Reach Out For First Aid

Training Ltd

Health & Safety

Course

Reach Out For First Aid Ltd 2005

Course Objective

Course Objective
For employers and employees to gain a
basic understanding and knowledge of the
principles of Health and Safety under the
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and to
give them an awareness of their
responsibilities under this act

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Contents

Contents
Health & Safety Law
Risk Management
Accident prevention
HSE Inspectors
Welfare Regulations
Personal Protective Equipment
Display Screen Equipment
PUWER
Manual Handling
First Aid
Information /Insurance
RIDDOR
Noise / Electricity
COSHH
Fire
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Health & Safety

What is Safety?

It is the freedom from

danger or risk of injury

Preventing Accidents!
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Health & safety Law

Why Health & Safety?

Moral
Over 200 people killed in work each year with
thousands seriously injured or suffering ill health
HSE report up to 25 million working days lost every
year due to work-related accidents and ill health

Legal
Providing a safe working environment is the Law
Organisations causing injury or ill health by its acts or
omissions could be prosecuted under criminal law
Employers and employees could be fined or imprisoned
if found to have been negligent by the courts

Economic
Accidents and work related ill health cost 1.5 - 1.7
billion a year
Ultimately we all pay for the financial costs

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Health & safety Law

Employer Duties:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Before 1974 approx 8 million employees had no legal
safety protection at work

The act places a general duty to:

ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the
health, safety and welfare at work of all their
employees HSAWA section 2 (1)

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Health & safety Law

Employer Duties:
the provision and maintenance of plant and
systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably
practicable, safe and without risks to health
HASAWA Section 2 (2)

arrangements for ensuring, so far as is

reasonably practicable, safety and absence of
risks to health in connection with the use,
handling, storage and transport of articles and
substances HASAWA Section 2 (2)

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Health & safety Law

Employer Duties:
the provision of such information, instruction, training
and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work
of his employees HASAWA section 2 (2)

a safe and well-maintained workplace,

including safe access and egress HASAWA section
2 (2)

a safe working environment with adequate

welfare facilities HASAWA section 2 (2)

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Health & safety Law

Employer Duties:
to prepare, and maintain up-to-date, a statement
showing the policy on safety and the organisation
and arrangements put in place to ensure the general
policy is carried out HASWA 2 (2)
the employer must ensure that all employees are
aware of the policy and any revision

create Safety representatives.

consult any such representatives and to involve
them and employees in making arrangements for
health and safety at work
establish a safety committee

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Health & safety Law

Employer Duties:
requires employers (and the self-employed) to ensure
that non-employees (eg the general public, contractors
and contract staff) do not have their health and safety
adversely affected by the employer's actions and,
where necessary, to give such people information about
hazards Section 3

people in control of premises (landlords,

tenants etc), both to ensure that people
can use the premises without risks to
their health or safety and to control any
'noxious or offensive substances' from
being released into the atmosphere.

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Health & Safety Law

Employees Duties:
employees to take reasonable care of
their own health & safety, and that of
anyone who could be adversely affected
by their 'acts or omissions at work'

and to co-operate with their employer in

steps to meet legal requirements Section 7

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Risk Management

Safety Policy
Sets out the organisations framework for managing
Health & Safety.
(5 or more employees requires written statement)

The Policy should describe the responsibilities key

persons have for Health & Safety Management, e.g.
who will carry out risk assessments, who will be
responsible for the maintenance of equipment, who
will co-ordinate emergency procedures and who will
ensure the safe handling and use of substances.

The Policy should contain a signed and

dated commitment, from the most senior
person in the organisation

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Risk Management

Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment is a legal requirement
Every employer shall make a suitable and
sufficient assessment of the risks to the health
and safety of his employees, to which they are
exposed, whilst they are at work
HASAW Regs1999 Reg 3

Object of a risk assessment is to:

Identify all the hazards which may cause harm to
employees and others, and to consider the chance
(likelihood) of that harm actually happening to
anyone

It enable employers to plan, introduce and monitor

measures to ensure that the risks are adequately
eliminated or controlled at all times.

