SAFETY BULLETIN # 034

FIRE PREVENTION

Fire Prevention means exactly what it says: Preventing Fires.

A basic part of each job is preventing potential fire situations from existing, in order to
save men, materials, time and money.
Construction within a petroleum industry complex requires extremely careful planning,
since plant being constructed are frequently next to those in production. Physical
location requires the constructors to plan for the worst possible conditions. The site
preparation, work permit schedule, type of permits required, type and quantity of
equipment required, and the manner in which to handle problems when they do arise,
must be taken into consideration before the job starts.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS
In the construction of plant for the petroleum industry, the majority of the material used is
steel and concrete which are considered non-flammable.
However, some portions of the equipment used during the construction phase are
flammable.
For example, one source of combustible materials on construction sites are scaffold
planks. These planks can smoulder unnoticed as a result of hot slag being dropped
during welding operations. As the wind comes up the smouldering wood is fanned into
flames. This may happen when no one is at the job site.
During actual welding operations, the welder or his helper should wet down the scaffold
planks to make sure that anything which had fallen or dropped, would not smoulder and
eventually break into flames.
This is one very simple precaution which should be taken.
Other combustible materials likely to be encountered are: cable insulation, insulation
materials, vehicle tires, scrap packing material, forming timbers and flammable liquid
fuels and gas cylinders.
Rubbish, if allowed to accumulate on the job site, provides a good starting point for fire.
All waste should be collected at regular intervals and disposed off correctly.
Good housekeeping at all times can eliminate most of the combustible materials which
act as fuel for fire.

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FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
Contractors problems are likely to arise from fuels used by construction equipment.
Care in handling these flammable products is of prime importance and is one of the keys
to fire prevention.
1.

In storage, all flammable liquids must be kept in securely capped cans or

steel drums on which the contents are clearly marked.
Gasoline, acetone, spirits and other volatile liquids with flashpoints below
90F should be kept in robust metal lockers stored in well-ventilated, noncombustible huts. The storage area should be 50 feet away from any other
buildings or storage areas. No other materials should be stored with
flammable liquids.
In handling, the following precautions should be observed:

2.

Transportation must always be in closed containers.

Transfer operations should be carried out with funnels, and there should
be no naked flame within 20 feet of the operation.

Screw tops and stoppers must be replaced immediately.

Gasoline and diesel-powered equipment should only be used in well-ventilated

areas.
Exhaust pipes must be kept away from combustible material. Engines must
be stopped before refueling takes place.

RESTRICTED AREAS
Any construction that takes place within existing plant or other industrial areas which are
classified as restricted, work permits must be obtained for all work prior to it
commencing.
In any restricted area, the contractor shall become familiar with the activities of other
plant around him and with problems likely to develop as a result of possible upsets. If a
condition does develop that endangers his workforce, he can take immediate action for
their protection.
In restricted areas, there are not only gases which are flammable, but include gases
which are health hazards at concentrations well below their explosive or flammable
limits. Therefore, the contractor must be aware of the potential hazards that could
develop from these gases and must be prepared to handle these problems in a safe
manner.

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