Disaster Management

UNIT-4
4.1 Man-made Disasters:

(A) Industrial and Chemical Disaster:

Industrial disaster: Industrial disasters are disasters caused by chemical,

mechanical, civil, electrical or other process failures due to accident, negligence
or incompetence, in an industrial plant which may spill over to the areas outside
the plant or within causing damage to life, property and environment. New
industries are also coming up at a rapid rate.

Chemical disaster: Chemical disasters are occurrence of emission, fire or

explosion involving one or more hazardous chemicals in the course of industrial
activity (handling), storage or transportation or due to natural events leading to
serious effects inside or outside the installation likely to cause loss of life and
property including adverse effects on the environment. “Chemical accident or
emergency can result in extensive damage to the environment with considerable
human and economic costs. Chemical and industrial emergencies may arise in a
number of ways, such as –
• Explosion in a plant
• Accidents in storage facilities of chemicals
• Accidents during the transportation of chemicals, misuse of chemicals
• Improper waste management
• Accidents in treatment plants
• Technological system failures
• Failures of plant safety design
• Arson and sabotage
• Human error

(B) Stampede: In stampede, the term mob or crowd is used to refer to a

congregated, active, polarized aggregate of people, which is basically
heterogeneous and complex. Its most salient features include homogeneity of
thought and action among its participants and their impulsive and irrational
actions. Incidents of stampedes can occur in numerous socio-cultural situations.
These stampede incidents can be categorized into the following types, where the
causes and the impact are described in the incident. Though the list is not
 exhaustive, it provides a fair idea about various types of situations where
stampedes can occur.
• Entertainment events
• Escalator and moving walkways
• Food distribution
• Processions
• Natural disasters
• Power failure
• Religious events
• Fire incidents during religious/other events
• Riots
• Sports events
• Weather related

(C) Transportation Hazards:

 Road Accidents
 Rail Accidents
 Air Accidents
 Sea Accident

(D) Mine Disasters:

Mines Act, 1965 defines Disaster as an act Accident (unexpected event) causing
loss of more than 10 lives. A mining accident is an accident that occurs in the
process of mining minerals. The Act categories an accident involving loss of
lives less than 10 major accidents. Thousands of miners die from mining
accidents each year, especially in the process of coal mining and hard rock
mining. One of the greatest mining disasters in Indian mines occurred on 27
December 1975 due to water in rush from old abandoned incline working to a
deep shaft mine working of Chasnallah Colliery leading to death of 375 miners.

Following types of mining disasters, losses and impacts are classified by the
Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).
• Side fall (slope failure) disaster in opencast mines,
• Roof and side falls in underground mines,
• Collapse of mine pillars,
• Air Blast,
• Failure of rope haulage,
 • Accident due to electricity,
• Mine fires,
• Accidents due to explosive,
• Inundations,
• Explosions in mines.
• Rock burst and bumps,

(E) Epidemics:
Infectious diseases are a major public health problem in India. While many
infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria are endemic, some of them
occasionally attain epidemic proportion. An epidemic refers to an increase, often
sudden, in number of cases of a disease in a community clearly in excess of
what is normally expected in that population.

Epidemics are public health emergencies which disrupt routine health services
and are major drain on resources. Epidemics include viral infections disease
(mengitis, measles, dengue, polio, typhoid fever etc.) and Bacterial infectious
diseases (cholera, diarrhea etc.) The main causes for epidemic are non
availability of clean and hygienic drinking water contamination of drinking
water sources, lack of awareness about sanitation, unhygienic food, and
overcrowding, biological conditions in addition to ecological factors. Besides
direct costs in epidemic control measures and treatment of patients, the indirect
costs due to negative impact on domestic and international tourism and trade can
be significant. For example, plague which was not reported from any part of
India for almost a quarter of century, caused a major outbreak in Beed district in
Maharashtra and Surat in Gujarat in 1994 and resulted in an estimated loss of
almost US$ 1.7 billion.

Several factors related to microbes, environment and host susceptibility

contribute to the occurrence of epidemics. Because of prevalence of these
factors, developing countries including India are frequently affected by
epidemics/ outbreaks which result in high morbidity and mortality and affect the
public health and economy adversely
4.1.1 Textile Processing Industrial Hazards:

Hazards in Textile Industry are varied and encompasses many aspects, like hazards
related to machinery, handling of materials including chemicals, use of pressure
vessels, fire hazards and overall working environment.

4.1.1.1 Machine Related Hazards:

Based on studies carried out it is learnt that unsafe conditions contribute to almost
half the total accidents occurring in a textile mill. It is therefore necessary to briefly
review a few important machines in each of the sections.

i. Spinning Preparatory and Spinning:

In machine related hazards there are a number of nip points which are left
unguarded. These points could be identified as the feed and calenders rollers of the
blow-room machinery, carding machines, combers and drafting zones of all the
frames (draw, infer, flyer and ring).
Many a time arguments are put up to say that any guard attempted at such points
would interfere into the working of the rollers. But it is, at least possible to provide
mesh covers with interlock on some of the rollers in the blow-room machinery.
Drafting zones on the draw frame could be covered with total enclosures as is
already available on some machines. There is a need to ensure that these
enclosures are well interlocked to stop the machine when enclosures are opened.
Now, looking at the rotating beaters in the blow-room, the three wire clothed
cylinders, the lickerin, the cylinder and the doffer of the carding machine and the
comber segment of the comber all of these could cause all severe accidents, if
contacted while in motion.
The beaters have been provided with good covers with a mechanical interlock.
This interlock should be maintained in order. Many times this is tampered with.

The carding cylinders are provided with good covers but the need for carrying out
stripping operation in every shift makes it necessary to work with covers open,
posing severe hazard. This stripping operation should necessarily be done by well-
trained men, with reliable ropes on the stripping roller. (The stripping roller is
thrown out if the ropes break during this operation.)
However, newer machines have a stripping attachment on them as an integral part.
The access to the lickerin from below while collecting dust and droppings could
result in severe injuries. This should be guarded by providing a hinged swing door;
swinging back upwards and preventing contact while collecting dust.