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Risk Management

What is a Risk?
The likelihood of harm occurring
from a hazard, during work
activities, or by the products and
services created by work activities
The extent of the risk covers the
number of people affected and
the consequences for them

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Risk Management

What is harm?
Injury ,damage or loss caused by the hazard

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Risk Management

What is a hazard?
Anything with the potential to cause harm

Four types of hazard:

Physical
Ergonomic
Chemical
Biological

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Risk Management

Hazards
Physical

Ergonomic

Noise, Vibration, Lighting,

Thermal, Radiation, Fire,
mechanical, Electrical,

Anatomical / Physiological
/ Psychological

Chemical

Dust, Fumes, Gases, Vapours,

Mists, Liquids, Solids, Fibres

Biological

Bacteria, Viruses, Moulds & Fungi

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Risk Management

Who should complete a Risk

Assessment?
A Competent Person is judged competent because they have the :

Knowledge
skills
Actual experience
Qualifications

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Risk Management

so far as is reasonably practicable

To the lowest level reasonably

practicable. That means reducing the
risk until the cost of any further
precautions - in time, trouble or money would be far too great in proportion to the
benefits.

Risk

Probability
Consequences
Severity of harm

Cost

Need & Utility

Difficulty
Science &
Technology
Time

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Risk Management

10 Steps to risk assessment

Step 1 Identify the hazard
Step 2 Identify the people affected
Step 3 Assess the likelihood of occurrence
Step 4 Assess the degree of severity
Step 5 List existing preventative/protective measures
Step 6 Identify additional protective/preventative measures
Step 7 Give a risk rating
Step 8 Prioritise action short/medium/long term (SFAIRP)
Step 9 Record the assessment
Step 10 Monitor / Review / Reassess

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Risk Management

Hierarchy of Risk Controls:

Eliminate / substitute
Engineer / design out risks at source
Guard / enclose / isolate
Extract / dilute
Reduce time exposure
Train and supervise
Enforce safe systems of work
Personal protective clothing / equipment

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Accident Prevention

An Accident is?
"...an unexpected, unplanned event in a
sequence of events that occurs through a
combination of causes; it results in physical
harm (injury or disease) to an individual,
damage to property, a near miss, a loss
or any combination of these effects."

ALL ACCIDENTS CAN BE PREVENTED!

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Accident Prevention

What is an accident?

All Accidents are Incidents

All Incidents are not Accidents
All injuries result from Accidents
All Accidents do not result in Injuries

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Accident Prevention

Most Common Work Accidents:

Injuries from manual handling
Slips, trips or falls
Injuries from moving objects
Falls from heights
Most accidents that happen in the workplace can be
categorised under one of two headings.
These are:
Unsafe Acts
Trailing hoses/cables
Slip/trip hazards
Dangerous machinery
Lack of maintenance
Poor housekeeping
Environment: lighting
/temperature/noise
/dust & fumes
Lack of space
Falling/flying objects

Unsafe Conditions
Lack of training/understanding
Lack of supervision/management
Complacency/poor attitude
Not wearing PPE
Horseplay
Not working to safe working procedures
Procedures not know
Procedures ignored
Procedures not enforced
Safeguards removed
Health problems
Poor communications

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Accident Prevention

The BIRD theory (USA - 1969) - in which Bird suggests,

after a study of more than 1.7 million accidents, that for
each serious injury there are likely to be 10 minor
injuries, 30 property damage accidents and 600 noninjury/damage accidents.

Major / Lost Time

Minor Injuries / First Aid
Damage

Near Miss/No Visible Loss

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Accident Prevention

The Accident Iceberg

The Hidden Costs of Accidents
The HSE study found that for every 1 of visible
cost there could be between 8 to 36 of hidden
cost, depending on the industry sector you are
working in.

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Accident Prevention

The Accident Iceberg

Known Costs
Covering injury, ill health and damage

Hidden Costs Including:

Business/production interruption
Bad publicity/loss of corporate reputation
Sickness absence pay
Replacement staff pay
Loss of expertise/experience
Recruitment
Retraining
Emergency supplies
Investigation costs
Clerical costs
Legal costs
Fines

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Accident Prevention

The Domino Theory

Accidents happen due to a sequence of events and
the theory is that if you intervene at any stage of that
chain of events, the accident would not occur and
therefore there would be no loss or injury.

