Safety, Health & Environmental OfficeMarch 2015

What if?

Triangle of combustion: a fire needs fuel + oxygen + heat to start & keep burning

How fire spreads: Direct flame – direct contact Conduction – heat moves through solid

matter Radiation – heat given off, no direct contact Convection – heat moves through air!!!

Heat moves through air by convection

Build-up of smoke & heatSuperheated thermal layer spreadsBuilding bursts into flame.

A fire fighter’s greatest fear!!

The Station Fire, Feb 2003: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzfq9Egxeo

A. SOLIDS: ordinary solid flammable material e.g. wood, paper, coal, fabrics, plastic

Extinguish with WATER

or dry powder or foam

B. LIQUID/GAS: flammable liquids & gases e.g. petrol, paraffin, alcohol, oil, benzene

Extinguish with DRY POWDER

or fire blanket / CO2 / foam

C. ELECTRICAL: involves live electricity e.g. overheated portable electrical equipment, overloaded electrical cables, short circuits

Extinguish with CO2

or dry powder

D. METAL: involves combustible metals e.g. magnesium, titanium (used in lightweight equipment), lithium (batteries)

Extinguish with DRY POWDER

Cause: paper lampshade & light bulb wattage too high over-heating lampshade caught fire.

Cause: Faulty switch bread in

toaster burned and caught fire.

Cause: Incorrect battery fitted to laptop.

Need to remove one or more: fuel / oxygen / heat

Only attempt to extinguish a fire IF: It is small and not spreading You know how to use the fire extinguisher You have your back to a known SAFE EXIT

Extinguishers at RU mainly: Dry powder (all types of fire - A/B/C/D) Water (only A)

Think P.A.S.S.

P – Pull the pin

A – Aim the nozzle at base of fire

S – Squeeze the trigger

S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side

Safety pin prevents us squeezing the trigger

accidentally.

The Role of Senior Management in Health and Safety Compliance

Check: Fire alarms Emergency exits & exit routes Fire fighting equipment Safe use of electrical appliances e.g. kettles, ironing, heaters, etc.

Report: Problems with any of the above Any (potential) fire hazards

NB: It is against the law to use safety equipment – such as fire extinguishers – for anything other than its intended purpose. If found guilty, you could be fined up to R50,000.

Electrical equipment Electrical cords, heaters,

Smokingtumble driers, irons, etc

RU warden’s greatest fear!!

www.ru.ac.za/safety/fire/firedrills

Raise the alarm – scream, whistle, push alarm button…

CPU EMERGENCY 046 603 8999 (save on cellphone) call no matter how small the fire

Only try to extinguish if safe Evacuate – crawl to avoid smoke/heat

suffocation Close windows & doors, help people with

disabilities Meet at Assembly Point, for roll call Don’t take risks – don’t use lifts, do NOT go

back inside.

YOU need to know YOUR exit routes! Work it out - from your room:

How many doors do you pass to your nearest exit…

going LEFT? going RIGHT? Where is the nearest FIRE EXTINGUISHER?

Same as when you travel on a plane, or stay in a hotel, or visit some unknown place.

Obey house rules for visitors (security risk)

Do not let in strangers Make sure you are not ‘tailed’ into res Report suspicious/unauthorized

persons to wardens or CPU immediately

Know your res mates

Lock away valuables, lock doors, close windows when you go out

Report to warden if doors, windows etc damaged/broken – to be repaired

Don’t walk alone at night Don’t ‘display’ your goodsGet Home Safe

CPU Blue Security Route Prince Alfred Street St Peters Campus signposted well lit extra guards on patrol

Avoid deserted areas or dark roads

www.ru.ac.za/campusprotection

Report all incidents on campus to CPU

046 603 8176 or 8177 or 8999

Report incidents off campus to SAPS 10111 or 046 603 9111

at www.ru.ac.za/safety

www.ru.ac.za/safety

Safety Health & Environmental Officer

046 603 7205 or safety@ru.ac.za

Thank you!