CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

EDUCATION PROGRAM
#17

FIRE SAFETY

This education program provides a guideline for fire safety in the workplace. It is
intended to give contractors and workers practical information relating to fire
prevention and safety, in the workplace.

This education program contains general information. For specific regulatory

requirements and standards please consult the appropriate regulations(s)
concerning fire safety or the Workplace Safety and Health Act and the Local Fire
Prevention Authorities.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
INTRODUCTION:

There is no second chance when it comes to fire. Work-related fires have

taken the lives of hundreds of people and injured countless others. But fires
are tragedies that don't have to happen. In this program, you'll learn:

- How fires start

- How fires are classified
- How to prevent fires
- How to identify the proper fire extinguishers
- How to use a portable fire extinguisher
- What are Fire Safety Procedures
- Fire extinguisher checklist

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
HOW FIRES START
Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It
needs four elements to occur:

• Fuel-Fuel can be any combustible material-solid, liquid or gas.

• Oxygen- The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. Fire only

needs 16 percent to ignite.

• Heat- Heat is the energy needed for the fuel to generate sufficient
vapors for ignition to occur.

• Chemical Reaction- When fuel, oxygen and heat come together in the
right amounts and under the right conditions, a chemical chain reaction
happens and a fire occurs.

Take away any one of these factors, and the fire cannot exist.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
HOW FIRES ARE CLASSIFIED

Class A- Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper,

cloth, rubber and some plastics.

Class B- Flammable or combustible gases and liquids such

as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners or propane

Class C- Energized electrical equipment such as

appliances, panel boxes, switches and power tools

Class D- Certain combustible metals such as magnesium,

titanium, potassium or sodium. These metals burn at high
temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support
combustion. They may react violently with water or other
chemicals, and must be handled with care.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
HOW TO PREVENT FIRES

Class-A Fires
(Ordinary combustibles):

Keep storage and working areas free of

trash.

Place oily rags and similar debris in

covered metal containers away from any
flame producing source.

Empty all trash containers daily.

Slam The Lid
On Fire Hazards
PUT WASTE IN ITS PLACE!
Class-B Fires
(Flammable liquids or gases):

Flammable liquids should only be used in well ventilated areas.

Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly sealed, self closing and spill proof
containers.

Store flammable liquids away from spark producing sources.

Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment while it's hot.

Standards and codes should be referred to concerning storage and

amounts of flammable liquids at the work site.

Class-C (Electrical equipment):

Check electrical equipment for old or worn wiring and insulation and
damaged fittings.

Electrical motors should be clean and in good working order to prevent

over heating.

Never replace a fuse with a higher rated fuse rated for the circuit.

Don't overload wall outlets, two outlets should have no more than two
plugs.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
 Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells strange,
unusual odors can be first signs of fire.

HOW TO IDENTIFY FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Each fire extinguisher displays a rating on the faceplate

showing the class of fire it is designed to put out.
Extinguishers are marked with multiple ratings such as
AB, BC, or ABC. These extinguishers are capable of
putting out more than one type of fire.

CLASS-A EXTINGUISHERS: are effective on ordinary

combustibles. Extinguishers capable of extinguishing
Class A fires include pressurized water, foam, or
multi-purpose dry chemicals agents. They carry a
numerical rating that indicates how large a fire an
experienced person can safely put out with that
extinguisher.

CLASS-B EXTINGUISHERS: are to be used on flammable liquids or

gases. Their agents include foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary dry
chemical, multi-purpose dry-chemical, halon* or halon replacements.
Similar to Class-A extinguishers numerical ratings indicate how large a
fire an experienced person can put out.

CLASS-C EXTINGUISHERS: are used specifically on electrical fires.

Class-C extinguishers may contain carbon-dioxide, ordinary dry-
chemical, multi-purpose dry-chemical, halon* or halon replacement
agents. Never use water extinguishers or any agents capable of
conducting electricity on Class-C fires.

Class-C extinguishers carry a letter rating only to indicate that the agent
will not conduct electricity.

CLASS-D EXTINGUISHERS: are only used on combustible metals.

Their agents are specially designed for the materials involved. Class-D
fires react violently to water and other types of chemicals.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE PROPER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

All ratings are shown on the

extinguisher faceplate.

Some extinguishers are

marked with multiple ratings
such as AB, BC and ABC.
These extinguishers are
capable of putting out more
than one class of fire.

Class A and B extinguishers

carry a numerical rating that
indicates how large a fire an
experienced person can safely
put out with 'that extinguisher.

Class C extinguishers have

only a letter rating to indicate
that the extinguishing agent will
not conduct electrical current.
Class C extinguishers must
also carry a Class A or B
rating.

Class D extinguishers carry

only a letter rating indicating
their effectiveness on certain
amounts of specific metals.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
FIRE SAFETY PROCEDURES:

If a fire starts, follow procedures outlined by your company. You may be able to
put out a small fire before it spreads with a fire extinguisher. Only use an
extinguisher when it is safe to do so, if by any means you are no longer able to
safely fight the fire LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY.

Proper steps should be taken to notify fellow workers and the Fire Department.

REMEMBER:

Should your path of escape be threatened

Should the extinguisher run out of agent
Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective
Should you no longer be able to safely fight the fire

CLEAR THE AREA IMMEDIATELY!!!!

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS:

To operate a fire extinguisher, use the PASS method:

• Pull the pin.

• Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.

• Squeeze the trigger.

• Sweep the nozzle back and forth across the base of the flames, covering
the area of the fire with the contents of the extinguisher.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
FIRE EXTINGUISHER CHECKLIST
Fire extinguishers are your first line of defence in most cases. Your life depends
on the extinguisher and your ability to use it within seconds.

A fire extinguisher allows you to respond immediately to a fire.

Going over a checklist can ensure that you are prepared for such a
circumstance.

Is the extinguisher easy to find and accessible in your workplace.

Check for the type of Class rating for the extinguisher, is it safe to use on
fires likely to occur in your workplace.

Check the seal, has the extinguisher been tampered with or used before.

Look at the gauge, feel the weight, is it charged and ready for use.

Report any missing, empty or damaged fire extinguishers to the person in

charge.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca
 FIRE SAFETY

REVIEW QUESTIONS

True / False

T / F 1) Fire requires 3 elements for ignition fuel, oxygen and heat, without
any one of these a fire can not occur.

T / F 2) Class A fires consist of wood, paper, cloth and some plastics.

T / F 3) Class B fires include energized electrical equipment.

T / F 4) Class C fires are fuelled by flammable or combustible liquids.

T / F 5) Fires involving electrical equipment can be put out with water

sometimes.

T / F 6) Good housekeeping is the first step in fire prevention.

T / F 7) ABC fire extinguishers can only put out 1 type of fire.

T / F 8) When using an extinguisher the PASS method should be used.

T / F 9) A extinguisher checklist is a good idea, but not really necessary.

T / F 10) Fire Safety Procedures should be developed at every workplace.

©2005 Construction Safety Association of Manitoba

www.constructionsafety.ca