It has been likened to removing one domino

from a line before pushing the first one, so
that the end domino will not fall.

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HSE Inspectors

Powers of Inspectors:
The Health and Safety Executive has primary
responsibility for enforcing health and safety law but
some enforcement responsibilities are assigned to local
authorities.

In general the HSE is responsible for enforcement in

premises such as factories, fairgrounds and
construction sites.

The local authority is generally responsible for premises

such as offices, launderettes, most shops and
distribution premises such as warehouses.
Although the inspectors will enforce in different
workplaces they all have the same duties and powers

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HSE Inspectors

Powers of Inspectors:
Inspectors can do anything necessary to enable
them to carry out their duties, for example:
1. Gain access without a warrant
2. Enlist the help of the police
3. Take statements
4. Inspect/copy records and documents
5. Take articles or equipment away
6. Direct that locations remain undisturbed
7. Require facilities
8. Make Prosecutions

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Welfare Regulations

Besides the Health and Safety at Work

Act the following apply across the full
range of workplaces:
1. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations 1992 cover a wide range of basic
health, safety and welfare issues such as:

ventilation
heating,
lighting,
workstations
seating
welfare facilities

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Welfare Regulations

Ventilation:
Workplace should be adequately
ventilated
Clean fresh air should be drawn from
outside the workplace, uncontaminated
from flues, chimneys, or other processes
It should also remove and dilute warm
humid air and provide air movement
Windows may be used

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Welfare Regulations

Heating:
A reasonably temperature during
working hours
Minimum sedentary temperature of 16C
Minimum temperature 13C where
there is severe physical effort
Unless lower maximum room
temperature are required by law

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Welfare Regulations

Lighting:

Suitable and sufficient lighting (by

natural light sfairp) to allow people to
work and move around safely
If necessary provide local lighting at
work station and any areas of particular
risk
Additionally where there is potential for
danger due to failure of artificial light,
emergency lighting is required
Lights and fittings should not cause a
hazard
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Welfare Regulations

Workstations:
Arranged to be suitable for any person
who is likely to work there and for any
work likely to be done there
Must enable anyone to leave swiftly or
to receive assistance in an emergency

Seating:
Provide a suitable seat when a
substantial part of the work must be done
sitting, *(suitable for the person as well as
the task, with footrest where necessary)

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Welfare Regulations

Welfare Facilities:

Toilets
Washing facilities
Drinking water
Accommodation for clothing
Changing rooms
Rest areas
Protection from smoking

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PPE

2. Personal Protective Equipment at

Work Regulations 1992 (PPE):
Require employers to provide appropriate protective
clothing and equipment for their employees

To be effective PPE must:

be appropriate for the hazard faced
be of a material that will resist that hazard
be suitable for the person using it
not interfere with the operator performing his functions
be of robust construction
not interfere with other PPE being worn
not increase the risks to the wearer

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DSE

3. Health and Safety (Display Screen

Equipment) Regulations 1992:
Set out requirements for work
with Visual Display Units (VDUs).

Who is affected?
The Regulations apply where staff habitually use
VDUs as a significant part of their normal work
The Regulations apply if you are an employee working
at home, and habitually using a VDU for a significant
part of your normal work
The Regulations apply if you are self employed, habitually
use a VDU for a significant part of your normal work
and are using a client employers workstation

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DSE

WHAT DO EMPLOYERS HAVE

TO DO TO COMPLY?
Employers have to:
Analyse workstations, and assess and reduce risks
Employers need to look at:
the whole workstation including equipment,
furniture, and the work environment;
the job being done; and
any special needs of individual staff.

