Fire Extinguisher

FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION POLICY

Fire Prevention/Protection Policy is intended to provide compliance with all related regulation and standard safe work practice. The purpose of the policy is to prevent fires and to provide guidelines for action if a fire does occur.

Fire prevention program combines the following policies:

PPE Policy
Electrical Safety Policy
Emergency Action Plan

These policies encompass methods used for incidence avoidance, incident response and specialized training required in the event of a fire.

Issues addressed in the above policies include, but are not limited to:

Evacuation Procedure
Extinguisher Training
Basic Process Safety Training (if applicable)
Hot Work Safety Training (if applicable)
Confined Space Entry Safety Training (if applicable)
Emergency Life Support Training
Respiratory Protective Devices Training (if applicable)
Assured Grounding Programs

Employees shall be informed of the proper actions to take in the event of a fire. This includes, but is not limited to, notification and evacuation procedures. It is STRESSED that at no time does the task of fighting fire supersede an employee's primary duties of:

Ensuring their own personal safety and the safety of others.
Reporting the incident to the proper authority and ensuring personnel accountability for yourself and all subordinates at the jobsite, in accordance with company and client policy.

SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN COMPANY VEHICLES AND ANY COMPANY FACILITY EXCEPT IN PERMITTED AREAS SO MARKED AND DESIGNATED AS “SMOKING AREA”

Fire Safety Procedure:

All employees are responsible for good housekeeping practices to enhance fire prevention methods. Supervisors will be held accountable for the housekeeping of their job sites.
If applicable, welding machine mufflers will be equipped with an approved spark arresting muffler.
Only approved containers will be used during fueling operations. These shall be of the self- closing type.
Flammable material shall be kept under the control. It shall be stored in compliance with applicable OSHA and client regulations. The quantity of flammable/combustible material shall be kept to a minimum on the job site.
Welding, cutting, and grinding sparks shall be contained.
Hot work areas shall be kept wetted down, and a fire extinguisher and hose maintained on each jobsite.
Oily rags shall be immediately disposed of in designated hazardous waste containers.
No hot work is to be performed without a Hot Work Permit.
All vehicle entry into process areas requires a permit or permission from the operator.
Use bonding straps to discharge and prevent static charges during transfer of flammable liquids from one container to another.
Report all spills or suspicious odors immediately.
Fire extinguishers are to be kept in areas easily accessible to employees.
Only approved fire extinguishers are to be used. They must have an inspection tag attached. Extinguishers are to be maintained in a fully charged, ready to operate state.
Extinguishers are to be inspected before each use and documented annually.
Training is provided to all employees who use or may use fire extinguishers.
NEVER put yourself or others a risk while attempting to extinguish an incipient fire.
DO NOT USE any fire hoses larger than 1-3/4”, unless fully trained as an industrial firefighter.
NEVER attempt to extinguish a pressurized fuel fed fire.
DO NOT direct a fire nozzle with a straight stream at any type of LPG fire. This action could extinguish the fire, producing an LPG vapor cloud capable of detonation.
DO NOT USE fire monitors as the force can damage small equipment and certain high chrome alloy equipment cannot have water applied as cracking could occur.
DO NOT APPLY water to any acid or caustic release as it can cause a violent reaction. Additionally, low concentration acids or caustics become extremely corrosive, causing an increasing leak condition.

Some locations within our operations such as repair shops contain potential fire hazards and have been designated as NO SMOKING areas. In addition, all offices, company vehicles or equipment and other enclosed work areas have been designated as NO SMOKING areas through the Company’s SMOKING POLICY. It is your responsibility to know these locations and comply with the Company’s SMOKING POLICY. Refer to the Employee Manual for additional details and information.

