Table of content

 The Textile industry

 Fire hazards in textile industry

 Examples of cases of fire in textile industry

 Common fire hazards in textile industry

 Effect of fire on the environment

 References
 The textile industry
 Mauritius' textile industry is one of the main pillars in terms of the country’s economic
development.
 This sector is estimated to be valued about 1.2 billion dollars.
 Approximately, 500 000 individuals work in this industry.
 Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile, Exotic Group and Aquarelle area few of the leading textile
industries.
 The Mauritian Textile Industry has advanced significantly from being a simple manufacturer to
a supplier of high-quality clothing.
 As of now, Mauritius is exporting to the largest markets in the world which are Europe, The
United States and South Africa.
 Despite this, the industry is encountering many fire breaks since it deals with combustible
materials and flammable liquids.
 Common fire hazards in textile
• Flammable materials
• Dust accumulation
• Machinery and equipment
• Electrical hazards
• Use of chemicals
• Hot works
• Poor housekeeping
• Lack of Fire Suppression systems
• Lack of training
• Inadequate ventilation
• Storage and Handling
• Improper Inspection, maintenance and testing of fire safety systems
 Fire in textile industry
In 2012 there was a horrific fire at Ali Enterprises that
killed more than 250 garment workers in Pakistan,
where investigations say they lacked fire drills, they In 2019, there
were unaware of the evacuation emergency, there was was at least 43
also no regular inspection of the fire alarm systems to people have
ensure they were working safely. been killed in
fire, caused by
an electrical
fault at a
garment
factory found
in the capital
city of new
Delhi.
No proper maintenance and
inspection of ~Emergency lights
 No proper maintenance, inspection, and maintenance of
~Emergency lights
WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY LIGHT

 Used to provide illumination during power outages

How it affects an individual?
 Usually placed along the evacuation route
It could lead to an efficient evacuation
which can bring about injuries or even loss  EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE A LEGAL PROVISION
of life.
 TO DO
EMERGENCY
LIGHT
INSPECTION
FIRE,
FIRE …
No proper maintenance and inspection of – Emergency lights

How it affects the individual?

• Lack of emergency light might result in poorly
illuminated evacuation routes that can lead to a
poor evacuation in case of a fire that may result in
death or burns.

Control measures
• Implement a daily inspection log book to ensure
emergency lights are tested regularly.
Irons left on and unattended
Irons left on and unattended

 Hand irons are used to press t-shirts and other clothes

before sending to the finishing line.
 Even for a little amount of time, an unattended iron
can be a fire hazard.
 Ironing is especially dangerous because heat and
motion can cause sparks to fly from the iron.
 Even a small spark can quickly ignite a pile of clothes
or furniture.
Irons left on and unattended
How it affects the individual?
• Overheated iron can result in burns and
in case of a fire may also cause a fire
outbreak resulting in death.

Control measures

 Ensure employees unplug the iron

and allow it to cool down before
leaving the work area.
 Ensure designated area to store iron
 To ensure the ironing section is free
from flammable materials.
 Ensure supervisions and checks in
ironing section.
 Ensure frequent training.
Lack of training for fire fighter
Dust accumulation in machines
Dust accumulation in machines
EVERY area is filled with dust particles.
• Cutting of fabrics and sweeping of floors
generate a lot of dust.
How it affects the worker

~Can cause burn

~Worker can inhale toxic
fumes

Dust and fluff are deposited

in the machine.
Dust accumulation in machines - control measures

 PROVISION OF LOCAL EXHAUST

VENTILATION (LEV).

 REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF
MACHINERY

 REVIEW CLEANING FREQUENCY

AND SCHEDULE.
LEV system
 TRAINING TO RAISE AWARENESS
ON PROPER HOUSEKEEPING.
No proper maintenance and
inspection of fire extinguishers
BANZOUR
ZOTTOUS
No proper maintenance and inspection of fire extinguishers

How it affects the individual ?

• Inadequate maintenance can prevent an
adequate response to a fire which can result
in severe burns and even death.

Control measures
• Ensure proper inspection of fire extinguishers
with the implementation of an inspection log
book.
Environmental effect of industrial fire
Combustion of chemicals
(Dyes, cleaning agents)
Industrial fire
Combustion of combustible materials
(Fabrics, papers and/or cardboards

 Combustion products are deposited on plants

and tree and in turn affect flora.
 Toxic fumes generated by burning of products
such as plastic, rubber parts etc..., can affect Combustion of chemicals can lead to the
the environment. emission of toxic fumes.
 Fire also releases carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere which ultimately contributes to
global warming.
 References
• https://www.africa-business.com/features/textiles-mauritius.html
• https://www.textileinfomedia.com/textile-industry-in-mauritius
• https://www.textileblog.com/fire-hazards-in-textile-industry/#:~:text=Loose%20materials%2C%20e.g.%2C%20fabric%20offcut
s,results%20from%20the%20spinning%20process
• https://www.ecotextile.com/2019120925400/social-compliance-csr-news/43-killed-in-new-delhi-garment-factory-fire.html
• https://cleanclothes.org/news/2022/report-a-decade-after-deadly-ali-enterprises-fire-pakistans-garment-workers-report-shocking-
lack-of-fire-exits
• http://www.revistaindustriatextila.ro/images/2019/6/005%20PONNUSAMY%20VENKATARAMANAN%20_Industria%20Tex
tila%206_2019.pdf

• https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/163568
• https://books.google.mu/books?hl=fr&lr=&id=Tz9eqLTNja4C&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=improper+maintenance+of+fire+alarm+s
ystem+in+textile+industry.,&ots=th_jDbAIaK&sig=YCTrJyP0EIl2iJyXjZ7Z2yn8HBM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

• https://www.irjet.net/archives/V6/i10/IRJET-V6I10196.pdf
• https://iloencyclopaedia.org/component/k2/item/886-dyeing-printing-and-finishing
• https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/US-Fire-Problem/RFEIFRoadmapSummary.a
shx
• https://efectis.com/en/environmental-impact-of-fires/
• https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/there-has-been-a-major-fire-at-a-chemical-3053580#