Fire and Explosion Risk
Fire And Explosion Risk
Potential sources of fire or explosion include:
Vapour from flammable materials either in containers or during application processes. Remember that empty containers present a greater explosion hazard than full drums.
Solid residues and deposits such as spray dust from certain materials, particularly cellulose based products and some air drying materials which are susceptible to spontaneous combustion.
Strong oxidising agents such as peroxide (polyester catalyst) must not be mixed with other products, air dying paints or rags or dry nitro cellulose sanding dust as there is a risk of fire or explosion.
Amines such as epoxy catalysts, must not be mixed with nitro cellulose sanding dust; as there is a fire risk.
Many of these combinations may occur in waste bins if care is not taken. Provisions must therefore be made for the correct disposal of all waste matter. Separate tightly sealed metal containers must be provided for the storage of different types of waste matter. These bins must always be damped with water.
All sources of ignition must be prohibited. The Manager should therefore enforce the following rules.
No smoking. Ban red matches (except in rest rooms).
No open fires or lights in spraying and painting areas.
Do not use non flameproof electrical equipment.
Do not use electrically driven tools in the spraying and painting areas.
Do not change light bulbs without switching off current.
Do not wear footwear studded with nails. Wear shoes with conductive soles.
Ground metal benches, storage containers and all electrical equipment to eliminate the discharge of static electricity.
Do not use welding equipment, blow lamps or permit naked flames in spraying and painting areas.
Do not use iron or steel tools for dipsticks, stirring or scraping. Use only tools made from stiff fibre, non ferrous or non sparking material.
Do not burn out extraction ducting.
Do not put paint residues in incinerators.
Do not stand tins containing paint or solvents on radiators.
Do not use compressed oxygen or inflammable gases for spraying.
Personnel who handle paint in the mixing room should wear chemical type goggles to BS 2092 to avoid the risk of paint splashing in the eyes. In the event that this does happen, the eyes should be treated promptly with copious irrigation with clean water and medical attention sought immediately.
Accidental ingestion of paint requires immediate medical attention. Do not induce vomiting. Foodstuffs should be prohibited in the working areas. All operatives should be encouraged to wash before consuming food or drink, which should only be carried out in the room set aside for the purpose.
Polyurethane foam materials are used in certain areas of the bodyshell, for example the body posts. Heating this material with a welding torch can lead to a. fire hazard and the production of toxic fumes. When working in areas involving polyurethane foam, the following should be enforced.
Before any welding or cutting, the foam material should be manually removed. The operative should wear a suitable cartridge respirator.
Similarly, when re injecting with new foam, the safe practices, materials and equipment recommended by this manual should be used.
Care should be taken when handling lead. Any shaping should be carried out with a file, not a disc sander, and all waste filings should be cleaned up immediately and placed in the correct waste bin.
Additionally, the following must be strictly enforced:
Extraction equipment must be provided to remove all fumes generated during operations such as welding or sanding.
Particular care should be taken when changing the type of paint material sprayed in paint booths when the whole plant and ducting must be thoroughly cleaned. This is because certain paint materials develop warmth when drying, while others produce highly inflammable spray dust, thus creating fire risk.
Emergency exits must be kept clear. Fire fighting equipment must be correctly sited and maintained as instructed by the local fire authority.