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DSE

Other employers duties:

Ensure workstations meet minimum requirements
Plan work so there are breaks or changes of activity
On request arrange eye tests, and provide spectacles if
special ones are needed
Provide health and safety training and information

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DSE

Problems associated with DSE

Some users may get aches and pains in their hands,
wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back, especially after
long periods of uninterrupted VDU work. Repetitive
strain injury (RSI) has become a popular term for these
aches, pains and disorders, but can be misleading - it
means different things to different people.
A better medical name for this whole group of conditions
is upper limb disorders. Usually these disorders do not
last, but in a few cases they may become persistent or
even disabling.
Problem Solving:
Plenty of short breaks
Wrist supports
Foot rests
Adjust Chair
Adjust screen position / brightness
Change Posture

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PUWER

4. Provision and Use of Work Equipment

Regulations 1998 (PUWAR):

require that equipment provided for use at work, including machinery, is

safe

Applies to new and old equipment

Suitability for purpose for which it is used
Maintenance
Inspections (records)
Specific risks
Information (HSE info and written
instructions)
Training (specific to equipment risks;
precautions; emergency procedures)
CE conformity (Community of Europe)
Risk reduction
Control improvements
Isolation arrangements
Warnings

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Manual Handling

5. Manual Handling Operations

Regulations 1992:
Cover the moving of objects by hand or bodily force.

What is Manual Handling?

The transportation or supporting of a load (including
lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or
moving) by hand or bodily force
Required to:
Eliminate the need for employees to undertake any
manual handling operations
Reduce the need for employees to
undertake any manual handling operations
Reduce the risk of injury to employees
undertaking any manual handling operations

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Manual Handling

Manual Handling

Risk

Assessment

All manual handling activities must

be risked assessed, some may
only require an initial appraisal,
others will often require a formal
written risk assessment

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Manual Handling

What are the four elements of manual handling?

Task
Iindividual
Load
E nvironment
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Manual Handling

Tasks
Stooping, this increases stress on the
lower back. The trunk is thrown forward
and its weight is added to the load.
Reduce stooping movement by:
Using mechanical aids
Raising work levels

Positioning all material at work level

Twisting the trunk, this increases stress on the

lower back, even more so if supporting a load
at the same time. Avoid twisting by:
Positioning work in front of employee
Use mechanical aids
Providing swivel chairs
Providing space for whole body to turn
Improving layout of work area
Holding load away from body, at
arms length the load increases stress on
the lower back by about 5 times. Avoid by:
Using mechanical aids
Holding load closer to the body
Reducing weight of load
Reducing size and shape of load

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Manual Handling

Tasks
Reaching... Reduce risk by:
Positioning work closer to employee
Enabling the load to be held close to the body
Reduce the load
Enable the employee to walk round the
load or rotate the load

Carrying load over long

distance (> 10 meters) can lead to fatigue
and physical stress which increases the
risk of injury. Reduce risk by:
Change to pushing or pulling
Use mechanical aids
Reduce carrying distance
Reduce the load
Strenuous pushing / pulling especially
if the load is below knuckle height adds
stress to the lower back, also this activity
adds to the risk of slips / falls. Reduce by:
Using mechanical aid
Reduce push/pull distance by changing work system
Improve floor surfaces
Provide good maintenance of equipment

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Manual Handling

Tasks
Repetitive handling can turn even
the moving of a modest load into a high
risk activity. Reduce by:
Using mechanical aid
Introduce job rotation
Re-design work flow / station
Insufficient recovery periods
increases the likelihood of ill health and
the risk of injury. Reduce by:
Incorporate resting points
Re-design work systems
Use mechanical aids

Imposed work rate can lead to a

fall in muscular efficiency. Reduce by:
Use mechanical aids
Rotate tasks
Re-design work flow / rate
Incorporate resting points

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Manual Handling

Individual Capabilities

Does the job stretch the individuals

physical capabilities to the point
of a risk of injury?

Does the job pose a risk due

to the individuals present state
of health?

Does the job require additional

knowledge or training to be
carried out safely?

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Manual Handling

Individual Capabilities

Does the job pose a risk of injury for the young

or elderly? Physical capabilities peak at about
20 and then slowly declines. After mid 40 this
decline accelerates.

