ABC's of Fire Extinguishers

1
Natural Gas Fire Safety
2
INGREDIANTS OF FIRE

3
FIRE PREVENTION

• The best approach to fire safety is to not have a
  fire in the first place but how? The answer is
  remove an ingredient.
• OXYGEN
• Uncontrollable
• FUEL
• Ensure utilities are marked, current and
  accurate.
• Double check marks if suspicious.
• Hand-dig around utilities.
• HEAT
• No smoking 20 from blowing gas.
• Shut-off nearby vehicles/equipment.
• Consider blocking traffic when large amount of
  gas.
• Use grounding rod static wrap.
• Use brass tools.

4
CLASSES OF FIRES
There are 4 main classes of fires. Natural gas
fires are classified as Class B fires.

Wood, Paper, Cloth, Etc.
Liquids Gasses
Electrical
Metals
5
SERIOUSNESS OF GAS FIRES

• Natural gas fires are LARGE, loud, hot and dont
  care about you.

RESPECT NATURAL GAS BE PREPARED FOR THE
WORST!!!
6
SERIOUSNESS OF GAS FIRES

• Anyone in a bell-hole can be engulfed in flames.
• Protective clothing only lasts 3-4 seconds.

IF IN A FIRE GET OUT IMMEDIATELY ROLL ON THE
GROUND!!!
7
CONDITIONS FOR IGNITION
The conditions must be just right in order for
a natural gas fire to occur. Too much oxygen
will make the concentration too lean and too much
gas will make the concentration too rich to
ignite.
8
WORKING AROUND BLOWING GAS
If an employee must work around blowing gas,
additional precautions MUST be taken!

9
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Protective equipment must be worn by all
employees who work around blowing gas, as well as
those that serve as a fire watch.
10
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Not only must protective equipment be worn, but
  it must be worn correctly in order to offer full
  protection!
• FIRE SUITS
• Clean with no rips/tears
• Velcro cuffs adjusted tight
• Over top of boots and gloves
• HOT MILL GLOVES
• Cuffs under sleeves
• NOMEX HOODS
• Worn so only eyes exposed
• GOGGLES
• Over top of hood

REMEMBER CHARLIE? He suffered severe burns in
1980 because he did was not wearing his PPE
correctly!
11
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Approved ventilation or supplied air respirators
must be used whenever there is a potential for an
oxygen deficient atmosphere.
Ventilation
Supplied Air Respirator w/Filter Panel
12
FIRE WATCH REQUIREMENTS

• Whenever an employee is forced to work around
  blowing gas, an employee who has completed fire
  extinguisher training must serve as a fire
  watch. Their responsibilities include
• Stand upwind and 15 feet from work area.
• Have current/charged 20-pound extinguisher by
  side.
• Do nothing that distracts attention from task
  (phone calls, etc.).
• If ignition occurs, extinguishing employees is
  first priority.
• If flames spread beyond control or one
  extinguisher cannot extinguish the fire stop and
  call 911.

13
EXTINGUISHING FIRES

• Start 15 feet upwind from the fire area.
• Use the PASS method.