In the combers there is enough scope to provide at least a hinged transparent sheet
or such, so that no contact with the rotating segment, the nipper or the gripper is
possible. The comber and its segment rotate at a high speed.
Because of this high speed the eye perceives the comber and segment as stationary.
This perception tempts the worker to access these rotating parts while cleaning.
The flyer frames have the flyers rotating and give a free access to the hands and are
likely to grab loose clothing. The present designs of the machines have not come
with covers or photoelectric devices to prevent access to the flyers.
However, there could be interference in the operation with such devices and calls
for detailed examination in locating them on the machine at an appropriate place.
Till such time employing trained personnel on these machines is essential.
Conventional ring frames have hazards associated with the stopping of bobbins
with the left hand index finger. These results in finger cut injuries, if the bobbin
involved has its metallic shields broken.
Attempts are being made to eliminate this hazard by frequent inspection and
elimination of bobbin which are with broken shields, use of tongs to grip the
spindle (a very rare practice in India), provision of knee brake or the like, and use
of plastic bobbins have limitations if the yarn is subjected to streaming, as also its
prohibitive initial cost.
The new open-end spinning system with its limitation has eliminated two to three
steps of the entire spinning preparatory operation and therefore has significantly
reduced the number of accidents.

ii. Weaving Preparatory and Weaving:

The conventional winding machines pose a hazard of trapping hands between the
rotating drum and the cone/cheese after each knotting. While no suitable
preventive measures are coming up, employing skilled operators on these machines
is essential. Automatic winders like the cone winder and spoolers have prevented
the hands reaching in the vicinity of the rotating drums.
In the warping machine (excepting the old versions), photoelectric devices have
been provided in place of the swing bar guards. Opinions differ as to the exact
location/position of these photoelectric devices.
The present positioning of this device still leaves scope for access to the beam
flanges. An acceptable positioning and multiple photoelectric devices could
eliminate this hazard.
Working with sizing machines involves nip at the squeeze rollers and drag rollers.
Guards on drag rollers are essential in view of their accessibility.
The conventional looms are the highest contributors of both severe and frequent
number of accidents in a loom shed, because of the shuttle flights. The shuttle
which is to fly from one end to other on a loom, could fly out of its parts for varied
reasons.
A shuttle guard provided on the loom does not really prevent a shuttle from flying
out of the loom, but it only helps in arresting the shuttle’s tendency to lift upwards
and shoot out to heights. Thus to keep a check on the direction of shuttle flying
out, a shuttle guard is provided.
These shuttle guards (fits on the sley) are to be set over the race board so that while
the crank shaft is between the bottom and back centre, the guard leaves no gap
enough for the shuttle to fly out upwards.
Observations and proper setting of looms at frequent intervals will prevent shuttle
fly. Shuttle fly is a frequent occurrence and could result in severe injuries. This
hazard is absent in the non-conventional shuttleless looms.

iii. Processing and Finishing:

In the shearing and cropping machine the exposed rotating cutters could pose a
hazard when accessed. These cutters can be covered using transparent cover.
Many of the machines in the process house generally have nip hazards. They could
be calenders, washers, printing machines etc. Many of these nips could be guarded
by means of nip bars.
The provision of audio signals to warn workers working near the calenders, drying
ranges, stenters etc. could help in preventing entanglement and drag of inattentive
operators along with the fabric in process.
In the polymerising range it is absolutely necessary to provide an interlocking
device to ensure that the exhaust fans are on before any fabric is fed into the
chamber. This helps in preventing the volatile carrier accumulating which could
lead to an explosive situation.
It would be far better to dry out the fabric outside the chamber to eliminate most of
the volatile solvent before the fabric enters the chamber. This reduces the quantum
of the volatile solvent available in the chamber.

4.1.2.2 Material Handling:

A follow up of each operation in Textile Industry would indicate that, starting from
raw material to fabric, the material handled is in various shapes and sizes. There
are as much as thirty handlings not considering the number of times an empty
container roll or beam is handled. All these contribute to almost 10-15% of
accidents in textile mill. First considering manual handling, wrong postures are
adopted in every stage of such handling.
The laps are held with hands stretched, cans shifted by dragging, carrying of excess
bobbins, dragging of baskets/boxes by ropes and so on. These handling methods
are to be critically examined and right postures adopted to prevent any excessive
strain to arms and back.
Coming to mechanical handling it will be appreciated that the designs of many of
the trolleys and trucks have been crude. The equipments are sometimes heavy to
move, the wheels and rollers are placed outside the platforms allowing for run
overs.
The handles do not have holds to fasten when not in use, leaving scope for handles
dropping on foot. The trolleys do not have knuckle guards. All these have
contributed for difficulties in use of these equipment. The common practice is that
trolleys and carts are overloaded even to the extent of obstructing onward vision
which should be avoided.
The chain blocks on mono rail and the other lifting equipments in use should be
examined periodically:
i. Handling of Chemicals:
The processing of Textiles generally involves dilute acids and alkalies and bleach
liquors like chlorine, hydrogen peroxide.
Generally the concentration of the process liquid does not exceed safe
concentration levels. However, the bulk of the chemicals received are of higher
concentration and precaution in respect of storing them in compatible containers
must be complied with.
In case of chlorine a better practice is to store the required minimum quantities of
it. Care also should be taken that proper equipments and systems are readily
available to handle any emergencies like leaks. The outlets from storage vessels of
acids and alkalies and the piping should resist corrosion.
While nothing definite has been established on the adverse health effects of the
finished dyestuffs, it is advisable the dyes are handled with care while preparing
liquors and pastes. The solvents used for printing which are highly volatile should
be stored away from process zone and the quantities brought in for use should be
the minimum.
The storage areas of the fuel oil for boilers etc. need to fulfil the statutory
requirements as applicable to bulk storage. The supply of safety data sheets in
respect of the substances handled should be made available to the personnel
handling them.
ii. Use of Pressure Vessels (Unfired):
It is necessary to consider the sizing cylinders, kiers and to some extent calenders
and drying range as pressure vessels though the pressure ranges are not very
significant, all tests and examination are to be carried out to ensure their safe
performance.
It is essential that the siphoning systems on these cylinders are maintained well to
deliver out the water condensed and prevent any damage of these cylinders. It is
also required to maintain the vacuum breakers provided to prevent any cylinder
collapse. All instrumentation and safety gadgets must be examined periodically for
their reliability.
iii. Fire Hazards:
The godown where cotton bales are stacked should be well ventilated so that the
hoop iron do not impart and generate sparks as a source of ignition. It is also to be
kept in mind that any broken glass pane on windows with its sharp edge form a
prismatic effect converging sun rays on to the cotton bales and could be a source of
ignition. Use of naked flames for soldering and welding on the shop-floor should
be under permit and supervision.
Lamps used to prevent lapping or warming up could ignite fibres accumulated over
it and later setting it to fly around will also be a source of ignition. Mechanical
friction with the availability of dripping lubricating oil and loose fibre could
initiate a fire.
Oiling should be done after ensuring that the oil holes are clear and the oil is
reaching the part being lubricated. The electrical panels switch boards and other
electrical equipments are also accumulated with dust and needs attention.
Processing of fibres likely to accumulate static charges should be carried out under
effective grounding, bonding and antistatic controls to prevent accumulation of
static charge.
Singeing machine should be invariably being provided with a solenoid valve on the
fuel line to arrest the fuel supply, in the event of an electrical failure. This prevents
the stationary fabric undergoing singeing from being ignited.
It is also desirable to store in isolation, freshly dyed fabrics as they could ignited
due to spontaneous ignition.