Does the job pose a risk of injury for those who

are pregnant? Manual handling has significant
implications for the health of the pregnant
woman and foetus.

Does the job involve the individual

wearing PPE?

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Manual Handling

Loads
Bulky / unwieldy, if the load is too large
to hold close to body it may force an
unfavourable posture.

Too hot / cold, may require protective

clothing that affect handling capabilities.

Too heavy, if the weight of heavy items

is not marked a lift beyond safe limits
may mistakenly be attempted.
Reduce risks by:
Re-design protective clothing
Reduce weight of load
Reduce size of load
Reduce holding time
Eliminate holding by use of jigs and fixtures
Use mechanical aids
Mark all loads with weight

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Manual Handling

Working environment
Confined or restricted space, can
hinder good posture by encouraging
stooping, obstacles may go unseen.
Load may become difficult to manoeuvre
by restricted space.
Slopes, variations of
levels, obstacles, all
increase the risk of
injury.

Windy, noisy. Strong air

movements - sudden air
movements caused by a
ventilation system or the wind,
can make large loads more
difficult to manage safely.

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Manual Handling

Working environment
Slippery / uneven surfaces hinder
smooth movement and create
additional unpredictability as well
increasing the risk of slips / falls.

Hot / cold conditions, high temperatures

can cause rapid fatigue and perspiration
that may effect grip. Extreme cold may
require protective clothing that effect
handling capabilities.

Dark / strong glare can hinder good

posture by encouraging stooping,
obstacles may go unseen.

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Manual Handling

Plan the lift

Environment Obstacles/Lighting/Surface/
Adequate work space
Suitable footwear and appropriate clothing for
lifting.

Examine Load - Is help required with the load

or is a mechanical aid needed?

Can the load be reduced in size, are there sharp

corners, is it stable?

Place the feet

Feet hip distance apart, firmly on the floor
Face the intended direction
Leading leg forward
Heaviest part of load towards you

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Manual Handling

Adopt a good posture

Bend knees slowly
Straight back, not necessarily erect
Keep shoulders facing in same
direction as hips.

Get a firm grip

Keep arms within boundary formed by legs
Power by palm of hand
Fingers for dexterity not weight bearing
Firm contact
Elbows close to sides

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Manual Handling

Move the load

Lift load to waist height
Move slowly to avoid jerky movements
Keep close to load
Maintain your vision

Lower load
Lower load slowly, ensuring back is straight
and knees bent
Avoid crushing fingers when lowering
Put down then adjust into desired position

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Manual Handling

Lifting

Prepare to lift

And

Lift

Get Yourself and

equipment ready

Take the strain

Move

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First Aid

6. Health and Safety (First Aid)

Regulations 1981:
Cover requirements for first aid

Adequate arrangements must be made for first

aid including responsible people, equipment and
facilities
The exact first aid provision depends on the
risks in the workplace
Employees should know what first aid
arrangements have been made
Adequate numbers of trained first aiders should
be available depending upon the risks within the
workplace

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Information / Insurance

7. The Health and Safety Information for

Employees Regulations1989:
Require employers to display a poster telling
employees what they need to know about health
and safety.

8. Employers Liability (Compulsory

Insurance) Act 1969:
Require employers to take out insurance against
accidents and ill health to their employees.

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RIDDOR

9. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases

and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR):
Require employers to notify certain occupational
injuries, diseases and dangerous events

Reporting of
Injuries
D Iseases &
Dangerous
Occurrences
R egulations
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RIDDOR

RIDDOR Require employers to notify certain

occupational injuries, diseases and dangerous
events

Why Report - Legal requirement

Who to - HSE, Enforcing Authority (Local Authority)
What do we Report Accidents:
Fatalities
Major Injuries broken bones
Amputations
Dislocations
Loss of sight
Absence from work (over 3 days) not
including day of injury (includes wekends)
Unconsciousness
Hospitalisation (24hrs)
Assault

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RIDDOR

What do we Report - Diseases

Dermatitis
Rabies
Certain types of cancer
Asthma
Anthrax

What do we Report - Occurrences

Collapsed scaffolding
Gas Leaks
Over turning of vehicles eg. forklift

How do we Report Quickest practical method eg.