Fire Prevention:

All exits and fire equipment must be kept visible and free of obstructions.
Do not smoke or have open flames in designated NO SMOKING areas.
Do not smoke or have open flames around gasoline, parts cleaners, fuel oil, greases, or other combustible or flammable materials or while fueling equipment.
Equipment powered by gasoline engines must be turned off during refueling.
Use only approved containers for handling and storing combustible and flammable liquids.
Immediately replace any cap from a flammable liquid container after use.
Take safeguards during welding, cutting, and grinding operations: inspect the area and know where sparks from the operations are going. Always have a Fire Extinguisher nearby to protect combustibles in the work area. Always check the work area afterwards to make sure no fire has developed.
Parts cleaning covers must be kept closed on all parts stations when not in use.
Gasoline or diesel may not be used for cleaning parts or equipment nor applied to the skin as a cleaner.
Know the location of fire extinguishers and how to use them. Be certain to use the proper extinguisher.
Never return an empty or partially used fire extinguisher to its station. Tag it and turn it in for recharging. Report all extinguishers that have broken seals so it can be replaced.
Fire Extinguishers must be inspected and initialed on the tag once a month.
In case of a fire, call 911. If appropriate, attempt to extinguish the fire.

Fire Fighting:

Most fires, if detected early, can be put out with a hand-held fire extinguisher. However, must be trained to fight a fire and must use good common sense before attacking a fire. If there is any possibility of the fire getting out of control, then the employee should immediately exit the facility per the established fire escape route. Protecting Company property is never a priority and Should NEVER be done at the expense of employee safety.

Be sure you know how to operate your fire extinguisher and know the proper technique for fighting fires.
Be sure you have an unobstructed escape route should you fail to extinguisher the fire.
Know what materials are burning and be sure the extinguisher you are using can fight the fire. IMPORTANT! USING THE WRONG TYPE OF EXTINGUISHER FOR THE CLASS OF FIRE MAY BE DANGEROUS!
Consider the possible danger posed by hazardous or highly flammable materials near the fire area.
Determine if a fire extinguisher can extinguish the magnitude of the fire.

It is reckless to fight a fire under any other circumstances. Instead, leave immediately, closing all doors leading to the fire area as you exit. Call 911 or follow the posted emergency procedures.

Fire Extinguishers:

Fire extinguishers are tested by independent testing laboratories and are labeled for the type of fire they are intended to extinguish. There are four classes of fires. All fire extinguishers are labeled, using standard symbols, for the classes of fires they can be used to fight. A red slash through any of the symbols tells you the extinguisher cannot be used on that class of fire.

Class A Fires – Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, and paper. Class B Fires – Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and oil-based paint.

Class C Fires – Energized electrical equipment – including wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery, and appliance.

Class D Fires – Combustible metals – such as magnesium or sodium. Extinguishers for Class D fires must match the type of metal that is burning.

WARNING:

It is very dangerous to use water or an extinguisher labeled only for Class A fires on an oil, grease, or electrical fire.

Types of Fire Extinguishers:

Depending on their intended use, portable fire extinguishers store specific extinguishing agents which are expelled onto the fire when used.

Pressurized water models are appropriate to use on Class A fires only. These must never be used on electrical or flammable liquid fires.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers contain pressurized liquid carbon dioxide which turns to a gas when expelled. Do not come in contact with the gas as it may freeze your skin. These models are rated for use on Class B and C fires, but never hesitate to use carbon dioxide extinguishers on a Class A Fire. Carbon dioxide is not corrosive.
Dry chemical extinguishers blanket burning materials with powdered chemicals. In some models, the chemicals are expelled by pressure supplied by a separate gas filled cartridge. The dry chemicals used are corrosive.

In general, Energy Group, Inc., Inc. utilizes multi-purpose dry chemical extinguishers which are appropriate for fighting Class A, B, and C fires. Every effort should be made to purchase multipurpose extinguishers.

How to Operate a Portable Fire Extinguisher:

Keep you back to an exit and depending on the size of the extinguisher, start 10 to 20 feet away from the fire and follow the following PASS procedure.

