Fire Prevention:

The Fire Prevention Triangle - Heat, Oxygen, and Fuel

An open fire needs three elements to spread within an area - heat, oxygen, and fuel. Without heat,
oxygen, and fuel, a fire will not start or spread. A key strategy to prevent fire is removing one or
more, heat, oxygen, or fuel. The risk assessment should include details on all three elements to
minimize the risk of a fire starting/ spreading.

Classification of fire

Class A: Ordinary combustibles

Class A fires consist of ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, fabric, and most kinds of trash

Class B/C: Flammable liquid and gas

These are fire classes whose fuel is flammable or combustible liquid or gas. The US system
designates all such fires as "Class B". In the European/Australian system, flammable liquids are
designated "Class B", while burning gases are separately designated "Class C". These fires follow
the same basic fire tetrahedron (heat, fuel, oxygen, chemical reaction) as ordinary combustible
fires, except that the fuel in question is a flammable liquid such as gasoline, or gas such as natural
gas (fossil fuels). A solid stream of water should never be used to extinguish this type because it
can cause the fuel to scatter, spreading the flames.

Class C or Class E: Electrical

Electrical fires are fires involving potentially energized electrical equipment. The US system
designates these "Class C"; the Australian system designates them "Class E". This sort of fire may
be caused by short-circuiting machinery or overloaded electrical cables. Electrical fire may be
fought in the same way as an ordinary combustible fire, but water, foam, and other conductive
agents are not to be used.

Class D: Metal

Class D fires consist of combustible metals - especially alkali metals like lithium and potassium,
alkaline earth metals such as magnesium, and group 4 elements such as titanium and zirconium.
With the exception of the metals that burn in contact with air or water (for example, sodium),
masses of combustible metals do not represent unusual fire risks because they have the ability to
conduct heat away from hot spots so efficiently that the heat of combustion cannot be maintained,
this means that it will require a lot of heat to ignite a mass of combustible metal. Generally, metal
fire risks exist when sawdust, machine shavings, and other metal "fines" are present. Generally,
these fires can be ignited by the same types of ignition sources that would start other common
fires.

Fire Extinguishers

This equipment is provided in the workshop to extinguish minor fires only. If there is any risk
from the fire, the building should be evacuated. Before using a fire extinguisher, read the
instructions ensuring that it is appropriate to the type of fire.

Water Type Extinguisher – Colour-coded red. For use on solid fires only. Not to be used on

Electrical or chemical fires. 7 | P a g e

Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher [CO2] – Colour-coded red with a black band. For use on electrical
and flammable liquid fires - It should be noted that this extinguisher can be safely used on all types
of fires, however when gas dissipates re-ignition can take place.

Electricity in the Workshop

Places of work generally have power nominally supplied at 230 volts (single phase) and 400 volts
(3 phase) although some larger workplaces will receive electricity at a higher supply voltage. The
main hazards of electricity are:

contact with live parts causing shock and burns

faults which could cause fires;

Fire or explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in a potentially flammable or
explosive atmosphere, e.g. in a spray paint booth. The risk of injury from electricity is strongly
linked to where and how it is used and there is a greater risk in wet/damp conditions.

The level of voltage the body is exposed to and the resistance to the flow of electrical current
offered by the body determines the impact of exposure to electricity. The following factors
determine the severity of the effect electric shock has on an attendant working in a mechanical
workshop:

The level of voltage

The amount of body resistance you have to the current flow

The path the current takes through your body

The length of time the current flows through your body

If a worker has come into contact with electricity, they may not be able to remove themselves from
the electrical source. The human body is a good conductor of electricity. If you touch a person
while they are in contact with the electrical source, the electricity will flow through your body
causing electrical shock. When someone is electrocuted, first attempt to turn off the source of the
electricity (disconnect). If the electrical source cannot readily and safely be turned off, use a non-
conducting object, such as a fiberglass object or a wooden pole, to remove the person from the
electrical source.