Phone, email (follow in writing within 10 days

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Noise / Electricity

10. Noise at Work Regulations 1989:

Require employers to take action to protect
employees from hearing damage.

11. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989:

Require people in control of electrical systems to
ensure they are safe to use and maintained in a
safe condition.

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COSHH

12. Control of Substances Hazardous to

Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

Harmful substances include:

substances used directly in work activities (eg
adhesives, paints, cleaning agents)
substances generated during work activities (eg
fumes from soldering and welding)
biological agents such as bacteria and other
micro-organisms.
naturally occurring substances (eg grain dust);

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COSHH

Substances that are not included:

asbestos and lead, which have their own
regulations
substances which are hazardous only because they are:
- radioactive;
- at high pressure;
- at extreme temperatures; or
- have explosive or flammable properties (other
regulations apply to these risks);
biological agents that are outside the employers
control, eg catching an infection from a workmate.
(If in doubt, please contact HSE for advice.)

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COSHH

Where are hazardous substances found?

In nearly all work environments, for example:
factories

farms

shops

laboratories

mines

offices

Examples of the effects of hazardous

substances include:
skin irritation or dermatitis as a result of skin contact
asthma as a result of developing allergy to substances
used at work
losing consciousness as a result of being overcome by
toxic fumes
cancer, which may appear long after the exposure to
the chemical that caused it
infection from bacteria and other micro-organisms
(biological agents).

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COSHH

Employers are required to:

Assess the risks
Decide what precautions are needed
Prevent or control exposure
Ensure that controls are used and maintained
Monitor exposure
Carry out health surveillance
Prepare plans to deal with accidents, incidents,
emergencies
Inform , train and supervise employees
Risk Assessment

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COSHH

Occupational Dermatitis?
How is it caused?
by the skin coming into contact with
certain substances at work
What part of the body does it effect?
Dermatitis usually affects the hands or
forearms, the places most likely to touch
the substance
But you can get it on your face, neck or
chest from certain types of dusts, liquids
and fumes.
What are the symptoms?
Red and sore skin
Itchy and burning skin
Cracking and bleeding skin
It can be bad enough to keep you off work and serious
enough to force you to change jobs
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COSHH

Occupational Dermatitis?
What can be done?
Wear protective gloves and change regularly
Use a moisturising cream before and after work
Keep skin clean.
Make sure protective clothes are clean and intact
Keep workplace clean, including machinery and tools
If diluted chemicals are used, make sure they are
diluted to the correct strength - if they are over strength
they are more likely to cause dermatitis.

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COSHH

Occupational Asthma?
Top occupational respiratory disease
3,000 new cases a year
Accounts for 1 in 10 cases of adult asthma
Unlike ordinary asthma occupational asthma can be prevented

Symptoms of asthma
wheezing
tightness of chest
breathlessness
coughing
Typical causes of occupational asthma
isocyanates
flour/grain dust
glutaraldehyde
wood dusts
soldering flux
latex
laboratory animals
some glues, resins
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COSHH

Occupational Asthma?
What can be done?
comply with all the health and safety precautions in
the workplace
ensure you use all the control measures provided
use, when necessary, all personal protective
equipment (PPE) provided
store PPE when not in use so that they are not
contaminated by the substances you work with
reporting any defects in the control measures and
PPE to your employers
report to your manager, health and safety
representative and your doctor if you develop the above
symptoms if they tend to improve when you are away
from work
REMEMBER! If you develop occupational asthma you may
have breathing difficulties all your life - avoid exposure and
breathe freely!