Pull the pin. This unlocks that operation lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher. Some extinguishers may have other lever-release mechanisms.
Aim low. Point the extinguisher hose (or nozzle) at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the lever above the handle. This discharges the extinguishing agent. Releasing the lever will stop the discharge.
Sweep form side to side. Moving carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out.

Watch the fire area. If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process. Always be sure the fire department inspects the fire site, even if you think you have extinguished the fire.

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance:

Fire extinguishers shall be periodically inspected and maintained. In general, one employee from each location is assigned the responsibility of performing monthly inspections. As part of the monthly site inspections, such individuals must check to ensure that the:

Pin is in and secured.
Extinguisher is fully charged.
Hose is free of obstructions.
The yearly inspection tag is intact.

To document that the mandatory monthly inspection was performed, the employee performing the inspection will date and initial the back of the yearly inspection log in the block when the monthly inspection was performed.

An annual inspection of the fire extinguisher is also required. The yearly inspection is a more detailed evaluation of the condition and functionality of the fire extinguisher and this inspection is generally conducted by an outside vendor. If a fire extinguisher is identified to be more than 12 months beyond its last annual inspection than the employee should tag and bring the extinguisher to his/her supervisor and replace the extinguisher with one that is ready for service.

PPE Policy

Electrical Safety Policy

Emergency Action Plan

These policies encompass methods used for incidence avoidance, incident response and specialized training required in the event of a fire. Issues addressed in the above policies include, but are not limited to:

Evacuation Procedure

Extinguisher Training

Basic Process Safety Training (if applicable)

Hot Work Safety Training (if applicable)

Confined Space Entry Safety Training (if applicable)

Emergency Life Support Training

Respiratory Protective Devices Training (if applicable)

Assured Grounding Programs

Employees shall be informed of the proper actions to take in the event of a fire. This includes, but is not limited to, notification and evacuation procedures. It is STRESSED that at no time does the task of fighting fire supersede an employee's primary duties of:

Ensuring their own personal safety and the safety of others.

Reporting the incident to the proper authority and ensuring personnel accountability for yourself and all subordinates at the jobsite, in accordance with company and client policy.

SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN COMPANY VEHICLES AND ANY COMPANY FACILITY EXCEPT IN PERMITTED AREAS SO MARKED AND DESIGNATED AS “SMOKING AREA”

​

Fire Safety Procedure:

​

All employees are responsible for good housekeeping practices to enhance fire prevention methods. Supervisors will be held accountable for the housekeeping of their job sites.

If applicable, welding machine mufflers will be equipped with an approved spark arresting muffler.

Only approved containers will be used during fueling operations. These shall be of the self- closing type.

Flammable material shall be kept under the control. It shall be stored in compliance with applicable OSHA and client regulations. The quantity of flammable/combustible material shall be kept to a minimum on the job site.

Welding, cutting, and grinding sparks shall be contained.

Hot work areas shall be kept wetted down, and a fire extinguisher and hose maintained on each jobsite.

Oily rags shall be immediately disposed of in designated hazardous waste containers.

No hot work is to be performed without a Hot Work Permit.

All vehicle entry into process areas requires a permit or permission from the operator.

Use bonding straps to discharge and prevent static charges during transfer of flammable liquids from one container to another.

Report all spills or suspicious odors immediately.

Fire extinguishers are to be kept in areas easily accessible to employees.

Only approved fire extinguishers are to be used. They must have an inspection tag attached. Extinguishers are to be maintained in a fully charged, ready to operate state.

Extinguishers are to be inspected before each use and documented annually.

Training is provided to all employees who use or may use fire extinguishers.

NEVER put yourself or others a risk while attempting to extinguish an incipient fire.

DO NOT USE any fire hoses larger than 1-3/4”, unless fully trained as an industrial firefighter.

NEVER attempt to extinguish a pressurized fuel fed fire.

DO NOT direct a fire nozzle with a straight stream at any type of LPG fire. This action could extinguish the fire, producing an LPG vapor cloud capable of detonation.