Textile Industries operations and related Hazards:

Textile industries involve diverse operations including fiber synthesis, weaving,

manufacturing, dyeing and finishing. Textile operations have been studied
extensively and found numerous health and safety issues associated with the textile
industry. They include: chemical exposure from the processing and dyeing of
materials, exposure to cotton and other organic dusts, musculoskeletal stresses and
noise exposure.

The manual transfer of powder dyes from bulk containers to smaller containers
generates significant amounts of dust. Worker exposure to dye dust through
breathing or skin contact can result in adverse health effects such as occupational
asthma, eczema and severe allergic reactions. In addition, the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recognizes certain dyes as potential
occupational carcinogens. Therefore, NIOSH recommends limiting dye dust
exposures to the lowest feasible concentrations to prevent these health problems.

Controls:
Workers in powder dye handling operations are often poorly protected from dust
exposures. NIOSH research has shown that worker exposures to dye dust can be
effectively reduced by as much as 70% with the following combination of controls:
adequate ventilation, redesigned bulk containers and appropriate work practices.

Ventilation: Semi downdraft ventilation booths are recommended for use during
the manual transfer of dyes. A vertical air shower pushes airborne dust out of the
worker’s breathing zone, until the dust is captured and exhausted from the work
area. All task associated with the manual transfer of powdered dyes (weighting,
scooping etc.) should be performed inside the booth under the air shower.
Redesigned bulk containers: Most powder dyes are kept in drums that range in
height from 30 to 36 inches. When manually transferring dye from these drums,
many workers must lean forward and place their heads inside the drum to scoop
out dye near the bottom. In this position, the worker is greatly exposed to airborne
dye dust, even in a ventilated booth. Shorter drums should be used to eliminate the
need for workers to place their heads inside the drum. Maintaining a space between
the worker’s face and the top of the drum enables the booth ventilation to capture
the dust before it reaches the worker’s breathing zone. Limiting the drum height to
25 inches significantly reduces worker dust exposures.

Work practices: Workers should use slow, smooth movements when handling dye
to keep dust concentrations low. Dye transport distances between the bulk and
process containers should be kept to a minimum. The height at which the dye is
dropped into a container should also be kept to a minimum. Workers should avoid
skin contact with the dyes by using protective clothing such as gloves long sleeved
shirts and aprons.

Cotton Dust:

Cotton dust is a dust present in the air during the handling or processing of cotton.
This dust may contain a mixture of many substances including ground up plant
matter, fiber, bacteria, fungi, soil, pesticides, non-cotton matter and other
contaminants.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Amends Cotton Dust

Standard Following Regulatory Review:
The occupational safety and Health Administration is responsible for amendment
to the cotton dust standard, which adds an improved method of washing cotton to
other procedures already exempted from portions of the rule.

Health Effects:

Exposure to cotton dust can mean serious health problems. The first symptoms of
disease is difficulty in breathing or perhaps a tightness across the chest which is
particularly noticeable on the first day back at work after a worker has been off for
a few days.
Workers also cough up phlegm or mucous. If exposure above the OSHA limit
continues, workers may develop byssinosis, also known as “brown lung” disease.
While earlier breathing difficulties may be reversible, damage at the advanced
stages of the disease is permanent and disabling. Workers who develop brown lung
may have to retire early because they are so short of breath they cannot do their
normal jobs or even carry out simple tasks. Exposure to cotton dust also leads to
increased risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. At the time the final standard
was published, as many as 100,000 workers in the cotton industry were at risk
from cotton dust exposure. An estimated 35,000 individuals are disabled from
byssinosis as a result of exposure to cotton dust.

Dyeing Industry Hazards:

Fire and Explosion:

The fire hazards found in a dye works are the flammable solvents used in the
processes and certain flammable dyestuff. Safe storage facilities should be
provided for both: properly designed store rooms constructed of fire-resisting
materials with a raised and ramped sill at the doorway so that escaping liquid is
contained within the room and prevented from flowing to a place where it may be
ignited. It is preferable that stores of this nature be located outside the main factory
building. If large quantities of flammable liquids are kept in tanks outside the
building, the tank area should be mounded to contain escaping liquid. Similar
arrangements should be made when the gaseous fuel used on the singing machines
are obtained from a light petroleum fraction. The gas-making plant and the storage
facilities for the volatile petroleum spirit should preferably be outside the building.

Chemical Hazards:
Many factories use hypochlorite solution for bleaching; in others the bleaching
agent is gaseous chlorine or bleaching powder which releases chlorine when it is
changed into the tank. In other case, workers may be exposed to dangerous levels
of chlorine, a skin and eye irritant and a dangerous pulmonary tissue irritant
causing delayed lung edema. To limit the escape of chlorine into the workers
atmosphere, bleaching vats should be designed as closed vessel provided with
vents that limit the escape of chlorine so that the relevant recommended maximum
exposure levels are not exceeded. Atmospheric chlorine levels should be checked
periodically to ensure that the exposure limit is not being exceeded.

Sizing Hazards:
*Safety: At Eco textiles mills, no polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is used; the company
requires its mills to use potato starch or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) which is
cellulose dissolved by an acid to become a liquid. It is used in food and is
chemically inert-and non-toxic and is allowed under global organic Textile
standard. In sizing section 5-10 cubic meter effluent is exhaust per day. It is
responsible for 1-5% effluent generation.

Bleaching Hazards and safety:

In bleaching section 220-250 cubic meter effluent exhaust per day. It is responsible
for 10-15% effluent generation. Chlorine bleach is known to be extremely toxic to
the environment and to consumers, yet chlorine based chemicals are still often used
to bleach fabrics. In Eco textiles mills, the bleaching method must be oxygen-
based (hydrogen per oxide) and the waste water is treated. In one mill, ozone, a
very new technology is used for bleaching. This technology relies on cool water
(rather than having to maintain the fabric in a hot water bath for many hours and
the ozone breaks down into water and oxygen.

Dyeing Hazards and safety:

Many textile manufacturers use dyes that release aromatic amines (e. g.
Benzedrine, toluidine). Dye bath effluents may contain heavy metals, ammonia,
alkali salts, toxic solids and large amount of pigments – many of which are toxic.
About 40 percent of globally used colorants contain organically bound chlorine, a
known carcinogen. Natural dyes are rarely low impact, depending on the specific
dye and mordant used. Mordants (the substance used to “fix” the color into the
fabric) such as chromium are very toxic and high impact. The large quantities of
natural dyestuffs required for dyeing typically equal to or double that of the fibers
own weight, make natural dyes prepared from wild plants and lichens very high
impact. Eco textiles uses low impact reactive dyes in a closed 100 P system. While
they are the lowest impact fiber reactive dyes available, the dyes are by no means
low impact. At best about 80 percent of the dyestuff stay on the fabric, while the
rest go down the drain (although the water is contained and treated before returning
to the ecosystem). Eco textiles dyes contain no heavy metals so the dye house
waste water treatment yields pristine water.

Printing Hazards and safety:

Printing is carried out on a roller printing machine. The dye or pigment is

thickened with starch or made into emulsion which, in the case of pigment colors is
prepared with an organic solvent. The health hazards associated with this type of
printing are the same as those discussed above:
Solvent based pigment printing:
Solvent based printing system use large amount of solvents such as mineral spirits
in the thickening system. The major hazards are: Flammability: The thickening
systems contain up to 40% solvents and are highly flammable. Air emissions:
Solvents in this print system will be flashed off from the oven during dyeing and
curing. Local environmental regulation will dictate the permissible levels of
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions that can be tolerated.

Aqueous-based pigment printing:

Pigment printing requires the use of a cross-linker to assist in the bonding of the
pigment to the fabric. Formaldehyde has been found to be carcinogenic in mice but
it has not yet been conclusively associated with cancer in humans. It is classified as
a group 2A carcinogen, “probably carcinogenic to Human”, by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). To protect the local environment
emission from the plant have to be monitored to ensure that levels of formaldehyde
do not exceed those stipulated by applicable regulations. Ammonia is often used as
print-paste thickener. Care should be taken to handle ammonia in a well ventilated
area and to wear respiratory protection if necessary. Since all dyes and pigments
used in printing are usually in liquid form, dust exposure is not a hazard in printing
as it is in dyeing.

Finishing Hazards and safety:

One type of chemical finishing does not involve a chemical reaction: the
application of a softener or a hand builder to modify the feel and texture of the
fabric, or to improve its sew ability. This presents no significant Hazards except for
the possibility of irritation in skin and eye contact, which can be prevented by the
use of proper gloves and eye protection.

How to Reduce Risk:

Design and Pre-modification review: this involves proper layout, facilities and
material selection. Research should be done try to substitute extremely toxic
chemicals with safer ones. Less chemicals should be stored; a reduction in
inventory will automatically mean less damage if an accident is to occur.
Chemical Risk Assessment: Chemicals are assessed based on compatibility,
flammability, toxicity, explosion hazards and storage.
Process Safety Management: HAZOP studies, reliability assessment of process
equipment, incorporating safety trips and interlocks, scrubbing system, etc. should
be done before effecting major process changes. Management should try to
develop a culture of safety in industrial organizations
Safety Audits: Periodical assessment of safety procedures and practices,
performance of safety systems and gadgets along with follow up measures should
be carried out.
Emergency Planning: A comprehensive risk analysis indicating the impact of
consequences and specific written down and practiced emergency procedures
along with suitable facilities should be done. This can be done by communities as
well as national or regional corporation authorities
Training: Proper training of employees and protective services should be done.
Special times and escorts for dangerous vehicles
Public Cooperation on the road: the public should cooperate with the police and
any tankers and heavy duty vehicles to avoid accidents and allow for the shortest
possible on road time for dangerous vehicles.
Public awareness: Everyone should be aware of potential disasters and informed
of protective and safety measures. MSDS sheets should be readily available to the
public. Cautions must be placed to standout on dangerous household and car care
products.
Proper storage of hazardous Materials: All chemicals and hazardous materials
should be kept at proper storage temperature and in locked cupboards away from
children and animals. Also, if reactive substances are stored, it should be stored is a
watertight container.

CONCLUSION:
In the textile industry, dyeing, printing and finishing operations present a mixture
of old, generally small establishment in which worker safety, health and welfare
are given little attention, and newer larger establishments with ever improving
technology in which, to the extent possible, hazards control is built into the design
of the machinery. In addition to the specific hazards outline above, such problems
as substandard lighting, noise, incompletely guarded machinery, lifting and
carrying of heavy and/or bulky objects, poor housekeeping and so on remain
ubiquitous. Therefore a well-formulated and implemented safety and health
program that includes the training and effective supervision of workers is
anecessity.
4.1.2 Major Power Break downs:

Power outage:
A power outage is an interruption of normal sources of electrical power. Short-
term power outages (up to a few hours) are common and have minor adverse
effect, since most businesses and health facilities are prepared to deal with them.
Extended power outages, however, can disrupt personal and business activities as
well as medical and rescue services, leading to business losses and medical
emergencies. Extended loss of power can lead to civil disorder, as in the New York
City blackout of 1977. Only very rarely do power outages escalate to disaster
proportions, however, they often accompany other types of disasters, such as
hurricanes and floods, which hampers relief efforts.
Electromagnetic pulses and voltage spikes from whatever cause can also damage
electricity infrastructure and electrical devices.
Recent notable power outages include the 2005 Java–Bali Blackout which affected
100 million people, 2012 India blackouts which affected 600 million and the 2009
Brazil and Paraguay blackout which affected 60 million people.

The Many Causes of Power Failures:

Power outage-mostly due to damaged transmission lines, damaged civil

engineering structures, and equipment failures-is a common occurrence both while
a disaster is in progress and in its aftermath. Outages tend to exacerbate problems
with delivering lifeline services. They cause the disruption of operations in
pumping and treatment plants in water systems and in pumping fuel. They also
interfere with the refrigeration essential for safe food storage, and they limit the
ability of hospitals to provide their services.

Measures to overcome the effects of power outages include providing nonelectrical

means of maintaining limited power distribution (by taking advantage of gravity
flow in providing water supply, for example) and supplying alternative electrical
and auxiliary power systems to such critical facilities as pumping stations,
processing and treatment plants, and hospitals. It is better to use portable
generators than standby generators. Fuel for auxiliary power must be stored in
sufficient quantities for three to five days of operation. Finally, power systems
should be designed to allow the bypassing of plants and equipment, thus
preventing total disruption of service when power fails.
Electrical power, in the short span of two centuries, has become an indispensable
part of modern day life. Our work, leisure, healthcare, economy, and livelihood
depend on a constant supply of electrical power. Even a temporary stoppage of
power can lead to relative chaos, monetary setbacks, and possible loss of life.
Our cities live on electricity and without the customary supply from the power
grid, pandemonium would break loose. Power outages can be especially disastrous
when it comes to life-support systems in places like hospitals and nursing homes,
or in co-ordination facilities such as in airports, train stations, and traffic control.
Fortunately, most life support facilities have a source of backup power that is ready
to automatically take over should the main power grid fail. Backup power is also
increasingly being used in corporate facilities, manufacturing, mining, businesses,
and even residential houses as the dependence on electronics and computers in our
daily lives increases. While a loss of power in smaller scale settings may not be life
threatening, it can result in lost data, missed deadlines, decrease in productivity, or
loss of revenue. It is important to know about the possible causes of power failure
in order to better protect ourselves and our businesses from its devastating effects.
Once we have identified all that can possibly go wrong, it is easier to ensure that
adequate safeguards are put into place. Here are a few of some of the obvious, and
some not so obvious, causes of power failure:

4.1.2.1 Natural Causes - Weather Related

The Edison Electric Institute states that 70% of power outages in the U.S. are
weather related. Numerous power failures are caused by natural weather
phenomena such as lightening, rain, snow, ice, wind, and even dust. While it is
more difficult to safeguard from major power failure from natural calamities like
floods and severe storms, it does not take much to safeguard your electrical
systems from the effects of water and dust. Water can lead to short circuits and
power-failure.

The damage caused due to water in electrical circuits can be very expensive so it
makes sense to ensure that you are well protected from it. Electrical switchboards,
wires, and circuits should be protected from exposure to water. Dampness and
excessive moisture can also lead to serious damages. If you live in areas with high
levels of humidity, you should consider investing in specially sealed circuit
protection devices.
Dust can also wreck havoc with electrical systems and lead to short circuits and
power failures. If you live in an area that is exposed to dust or sandstorms, you
should pay special attention to the location of your electrical circuits and ensure
that they are protected from dust exposure as much as possible. Sealed circuit
boxes can also help in protecting your critical electrical equipment and can aid in
preventing unplanned power failures.
Natural disasters have historically been at the root of the world’s most severe
power outages. Hurricanes, floods, wind storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other
severe weather can completely destroy critical power infrastructure and result in
outages that leave expansive geographic regions without power for days, weeks,
and even months. For a list of some of the largest power outages in history and
what caused them, be sure to visit this page:

Table 4.1 List of Power Outages

People
Article affected Location Date
(millions)

2012 India blackouts 620 India July 30–31, 2012

2001 India blackout 230 India January 2, 2001

200 (90%
2021 Pakistan blackout Pakistan January 9, 2021
population)

2014 Bangladesh blackout 150 Bangladesh November 1, 2014

2015 Pakistan blackout 140 Pakistan January 26, 2015

2019 Java blackout 120 Indonesia August 4–5, 2019

2005 Java–Bali blackout 100 Indonesia August 18, 2005

March 11–June 22,

1999 Southern Brazil blackout 97 Brazil
1999

2015 Turkey blackout 70 Turkey March 31, 2015

2009 Brazil and Paraguay November 10–20,

60 Brazil, Paraguay
blackout 2009
2003 Italy blackout 56 Italy, Switzerland September 28, 2003

Canada, United August 14–28,

Northeast blackout of 2003 55
States 2003

2019 Argentina, Paraguay and Argentina, Paraguay,

48 June 16, 2019
Uruguay blackout Uruguay

2002 Luzon blackout 40 Philippines May 21, 2002

2001 Luzon blackout 35 Philippines April 7, 2001

Canada, United
Northeast blackout of 1965 30 November 9, 1965
States

March 7, 2019–July
2019 Venezuelan blackouts 30 Venezuela
23, 2019

2020 Sri Lankan blackouts 21 Sri Lanka August 17th, 2020

2016 Sri Lanka blackout 21 Sri Lanka March 13, 2016

4.1.2.2 Other Causes of Outages:

The Edison Electric Institute study also indicates that animals coming into contact
with power lines, such as large birds, accounted for 11% of outages in the United
States. Additional causes of failures were primarily man made outages that show
up in the form of vehicle and construction accidents with power poles and power
lines, maintenance from utilities, and the occasional human error.
For more information on some specific things that contribute to outages, common
terminology used to describe various situations, and ideas on things you can do to
prevent failures, a number of key areas are outlined in more detail below:
Short Circuits
A short circuit is the most commonly used term to describe the cause of a power
failure. Unfortunately, it is also a term that is bandied about without people having
much knowledge of what it actually means. So, what is a short circuit, and how can
we protect our equipment from its effects?
A short circuit occurs when an electric current travels along a path that is different
from the intended one in an electrical circuit. When this happens, there is an
excessive electric current which can lead to circuit damage, fire, and explosion. In
fact, short circuits are one of the primary causes of electrical fires throughout the
world.
Why do short circuits occur?
Short circuits can occur when the insulation of the wiring used breaks down. It can
also occur due to the presence of an external conducting material (such as water)
that is introduced accidently into the circuit. Electrical batteries can explode if they
are subjected to a large current. Short circuits can even occur when electric motors
are forced to operate when the moving parts are jammed. This can result in
abnormal buildup of current, ultimately leading to a short circuit.
Prevention & Safety
Now that we are aware of the possible causes of a short circuit, let us look at some
of the ways in which we can safeguard our electrical systems from the hazards they
pose. First and foremost, ensure that all the equipment that is used in your
electrical installation is composed of good quality materials and meets the correct
specification for your application. The initial installation costs may be higher than
a system made with cheaper materials but the savings you will make in avoiding
potential losses caused by short circuits and maintenance can be substantial, not to
mention the additional safety and peace of mind you get.
Wires should always be of the highest quality and of the correct gauge for your
application. It should also be kept in mind that wires and other electrical circuits
should not be overloaded. Electrical overload leads to overheating, causing the
insulation to break down, which in turn can lead to a short circuit. Pumps, pistons,
rotors and other moving parts of an electric motor should be regularly serviced and
checked to ensure that there is no jamming. High quality fuses, circuit breakers,
and other overload protection devices should be installed so that power can be
immediately disconnected in the event of a short circuit, thereby preventing
damage to sensitive equipment. When utilizing circuit breakers, it is also important
to select circuit breakers of the proper rating. Water is another frequent cause of
short circuits. It should be ensured that all exposed circuits are kept covered and
protected from moisture.
Brownouts