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COSHH

Carcinogens
HSE estimates that there are up to 6000 cancer
deaths from work-related causes annually
Carcinogens what are they?
Substances that cause cancer in various
part of the body eg:
Skin cancer certain mineral oils, tar
Cancer of the upper respiratory system
wood dust, particularly certain hard woods
Lung cancer asbestos, rubber fume
Liver cancer vinyl chloride

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COSHH

Carcinogens
Safeguards?
Product substitution
Process control / engineering methods
Information and Training
Monitoring exposure levels
Provision of PPE / RPE
Employer responsibilities?
Identify carcinogenic products
Risk assessment
Controls
Staff consultation / Training/ Information
Health monitoring
Record keeping

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FIRE

13. Fire Precautions (Workplace)

Regulations 1977
By law all employers have to:
Assess

the fire risks

in their premises
Make sure there are
adequate precautions to
prevent fires in the first
place
Protect people if a fire starts

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Fire Extinguishers
It is important to know which types of extinguishers can be used on
different types of fire

All extinguishers should now be coloured red with a

pictogram label identifying the classes of fire the
extinguisher is suitable for
Carbon Dioxide CO2. Smothers flames. Does not
cool the fire well, so watch for the fire starting up
again. Ideal for electrical equipment fires
AFFF Spray Foam. Smothers a fire. Suitable for
most flammable liquid fires, but can be difficult to
apply safely
Dry Powder. Knocks down flames. Suitable for
most fire types, but may leave smouldering
material
Water. Cools the fire. Watch for any remaining
'hot spots'. Do not use on electrical or flammable
liquid fires

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FIRE

It is important to know which types of extinguishers

can be used on different types of fire

(A) FREELY BURNING MATERIALS

Class A fires, such as freely burning

materials, can be tackled with Water, AFFF
Spray Foam or Dry Powder extinguishers:

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FIRE

It is important to know which types of extinguishers

can be used on different types of fire

(B) FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Class B fires, which are flammable liquids, can

be tackled with AFFF Spray Foam, Dry Powder
or Carbon Dioxide extinguishers

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FIRE

It is important to know which types of extinguishers

can be used on different types of fire

(C) FLAMMABLE GASES

Class C fires, flammable gases, should be tackled

by isolating the gas/liquid supply and not primarily
by use of a fire extinguisher. Only use a Dry Powder
extinguisher

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FIRE

Quick Quiz:
A computer is on fire, which is
the correct fire extinguisher
that you would use to put the
fire out...

x x x
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FIRE

Fire Extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide:
The use of CO2 in a confined space
could displace the oxygen and cause
a lowering of the percentage oxygen
level; this could in turn cause
asphyxiation and ultimately death
The CO2 fire extinguisher has a
funnel shaped head which should be
directed into the back of and around
the equipment

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FIRE

Quick Quiz:
A barrel of oil is on fire, which is the
correct fire extinguisher that you
would use to put the fire out...

x
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FIRE

Fire Extinguishers

Powder:
Use a rapid sweeping motion
to push the flames to the far
end of the fire
On fires involving liquids in
containers or spilt liquids, the
jet should be aimed towards
the near edge of the fire
Keep fighting the flames until
they're out. Oil fires can also
be tackled with Powder
extinguishers

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FIRE

Quick Quiz:
Paper is on fire in a bin, which is the
correct fire extinguisher that you
would use to put the fire out...

x x x
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FIRE

Fire Extinguishers
Water:
Keep the jet moving across
the area of the fire. Seek out
any hot spots after the fire
is extinguished
The water extinguisher has
a safety pin and the jet
should be aimed directly at
the base of the flames
It is always important to use
the correct extinguisher on
each type of fire. Use of the
wrong type of extinguisher
could cause the fire to flare
up

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FIRE

The Fire Triangle

HEAT

FUEL
like paper,
wood, petrol
or gas

OXYGEN

from ignition
sources like
sparks,
matches or
heaters

through open
windows or doors
Remove any part of the triangle and the fire dies.
Keep these three apart and the fire can't start.

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FIRE

The main causes of fire are:

Faulty Machinery

Arson

Smoking and careless

handling of other
substances

Faulty equipment and

electrical cables

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FIRE

Tell me:

3 sources of Heat
3 sources of Oxygen
3 sources of Fuel

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Fire Safety Signs

The importance of Fire Safety Signs in the

Workplace

Different Fire Safety Signs

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FIRE

Fire Safety Signs

Fire Exit Sign:

This should show a
running man and point
towards the nearest
available Fire Exit

Fire Extinguisher Sign:

This will indicate the
location of your nearest
fire extinguisher

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FIRE

Fire Safety Signs

Fire Extinguisher Sign:
This sign should be
located by your fire
extinguishers
indicating the suitable
extinguisher for each
type of fire

Fire Door Sign:

This should be positioned on
all Fire Doors. Always keep
these doors shut!