DO NOT USE fire monitors as the force can damage small equipment and certain high chrome alloy equipment cannot have water applied as cracking could occur.

DO NOT APPLY water to any acid or caustic release as it can cause a violent reaction. Additionally, low concentration acids or caustics become extremely corrosive, causing an increasing leak condition.

​

Fire Prevention:

All exits and fire equipment must be kept visible and free of obstructions.

Do not smoke or have open flames in designated NO SMOKING areas.

Do not smoke or have open flames around gasoline, parts cleaners, fuel oil, greases, or other combustible or flammable materials or while fueling equipment.

Equipment powered by gasoline engines must be turned off during refueling.

Use only approved containers for handling and storing combustible and flammable liquids.

Immediately replace any cap from a flammable liquid container after use.

Take safeguards during welding, cutting, and grinding operations: inspect the area and know where sparks from the operations are going. Always have a Fire Extinguisher nearby to protect combustibles in the work area. Always check the work area afterwards to make sure no fire has developed.

Parts cleaning covers must be kept closed on all parts stations when not in use.

Gasoline or diesel may not be used for cleaning parts or equipment nor applied to the skin as a cleaner.

Know the location of fire extinguishers and how to use them. Be certain to use the proper extinguisher.

Never return an empty or partially used fire extinguisher to its station. Tag it and turn it in for recharging. Report all extinguishers that have broken seals so it can be replaced.

Fire Extinguishers must be inspected and initialed on the tag once a month.

In case of a fire, call 911. If appropriate, attempt to extinguish the fire.

Fire Fighting:

Be sure you know how to operate your fire extinguisher and know the proper technique for fighting fires.

Be sure you have an unobstructed escape route should you fail to extinguisher the fire.

Know what materials are burning and be sure the extinguisher you are using can fight the fire. IMPORTANT! USING THE WRONG TYPE OF EXTINGUISHER FOR THE CLASS OF FIRE MAY BE DANGEROUS!

Consider the possible danger posed by hazardous or highly flammable materials near the fire area.

Determine if a fire extinguisher can extinguish the magnitude of the fire.

It is reckless to fight a fire under any other circumstances. Instead, leave immediately, closing all doors leading to the fire area as you exit. Call 911 or follow the posted emergency procedures.

Fire Extinguishers:

​

Class A Fires – Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, and paper. Class B Fires – Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and oil-based paint.

Class C Fires – Energized electrical equipment – including wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery, and appliance.

Class D Fires – Combustible metals – such as magnesium or sodium. Extinguishers for Class D fires must match the type of metal that is burning.

WARNING:

It is very dangerous to use water or an extinguisher labeled only for Class A fires on an oil, grease, or electrical fire.

Types of Fire Extinguishers:

Depending on their intended use, portable fire extinguishers store specific extinguishing agents which are expelled onto the fire when used.

Pressurized water models are appropriate to use on Class A fires only. These must never be used on electrical or flammable liquid fires.

Dry chemical extinguishers blanket burning materials with powdered chemicals. In some models, the chemicals are expelled by pressure supplied by a separate gas filled cartridge. The dry chemicals used are corrosive.

In general, Energy Group, Inc., Inc. utilizes multi-purpose dry chemical extinguishers which are appropriate for fighting Class A, B, and C fires. Every effort should be made to purchase multipurpose extinguishers.

How to Operate a Portable Fire Extinguisher:

Keep you back to an exit and depending on the size of the extinguisher, start 10 to 20 feet away from the fire and follow the following PASS procedure.

Pull the pin. This unlocks that operation lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher. Some extinguishers may have other lever-release mechanisms.

Aim low. Point the extinguisher hose (or nozzle) at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever above the handle. This discharges the extinguishing agent. Releasing the lever will stop the discharge.

Sweep form side to side. Moving carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out.

These policies encompass methods used for incidence avoidance, incident response and specialized training required in the event of a fire.

Issues addressed in the above policies include, but are not limited to: