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To make a significant contribution in the prevention of
serious fires in the workplace, staff need appropriate training and
the correct type of fire extinguishers need to be installed which
must be regularly serviced and correctly positioned within
buildings.
Commenting, Steve Best of Newflame,
Peterborough said: “Employers have a responsibility to protect their
staff, visitors and premises from fire. By installing independently
tested and CE Marked certified extinguishers, which are approved to
the European Standard (BS EN3), and by providing regular training
and maintenance, business owners go a long way to protecting their
people and businesses.“
Most workplaces will require the
provision of a minimum of two Water-based extinguishers as primary
protection from fire. Other risks, such as electrical equipment and
flammable liquids, need to be separately assessed and the relevant
extinguishers provided. In addition to water-based extinguishers,
there are four other main types available. These include Foam, which
is suitable for most fires involving flammable liquids, Dry Powder
or Carbon Dioxide for fires involving both flammable liquids and
electrical apparatus and finally Wet Chemical, specifically for use
on fires in deep fat fryers.
There are, unfortunately, many
examples of dangerous and even fatal incidents occurring as the
result of fire extinguishers not being properly maintained.
Employees should be asked to watch out for a range of warning signs.
These include extinguishers showing rust and flaking paintwork,
which indicates that the extinguisher has corroded, corrosion of
welds and pressure retaining parts, pitting and dents to the body of
the extinguisher or where there is fading of the black plastic head.
Fatality as result
of poorly maintained
equipment
Sadly a fatality occurred in 2001, whilst an employee was using a
hand held fire extinguisher to put out a small fire, when it
suddenly exploded resulting in the individual’s death due to flying
debris. This was due to serious corrosion of the base of the
extinguisher. In another incident in 2002, a man was blown 12 feet
through the air by a fire extinguisher, which exploded in his hand.
Fire safety equipment, when properly
installed and regularly serviced, is estimated to save the UK
economy over £500million every year (based on values of the total
fire insurance claims for commercial premises). A recent survey by
two leading Fire Protection Trade Bodies highlighted that over a
four month period, of 2000 fire incidents recorded, 80% of the fires
were successfully put out by fire extinguishers. In 75% of instances
the fire brigade was not required to attend.
In 2004 a fire extinguisher saved
both the lives of two people trapped in a car, which was on fire,
and the lives of their rescuers. A British Transport Police
Inspector tackled the fire with a fire extinguisher, which allowed
his colleague to break his way into the car, which was at real risk
of exploding, to give first aid and reassure the occupants, until
the Fire Brigade arrived and released the occupants without serious
injury.
Steve Best of Newflame, Peterborough
said: “As members of B.A.F.E, British Approvals for Fire Equipment,
Newflame provides extinguishers to the European Standard (BS EN3)
and installs and maintains to BS 5306. Our engineers are B.A.F.E
Registered Technicians which means they are approved – a Government
recognised scheme similar to gas industry’s CORGI registration.”
March 2006 |