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FIRE

Fire Safety Signs

Fire Alarm Sign:
This should show the
location of your nearest
available fire alarm.

Fire Procedure Sign:

This sign explains the
procedure in the event
of a fire, such as the
Evacuation Procedure
and your Assembly
Point. Make sure you
are familiar with this
sign

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Fire Safety Signs

Do you know your fire drill?

There should be
a sign indicating
the fire drill
clearly on display

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FIRE

The size of the fire makes no difference

to the consequences.
Large and small fires still produce:

Smoke

Fumes

Superficial

Partial
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Burns

Full thickness

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FIRE

Scenario

Mrs. Ash has spotted fumes billowing out of

the kitchen, what should she do?
A. Investigate the source of the fumes?
B. Raise the alarm, call 999 & evacuate the building?
C. Grab a fire extinguisher and tackle the fire?

If you sense fumes or

smoke, immediately
raise the alarm, call
the Fire Brigade and
evacuate the building

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FIRE

Scenario

You find Mr. Ash lying unconscious on the

floor suffering from the fumes. What should
YOU do?
A. Inform someone and carry him to safety?
B. Leave him and find immediate assistance?
C. Throw a bucket of cold water over him?
Be very careful when
carrying a person to
safety. Make sure an
ambulance has been
called and try to put the
injured into the recovery
position
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Good Housekeeping

Remember !

Use common sense and clean up as you go

Put refuse into proper containers and dispose of
correctly
DO NOT put flammable items near hot surfaces,
such as lights and heaters
Keep motors and machines clean - dust and dirt can
cause overheating
DO NOT clutter passages or block exits

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FIRE

Poor Housekeeping
There are many reasons why fires occur. In
order for us to help prevent fires from starting,
we must take note of the following tips:
If paper, cardboard or fabric is stored carelessly it
will help any fire to spread more quickly
Bad maintenance, i.e., leaving holes in ceilings or
doors, will enable fire to spread
Oily rags can burst in to flames if not kept in airtight
non-combustible containers
General untidiness and lack of suitable storage
areas will always create fire hazards
Piles of rubbish could be used by an arsonist or
provide fuel for a carelessly thrown away cigarette

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Controlling Flammable Liquids

All flammable liquids should be kept in special,

sealed containers
Large quantities should be stored in cool,
ventilated accommodation
NEVER pour flammable liquids down a sink or
drain - arrange for the liquids to be disposed of in
the correct way
NEVER smoke or bring the liquid anywhere
near to a heat source

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FIRE

Evacuation Procedures
If you were to discover a fire at work,
would you know what to do?

Your immediate reaction may well

be to try and put it out
However, from the safest point
of view this isn't a good idea!
No matter how small the fire, the
first step MUST be to raise the
alarm by for instance, breaking the
glass of the nearest fire call point to
alert other staff

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Evacuation Procedures
Here are the simple points to follow in
the event of a fire ...
Sound the alarm - Make
sure you know the
location of your nearest
fire alarm
Call the fire brigade or
alert the person
responsible for doing
so

Follow the company's

evacuation procedure.
Do not use lifts

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Evacuation Procedures
Do not stop to collect
personal belongings
- leave them where they are

Go to your designated
Assembly point and wait A roll call will be taken

Do not return to
your work area until
instructed
to do so

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Evacuation Procedures
Make sure you know where your
Fire Assembly Point is and go
straight there
At the point itself someone must
have the task of taking a roll call
or counting heads
It is important that no-one returns to the building
until it has been declared safe to do so
Do you know where your designated Fire Safety
Assembly Point is?
If not, make sure you consult your Fire Safety Officer

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FIRE

Fire Quiz

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