A brownout is a drop in the electrical power supply. It is so called because it leads

to a drop in voltage and causes lights to become dim. Although brownouts are not
total power failures, they can adversely affect electrical equipment. Induction and
three-phase electrical motors (like those used in industrial diesel generators) are
especially at risk during a brownout, since they can overheat and their insulation
can get damaged. If your main power supply is erratic and you experience frequent
brownouts, you should consider investing in a backup power system that will
automatically take over and provide your equipment with the necessary power
when the voltage drops.
Blackouts
Blackouts refer to a complete loss of a power to a geographic area and is the most
severe form of power outage that occurs. Depending on the root cause of the
blackout, restoring power is often a complex task that utilities and power stations
must undertake and repair timeframes very greatly depending on the configuration
of the affected electrical network.

Power Surges
Power surges are the bane of any electrical system. A power surge can lead to
rapid overheating and loss of critical and expensive equipment. Fortunately,
protection from such surges is available in the form of surge protectors and circuits
breakers. Surge protection should ideally be integrated into your main power
switchboard itself. Smaller setups, which have a limited number of critical pieces
of equipment, can choose to utilize portable surge protection devices that plug in to
the power grid.

Electrical Trees
Electrical treeing is a phenomenon that affects high power installations such as
high voltage power cables, transformers, etc. Any impurities or mechanical defects
in the equipment used in high voltage installations can lead to partial electric
discharges in the equipment. The damaging process manifests itself in a tree-like
pattern, hence the name electrical treeing. Over a period of time, if it goes
undetected, this phenomenon can lead to a continuous degradation of the
equipment and eventually result in a total breakdown.
In order to combat electrical treeing, it is important to use high quality materials
that are designed to handle the electric load. Regular maintenance performed by
trained engineers can also help to identify and rectify electrical treeing before it
can cause a major breakdown.
Summary
Electric power is critical to society and business alike. Weather is responsible for
the majority of major power outages that occur, but as evidenced above there’s a
lot more than just weather that should be accounted for when designing an
electrical system. For any critical systems, be it emergency or business related,
you should always get the assistance of a certified electrician. And for the best
possible protection, always install a power generator as a way to ensure multiple
levels of backup are in place.
4.1.3 Transportation Hazards –
These involve land, sea, and air transportation systems and include the
infrastructure that supports such systems. Examples of transportation hazards
include:

o roadway, aviation, nautical, and railway accidents,

o transportation systems failures or shutdowns, and
o any impediment to travel.

4.1.3.1 TRANSPORT ACCIDENTS:

Land Accident

Road Accident: Road accidents areshockingly not mostly due to ignorance,

but are due to carelessness, thoughtlessness and over confidence. William
Haddon (1964)stated that road accidents were associated with numerous
problems each of which needed to be addressed separately. Human, vehicle
and environmental factors play roles before, during and after a trauma event.
Accidents, therefore, can be studied in terms of agent, host and environmental
factors and epidemiologically classified into time, place and person
distribution.

Causes:

1. Human Factors (drivers, riders and Pedestrians): this includes attitude;

distracted driving; speeding; drunk driving; and reckless driving.

2. Structural Factors: automobile faults; poor roads; and deadly curves

 3. Environmental factors

Effect/Impact/Consequences:

Road accidents cause both tangible and intangible costs to the economy.

Some of the tangible costs include such as: Damage to the vehicle
(replacement and repair costs); administration costs; Medical treatment;
reduction in output due to injury and death; and insurance costs.

While Intangible costs includes: pain, grief and suffering and the risk of being
involved in an accident.

Road accidents cause direct impact on the social and physical environment.
Whenever a person is involved in an accident, most likely the family will have
to sustain the medical burden or, alternately, in the event of death, the whole
family may become financially vulnerable.

Mitigation Measures:

Below are various factors that can help avoid vehicle accident:

1. Slow- down/ reduced speed/ maintained speed limit standard.

2. Concentrated, vigilant and defensive driving.
3. Avoidance of bad weather driving and strict adherence to road rule in such
conditions
4. Avoidance of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of substance or alcohol.
5. Strict use of seat belt while on transit. And adherence to child-seating rules.
6. Vehicle parts and accessories maintenance; and its standard usage.
7. Standard use of vehicle signals/trafficators
8. Tailgate avoidance
9. Sensible vehicle head-light control to avoid blinding incoming vehicle or
vehicle ahead.
10. Avoid distractions when you are driving

Recommendations for road-accident prevention are illustrated below:

1. Traffic rules and speed limit enforcement
2. Heavy Penalty for road offenders
3. Mandatory installation of in-built „Tamper proof‟ speed controllers for
heavy vehicles.
4. Anti-collision „automatic‟ speed reduction control system/ device installed
in all vehicles
5. Strengthening procedure for obtaining driving license
6. Enforcement of driving-age rules.
7. Ensuring helmet manufacturing standards; and mandatory use of helmet for
front and back seat three/two wheelers riders .

Rail Accident:

Major classification of the Causes of Rail Accident :

1. Accidents caused by the Locomotive.

2. Those resulting from bad condition of the track or of the rolling stock.
3. Those which arise from neglects of the rules for running the train.
4. Those due to imprudence on the part of passengers or employees.

Mitigation Measures:

1. Occasional test drive by supervisors and superiors

2. Rail staff training: seminars, workshops, distributed bulletins and pamphlets
3. Public awareness: handbills, signposts, advertisements
4. Ensure train maintenance by skilled engineer
5. Ensuring no inflammable/combustible materials/substances are not on-board
6. Ensuring luggage are free of emergency exit routes
7. Standardizing and enforcement of speed limits
8. Authorities should ensure accident preventative measures at crossings like:
a. Installation of obstacle detection at crossings
b. Installation of emergency bottom at crossings
c. Installation of blue lead illumination for night crossers
d. Improve red warning light visibility from all angle in the area surrounding
the crossing

9. Cautions by unmanned crossings:

a. Ensure to reduce speed while approaching unmanned crossing points
b. Crossers should ensure to look properly before crossing; not guess the
speed of a train; not use manned crossing methods on unmanned crossing
points.
 c. Enforcement of punishment of negligent unmanned crossers

10. Caution by manned crossings:

a. Not crossing when gate is closed
b. Wait far away from the side tracks
c. Ensure train is at halt before entering/getting down
d. Not to travel by foot on train tracks

Sea Accident:
Sea accidents that can also be referred to as water accidents or accidents of
navigation refer to “misadventures that are peculiar to travel by sea or to
normal navigation. In other words it means accidents that caused at sea by the
action of the factors, rather than by the failure to exercise good handling,
working or navigating of a ship.”

