons. Some common causes of workplace fires are:
Electrical equipment – faulty wiring, overloaded
conductors, loose connections, short circuits, misused
equipment and the incorrect use.
Use of incorrect fuses, like use of nails and bits of metal
wires to replace fuses.
Smoldering cigarettes carelessly thrown away.
Some workplace fires are started intentionally, in other cases,
it is unintentional like youths playing with matches in the
neighborhood farms setting off fire that spreads across
boundary walls.

Hot work – with open flame

like welding or gas cutting or
which creates a significant
ignition source like grinding.
Cooking appliances, like unattended frying pans;

Unattended heating appliances, like welding electrode

heaters, space heaters.

Unsafe use and storage of

flammable liquids and gases,
like LPG, kerosene, acetylene.

Static electricity sparks.

Lightning.
Mechanical heat – generated by friction
between moving parts, such as a motor and its
bearings, or cold work generating sparks.

Chemical reactions - can also generate heat, like some rags soaked in
oil and solvents are a fire hazard, because as the oil or solvents react
with air, heat is generated and there is a risk of spontaneous
combustion.

Loss of control while burning rubbish.

Our air normally has 21% oxygen.
For fire to start and continue 16% is
enough, that is what sustains the fire in
a stove at your home.

When there is more

supply of oxygen like in case of windy
conditions, fire will catch and spread Smothering
more easily. or
limitation of
If more air or oxygen can increase
danger of fire, it also means that if you
air
reduce or remove air or oxygen the
danger of fire is also reduced. FUEL
The project has been designed to be a safe work place with
features to prevent spread of fire like:
Buildings is mainly concrete & bricks which are usually resistant to
Openings through
heat. Openings are closed with doors & windows.
which fire can spread
to a different floor like
air ducts, cable trays are
sealed with fire resistant
foam.

Building ventilation
Critical areas have fire
systems have facility
doors. These are special to close in case of fire
doors that can withstand preventing fresh air
the fire for specific time, from entering and
can seal smoke and
prevent spread of fire.
spreading the fire.
When you see any of these symbols or colored stickers on any material or
packaging, ask your supervisor how to handle them safely.
These labels denote materials that can catch fire or explode or are under pressure.

Colors indicate types

of dangers.
Combination stickers
indicate multiple
dangers.
You can prevent fires by controlling sources
of heat that can start fires. These include:
Open flames.
Smoking cigarette butts.
Hot surfaces.
Heaters.
Hot work, like welding. Cooling
Mechanical, like friction, engines, boilers. -
Electrical, like short-circuits, static. Removal or
Chemical, like heat generating reactions. limitation of heat.

FUEL
 Carelessly discarded cigarettes
have caused many fires.

Smoking is prohibited in this project.

If you are caught smoking or carrying

Fires due to smoking
matches inside this project,

YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THIS

PROJECT.
The project follows a Safe System of Work for hot work. No hot work is allowed
without written permit. Always confirm with your supervisor if permit is available
before starting any hot work.

Violations of safe system of work are unsafe acts and

you will be asked to leave the project.

Remember, almost fire accidents are preventable.

Never start any work unless you understand the

dangers in the work and understand what you need
to do to keep yourself & others safe.
Safe System of Work for hot work includes control of works that spread heat to the
surroundings like using fire blankets while doing welding at a height to prevent sparks
from spreading & starting a fire.

Keeping fire-fighters as stand- by

when hot work is in progress.

Using a fire watcher in place at

hot work spot for few hours, to
spot any fires that might start
later.
When you remove or limit fuel, you starve it of its food and it dies.

You can prevent fires by minimizing and

controlling the amount of flammable
material in your workplace.

The next few slides discuss this aspect.

Starvation
–
Removal or limitation of fuel.
Use flammable liquids only in well ventilated areas.
Keep flammable material away from sources of heat.
When not in use, always keep the contents in closed
containers.
Place oily rags in covered containers.

Ask your supervisor how to dispose empty & waste containers.

Keep cylinders in standing position, secured with chains.
Keep minimum numbers of gas cylinders.
Have clear labels on containers.
Provide drain trays to contain small spills.
Store in well ventilated spaces.
Flammable atmospheres result in the presence of flammable materials
like flammable gases, mists, vapors or combustible dust.

