1. Environmental Health and Safety

2. Environmental Health and Safety
Objectives
• Fire Triangle / Tetrahedron
• Fire Causes
• Type of Fire
• Evacuation
• Fire Prevention
• Types of Extinguishers
• PASS Method
• Rules for Fires

3. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Triangle/Tetrahedron
• Fire Requires
• Oxygen
• Fuel
• Heat
• Uninhibited chemical chain
reaction

4. Environmental Health and Safety
Oxygen
• Air is required as a catalyst.
• Can be oxygen from the air

5. Environmental Health and Safety
Fuel
• For a fire to start there must be something to burn

6. Environmental Health and Safety
Heat
• For a fire to start, there must be a heat or ignition source

7. Environmental Health and Safety
Chemical Chain Reaction
• When fire molecules bind together to form a fire.

8. Environmental Health and Safety
Cooking Fires
 Pay attention to what you’re cooking.
 If you leave the room, turn off the stove.
 Don’t cook if you’re sleepy or
if you’re impaired.
Nearly half of all home
fires

9. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Causes
The top fire causes include:
 Cooking (49%)
 Open Flame (10%)
 Heating (9%)
 Incendiary/Arson (8%)
 Smoking (4%)
Personal vigilance is the best way to avoid
and survive fires!

10. Environmental Health and Safety
Reduce Your Chance of a
Cooking Fire
Keep flammable items away from heat sources.
Curtains, potholders, towels, clothing, etc.
Keep flammable cleaners away
from heat sources.
 Clean your stovetop
frequently
to avoid grease build up.

11. Environmental Health and Safety
Electrical Safety
• Do not overload electrical sockets.
• Do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
• They can become worn, overheat, and cause a fire.
• Avoid putting cords against walls or across
doorways.
• Use power strips equipped with overload protection
Make sure all power strips and extension cords are
tested and approved by a laboratory such as UL
(Underwriter’s Laboratories).

12. Environmental Health and Safety
Smoking Related Fires
 Cigarettes can smolder for hours.
 Tips to avoid smoking related fires:
Don’t smoke inside.
Discard smoking materials in a fire safe container.
Use a proper, heavy ashtray which won’t tip easily.
Don’t improvise!
Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths.

13. Environmental Health and Safety
Why is Fire Safety Important
According to the Fire Safety Precautions, workplace fires and
explosions kill most of people around us.

14. Environmental Health and Safety
Types of Asbestos
Fires are classified by the type of FUEL they burn.
The 5 types are:
• A
• B
• C
• D
• K

15. Environmental Health and Safety
Class A Fires
• Wood
• Paper
• Plastic
• Rags

16. Environmental Health and Safety
Class B Fires
• Gasoline
• Oil
• Grease
• Paint

17. Environmental Health and Safety
Class C Fires
• Electrical Fires
• Office Equipment
• Motors
• Switchgear
• Heaters

18. Environmental Health and Safety
Class D Fires
• Metals
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Aluminum
• Magnesium

19. Environmental Health and Safety
Evacuation cont.
If you are trapped in smoke or heat:
• Before you open any door, feel the door with the back of your hand. If
the door is warm to the touch, DO NOT attempt to open the door.
• Stuff the cracks around doors with towels, rags, clothing or tape, and
cover vents to keep out smoke.
• Stay low to the floor, and if possible, cover your mouth and nose with
a damp cloth or dust mask to help you breathe.
• If there is a phone in the room where
you are trapped, call the fire department
to tell them exactly where you are located.
Do this even if you see fire apparatus
on the street below.

20. Environmental Health and Safety
Be Prepared
• Check the location of fire alarms and
know how they work.
• Learn your building evacuation plan.
• Know where your two nearest exits are
located.
Learn how doors swing and where stairs lead.
• Make sure nothing blocks fire pulls,
extinguishers and emergency exits.
• Learn the sound of your building fire alarm.
• Post emergency numbers (including security
and first aid) near your telephone.

21. Environmental Health and Safety
In the event of a fire,
your personal safety is your
most important concern.
Remember – you are
not required to fight a fire.

22. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Prevention
Class A fires:
• Make sure combustible materials do not come in contact with
potential heat sources such as:
• floor furnaces, pilot lights, light bulbs, space heaters, and
electrical sources.
• Practice good housekeeping...don’t let piles of newspapers or
oily rags build up.
• Dispose of cigarettes properly.
• Keep matches and other lighters
away from children.

23. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Prevention
Class B fires:
• Always be careful when using flammable or combustible
liquids. Most of these liquids emit fumes that are heavier than
air. These fumes can travel long distances and may be ignited
by ignition sources such as:
• pilot lights, electrical sparks or even static discharges.
• Store gasoline in approved safety cans only.
• Wait until gasoline powered equipment
has cooled off before refueling.

24. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Prevention
Class C fires:
• Don’t overload wall outlets.
• Make sure cords and wires are in good condition.
• Replace them if they become frayed or damaged.
• Don’t run cords under carpets or through doors or windows.

25. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Extinguisher Gauge

26. Environmental Health and Safety
Using A Fire Extinguisher
• Use the PASS System

27. Environmental Health and Safety
P.A.S.S
• Pull
• Aim
• Squeeze
• Sweep

28. Environmental Health and Safety
Aim
• Aim at the base of the fire.
• If you aim at the flames, the
extinguishing agent will fly right
through and do no good. You
want to hit the fuel.

29. Environmental Health and Safety
Squeeze
• Squeeze the top handle or
lever.
• This depresses a button that
releases the pressurized
extinguishing agent
in the extinguisher.

30. Environmental Health and Safety
Sweep
• Sweep from side to side
until the fire is completely out.

31. Environmental Health and Safety
Rules for Fires
• Fires are very dangerous.
• Be certain that you will not endanger yourself
or others when attempting to put out a fire.

32. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Rules
• Pull the Fire Alarm
• Located at exterior doors primarily used as exits
Call 108
• State the emergency
• Location ( address or name of location if possible)
Assist anyone danger
• Handicapped
• Elderly
• Children

33. Environmental Health and Safety
Fire Rules
• Never fight a fire if you don't have adequate or
appropriate equipment.
• If you don't have the correct type or large enough
extinguisher, it is best not to try to fight the fire.
• The final rule is to always position yourself with an exit or
means of escape at your back before you attempt to use
an extinguisher to put out a fire.

34. Environmental Health and Safety
Summary
• Fire Triangle / Tetrahedron
• Fire Causes
• Type of Fire
• Evacuation
• Fire Prevention
• Types of Extinguishers
• PASS Method
• Rules for Fires

35. Environmental Health and Safety
Questions?

36. Environmental Health and Safety