Sea transport accident types can be categorized as follows:

1. Cruise Vessel Mishaps
2. Commercial Fishing Mishaps
3. Accidents on Tugboats
4. Accidents on Crude Oil Tankers and Cargo Ships
5. Grounding of Ships accidents
6. Maritime Accident because of Drugs and alcohol
7. Crane Mishaps
8. Accidents in Shipyards
9. Maritime Accidents on Diving Support Vessels
10. Accidents on Barges
11. Cargo Hauling Accidents

Mitigation Measures:

1. Improving the maritime traffic environment

a. Improving the traffic safety facilities like waterways; ports and harbors;
fishing harbors; navigation aids; earthquake resistant ports and harbors;
and securities of ports and harbors.

b. Improving traffic control and distribution of maritime traffic information

 on services, marine charts, sailing directions, weather and hydrological
reports

2. Disseminating knowledge on maritime safety: on areas like accident

prevention; private sector training; implementation of investigations‟
findings; early warning notifications

3. Securing safe vessel navigation: crew quality, effective vessel operational

management, and reformation of piloting age.

4. Ensuring vessel safety: vessel standards, safety and hazard material

examination, vessel inspection, and port control.

5. Enhancing safety measures for small vessels: boat parks, fishing area, safety
standard and mandatory on-boat emergency/safety equipment, training, and
licensing

6. Enforcing laws in maritime traffic

7. Enhancing rescue and emergency services systems
8. Promoting victim support
9. Enhancing Research &Development activities.

Air Accident:
An aviation Accident/Air Accident is defined by the Convention on
International Civil Aviation, as an occurrence associated with the operation of
an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft
with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have
disembarked, in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft
sustains damage or structural failure or the aircraft is missing or is completely
inaccessible.

Mitigation:
1. Mandatory installation of TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System)
in all airplanes
2. Upgrading radar systems to visual alert incorporated system
3. Digitalization of radio system to incorporate automated language translation
4. Training of traffic controllers (ATC) and their regulatory rules during work
hours
5. Ensuring pilot training test for newly innovated or technically improved
aircraft.
6. Maintenance of aircraft engine and other parts
7. Standardization of world aviation rule on adherence of TCAS directives
over ATC
8. Development of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADSB) and
its Mandatory installation on all airlines will be a tremendous transformation
towards prevention of air accidents resulting from visualization

Space Accident:

The history of space exploration has had a number of incidents that resulted in
the deaths of the astronauts during a space mission. As of 2010, in-flight
accidents have killed 18 astronauts, in four separate incidents.

Mitigation Measures:

The investigation committee on Soyuz 1 and Soyuz 11 disaster recommended

the following as a necessary measure to prevent future space accident:

1. To change the shape of the parachute container from cylinder to a cone;

2. To increase volume of the container;
3. To polish the internal walls of the container;
4. To install an additional emergency separation interface for the braking
parachute;
5.To introduce step-by-step photo-documentation of the parachute installation

4.1.3.2 Transportation System failures or shutdowns:

Transportation is critical to the success of disaster relief efforts. Its failure can
cripple the provision of lifeline services, particularly water and food supply
distribution and solid waste disposal.

The effects of transportation failure can be reduced by constructing alternate

secondary roads to vital locations of the water supply system. All other means of
transportation that can be used during the emergency also should be identified.
Rough terrain vehicles, such as those with four-wheel drive, and animal-traction
vehicles are particularly useful after disaster. They are excellent for transporting
both people and goods over short distances. In addition to taking these measures, a
list should be prepared outlining the priority means of transportation to be
available in the aftermath of disaster.

Basic materials, such as chemicals and spare parts, should be stockpiled against the
possibility of transportation failure. It is recommended that arrangements be made
with local distributors of chemicals, fuel, spare parts, and food to stock a small
percentage of essential items that can become available during an emergency. In
Barbados, for example, an agreement has been reached with local distributors of
food to keep enough of certain items in stock to last five days. This not only
guarantees the availability of essential foods after disaster, it also eliminates the
costs of maintaining food stocks for long periods by the national relief
organization.

4.1.4 Fire Hazards:

A fire occurs when the elements i.e. heat, fuel, oxygen and chemical chain
reaction are present and combined in the right mixture. A fire can be prevented
or extinguished by removing any one of the elements in the fire tetrahedron.
Essentially all four elements must be present for fire to occur, heat, fuel
oxygen, and a chemical chain reaction.

The best measures to be adopted for the prevention of a fire are to eliminate
potential fire hazards. Therefore you need to know what fire hazards are and
what you should do to remove them from your home or workplace. Some
potential fire hazards are listed below:
Common fire related hazards
The main causes of fire in the workplace are
 Electricity – neglect or misuse of wiring can lead to short circuits
 Rubbish and waste material – fire is likely to spread through accumulated
waste
 Smoking – carelessly discarded cigarette butts or lit matches are one of the
major causes of fire
 Cooking– kitchens provide opportunities for a fire to start and materials on
which it can feed
 Heating appliances – portable heaters are a threat when placed beside
 combustible furniture or fittings
 Combustible materials including - flammable liquids, glues and solvents are
all liable to combust unless stored and used properly
 Arson or wilful fire-raising.

4.1.4.1 Electricity Short circuit:

A short circuit is when there is a low resistance connection between two

conductors that are supplying electrical power to a circuit. This would generate an
excess of voltage streaming and cause excessive flow of current in the power
source. The electricity will flow through a ‘short’ route and cause a short circuit.

Types of Electrical Short Circuit:

1. Normal Short Circuit

This is when a hot wire carrying current touches a neutral wire. When that
happens, the resistance will go down instantly and a large volume of current will
flow through an unexpected pathway.

2. Ground Fault Short Circuit

Ground fault short circuit occurs when the hot wire carrying current comes into
contact with some grounded portion of the system. It can be a grounded metal wall
box, bare ground wire or a grounded portion of an appliance.

Main Causes of Electrical Short Circuit:

 Faulty Circuit Wire Insulation

If the insulation is damaged or old, it may allow the hot wires to touch with
neutral. This will cause a short circuit.

Age of the wire, nails or screws can damage the insulation and allow short circuit.
There is a risk of pests of gnawing the insulation and exposing the wire conductors
too.