Depending on the risk, the project is categorized into zones for flammable
atmospheres. Equipment and tools are selected accordingly.

Your supervisor will ask

you to use special tools or
precautions or PPE in case
you need to work in such a
zone. Following such
instructions will keep you
safe.
When coal is handled, fine coal dust in the
coal can become air-borne and settle in small
heaps or accumulate on hot surfaces. Under
certain conditions, this can cause fires and
explosions.

Two methods are used reduce the risk of

coal dust catching fire.

Sprinkling water regularly to keep the dust on

the ground where it accumulates.

Remove the accumulated coal dust regularly.

When flammable residue like oil spills and other
combustible waste materials are allowed to
accumulate in a work environment, they act as a
ready source of fuel during a fire accident.

Good housekeeping
means you maintain
an orderly workplace
to prevent
accumulation of
hazardous materials.
You can take steps to control ignitable materials in a work place by eliminating their
unnecessary accumulation, such as,
Storing tools and equipment after use and
unplugging power tools.

Storing flammable materials in designated

places including waste oily rags.

Regular disposal of waste materials and removal of

unused materials from your workplace.

Daily clean-up of your work area.

 Maintain machinery and tools in safe
working order.
Don’t try to change electrical fuses
unless you are qualified and trained to
do so.
Switch off electrical appliances when
Unusual odors can not in use.
be the first sign of a Ensure checking of equipment and
potential fire. tools before use.
Check any tool or Use right tools. Wrong use of paint
electrical cans as stools, supports caused many
equipment that fires. Doing hot work sitting on a
smells strange. empty paint can kill you or others.
6. What is the biggest fire risk in coal handling plant, crusher house, coal mills areas?

7. Can you name few things that you use in your work that can start or spread fires?

8. Name three places you think you should never store or leave material?

9. If you are passing in an area and you see an oil spill. What should you do?

10.You are going for your lunch. Do you need to switch-off your tools or fans? Why?
There are different types of portable fire extinguishers identifiable
by their labels and their coloring.

Each type of extinguisher is effective on certain types of fire only.

If misused, fire extinguishers can be very dangerous on the

wrong fire.

Wrong use of portable fire extinguishers can spread the fire,

And can kill you.
If you discover a fire:
it's important that you remain calm,
raise the alarm using the manual call point and by calling
emergency number

Don’t run with a fire extinguisher towards a fire, you don't want to
become part of the problem

In open air, always check which direction the wind is blowing.

This is essential for you to maintain a safe way out.
If you hear about a fire in the project, stay away from that area. You will only
add to the problem.

Fire accident is not entertainment. Many times there have been secondary
fires & explosions.

More people died in secondary fires & explosions when they went to
watch fires, compared with those who died in the first fire or explosion.
After the first explosion many people
moved to see thick black smoke in huge
columns and were killed by the second
explosion.

Pedestrians and sightseers were blown off

their feet and motorcars overturned. An
immense volume of thick black smoke that
rose covered the sky.

More people died in the second explosion

compared with the first explosion.
If you discover a fire be sure you know who to contact.

The internal emergency phone

number for reporting fire 6101
You must always save yourself first.

You are NOT a trained firefighter. It is safer to allow trained

persons to fight the fire.
Understand your evacuation routes, emergency exits and
Assembly Points.

Knowing these can save your life.

In open air, always check which direction the wind is blowing.

This is essential for you to maintain a safe way out.
11. Does every work gang in this project need to have fire extinguishers during
their work?
12. What do these signs indicate?

13. Have you seen anyone using empty paint cans as stools? Do you know any
accidents relating to empty paint cans?
14. What must you do if you spot a fire?
15. Name at least three ways how YOU can prevent fires in your work?
You must report unsafe or unhealthy situations.

You must work safely.

Your work must not put others in danger.

At anytime during the work, if you feel unsafe STOP working. Tell other
workers about your concerns.

Tell your Supervisor what actions you think are necessary to make the
situation safe.

If you still feel unsafe, talk to NTPC Engineer about your concerns. We
assure you that work that puts you in an unsafe condition will be never
be allowed in this project.
REMEMBER
• Your unsafe or negligent behavior can kill You or Others.
• Your unsafe or negligent behavior will NOT be tolerated.
• You may be asked to leave the project.