Fire Safety

When working in a laboratory it is essential that you are prepared for anything, and know the measures that need to be taken when protecting yourself. During employee training it is vital that lab personnel have knowledge on fire prevention. Fire prevention is a crucial aspect of laboratory safety. To prevent fires from happening in the lab the individuals working need to be aware of the chemicals that they are using, and also they need to be aware of what others around them are using. Being mindful and attentive can prevent possible disaster zones within the lab.

To prevent yourself from possibly being injured there are steps to follow to keep you safe from fires in the lab. The first step is recognizing hazards. Every individual working in a lab should be able to recognize hazards. If you see a hazard or a possibility of something becoming a hazard it is important to fix it or try to prevent it immediately. The second step is evaluate your workspace before you have started working and experimenting with chemicals. This step includes housekeeping and the storage practices that are being implemented in the lab. It is important to make sure that all chemicals are properly marked and labeled, have been sealed shut before using them and were stored in the correct cabinet. Your lab area must be kept clean, if you are not using specific chemicals anymore put them back in there locations. The last step is to protect yourself through the use of personal protective equipment. It is important to be knowledgeable on what types of personal protective equipment and emergency equipment the laboratory has where it is located and how to properly use it. All labs should have fire extinguishers, alarms, eye wash and shower stations that are all easily accessible.

There are four classes of fires ranging from class A to class D. A class A fire is your combustible or fibrous material, such as some plastics, cloth and paper. A class B fire includes flammable or combustible liquids such as gas, propane, and kerosene. Class C fires are energized electrical equipment such as appliances, electrical switches, panel boxes and power tools. Lastly a class D fire is certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium.

In case a lab were to have a fire all lab personnel need to be adequately trained on how to properly use a fire extinguisher. They should know where they are located and what kind of extinguisher they are going to be using. Extinguishers should not be blocked or covered up, and if they are discharged within a lab it is required that someone contacts an EHS representative so they are able to replace one immediately.

The method when using a fire extinguisher follows the acronym PASS. First you want to pull the pin, this allows you to discharge the extinguisher. Second, you want to aim at the base of the fire,   in this step you want to hit the fuel, and avoid the flames. The third step is to squeeze the top handle or lever, this hits the button that allows you to release the extinguishing agent. Lastly, sweep from side to side, use from a safe distance then move closer as it is diminishing.

 https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/firesafety/
 https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/fire.html
 http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/lab.shtml