 Loose Wire Connections

If there are any loose wire connections or attachments, it will allow the live and
neutral wires to touch. If you see faulty wire connections, do not try to fix it on
your own and call a professional immediately.

 Faulty Appliance Wiring

If you plug an appliance into a wall socket, its wiring essentially becomes an
extension of the circuit. Therefore, if there are any problems in the appliance
wiring, it will become circuit problems.

Short circuits can occur in the power cords, plugs or inside the appliance. Make
sure you get short circuit protection for all the appliances.

How Can we Prevent a Electrical Short Circuit:

 Monitor Outlets & Appliances

Every outlet has a network of wires connected to it. If there are any faulty wires,
loose box connections or if the outlet is over 15-25 years old, it may lead to a short
circuit. Look out for possible signs that indicate faulty outlets, which include:

1. Burn marks on the outlet or a burning smell

2. Sparks emitting from the outlet
3. Buzzing sound from the outlet
Similarly, check the appliances and their wiring too. Faulty appliance wiring or
cracks in the appliance can cause a short circuit. Repair such appliances or replace
them altogether.

 Use Less Electricity during Storms

A short circuit caused by a lightning strike can be extremely dangerous as the sheer
amount of electricity can lead to damage. Reduce the electrical usage during a
storm as it can help prevent short circuits and lessen the damage in case of a power
surge.

 Get a Yearly Electrical Inspection

Call a certified professional and get an electrical inspection done at least once a
year. They can identify critical issues and resolve them before they can get
dangerous because they know how to fix a short circuit.

 Install Devices that Prevent Short Circuit

1. Circuit Breakers or Fuses: A circuit breaker is a switching device in a

circuit that interrupts an abnormal flow of current. It uses an internal system
of springs or compressed air to sense any changes in the current flow. It will
‘break’ the circuit open and cut the flow of current. A fuse is a device that
provides over current protection. It has a metal strip or wire that melts when
a large amount of current flows through it. This interrupts the circuit.

2. Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs): GFCI works by comparing

the amount of current flowing in and out of a circuit. If there is a ground
fault or imbalance between the currents flowing in and out, the GFCI will
shut off electrical power.

3. Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs): An AFCI breaks the circuit when

it detects an electric arc in the circuit. It helps in preventing electrical fires.

4.1.4.2 Rubbish and waste material accumulation:

Combustible Waste Material: Waste accumulation is prohibited. When these

items are allowed to accumulate, the risk of fire is increased. Under the right
conditions, the buildup of dust from wood, plastic or certain metal operations can
lead to a fire or explosion. Construction debris must be properly disposed of to
eliminate the risk of fire.
Flammable liquids stored in plastic containers can be a particular problem if
involved in fire because they readily melt spilling their contents and fuelling rapid
fire growth.
LPG use, storage and disposal Where LPG in cylinders or cartridges is present, you
need to take particular care to minimize the possibility of their involvement in a
fire. The total stock of LPG should be kept to the minimum necessary to meet your
needs. Locate the LPG cylinders and cartridges in a safe secure and well ventilated
place, where they cannot be interfered with, can be kept upright (with valve
protection fitted), are away from sources of ignition and /or readily ignitable
materials, and are away from any corrosive toxic or oxidant materials.

The accumulation of combustible materials (such as cardboard boxes,

magazine/journals and paper products) is prohibited. Combustible material must
never be stored any closer than 36" from a heating appliance or electrical light.
Items no longer in use should be properly disposed to avoid stacking and
accumulation on counters, top of cabinets, floors and desks.

4.1.4.3 Smoking & Cooking:

SMOKING-RELATED FIRES

Cigarette and smoking related fires are among the top causes of fire related
fatalities. These fires often involve the ignition of mattresses, bedding, upholstered
furniture or trash by improperly discarded cigarettes, ashes or matches.
Understanding what makes smoking fires so dangerous and what you can do to
help prevent them can help you keep your home and family safe.

Most smoking fires are started by embers igniting on furniture, bedding and trash
cans. Smokers should always be sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before
emptying ashtrays into the trash. Never smoke in bed and never smoke when you
are tired, inebriated, or drowsy from medication. Do not place ashtrays on
flammable surfaces like couches, chairs, or beds where they can tip over and start a
fire.

The best way to prevent smoking-related fires is to smoke outside the house and
have a can filled with sand to extinguish cigarette butts.

Prevent Smoking Fires in Your Home:

Smoking in your home puts everyone at risk – not only from secondhand smoke
but also by increasing the risk of a smoking related fire. Taking the following steps
can help prevent cigarette and smoking related fires in your home:

 Never smoke in bed, when you're tired, or when taking medication that may
make you drowsy.
  Never smoke in a house after consuming alcohol.
 Use large, heavy, non-tip ashtrays and always place them on flat stable
services; never use your lap or a couch cushion.
 Use child resistant lighters and matches and keep them out of the reach of
children.
 Douse smoking materials with water when you're done smoking.
 Refrain from smoking in your house altogether and do not allow others to
smoke in your home. Best of all, consider quitting smoking to decrease the
risk of fire and improve your health.

KITCHEN FIRES:

Thousands of fire incidents occur every year in which many residential structures
are also involved. Majority of the fire incidents, in residential houses, have actually
emanated from the kitchen, while cooking food, which had been left unattended,
on the stove.

The reason that the kitchen is the source of many fire hazards is because the
kitchen is where heat, electricity, water, and grease come together.

The most common type of kitchen fire is the grease fire. A grease fire is extremely
dangerous as it can get out of control quickly and spread from the stove throughout
the kitchen and into other rooms of the house. Many grease fires occur because
someone leaves a frying pan on the stove unattended. They also occur when
someone overheats a pan during attended cooking if the grease catches fire. Grease
fires can cause serious injury and extensive property damage. Other types of
kitchen fires include oven fires and appliance fires. Fires can also get started in the
kitchen when electricity comes in contact with water.

Fire Safety Precautions:

 Don't overload outlets with multiple outlet cords or plugs. If additional

outlets are required, use an ISI marked multi-outlet "power strip" with its
own built-in circuit breaker.
 Careless smoking, use of candles and incense, and unattended cooking
appliances remain major causes of fatal fires in residential buildings.
 Use of fire crackers, hot work, and open fire is prohibited in all buildings.
Keep walkways, stairwells and exits free from obstructions at all times.
 Report immediately if you observe/noticed damaged fire equipment and
other fire hazards to Campus security and Fire Safety wing.
 Do not open fire hydrant/hose reel water for unnecessarily use.
 Do not misuse of Fire Extinguisher.