Contractor Safety Share

Sharing safety information

Plasma Cutting Causes Small Fire

Two employees were given the task of demoing a 30-inch nozzle off of a freeze dryer.  Employees were given the all clear by the coordinator to begin and a fire card was issued.  The area was set up with two fire extinguishers and fire blankets under the nozzle/flange and an additional one inside the nozzle/flange.  One of the employees was using a plasma cutter to do the demo.  A few minutes into their work, the fire watch noticed a glow under the shelves inside the freeze dryer and notified the employee to stop cutting.  The fire watch immediately tried to smother the fire with a fire blanket, but could not reach it.  The employee handed the fire watch a fire extinguisher and it was discharged to put out the flame.  The coordinator was in the area and called the onsite fire rescue team.  The rescue team arrived and doused the dryer with water as a precautionary measure when low heat was detected.  The fire watch completed his watch and fire card was closed.  Upon further inspection, absorbent pads were found stuffed under the perimeter shelves in the dryer.  These were undetected by the coordinator, the employees, and the fire rescue team both before and after the event.

Factors to consider at your site and/or project include, but not limited to the following:

1.    Before performing any Hot Work, do a complete inspection of the area to ensure combustible and flammable materials are clear of the area.

2.   

 

Safety Flash Action Items:

 

q  Date Contractor Safety Flash posted for all employees to review: ______________________________

 

q  Safety Talk meeting date:  ______________________________

 

q  Full employee attendance and participation at safety meeting to review this incident.

 

q  Employees understand urgency in protecting themselves and others.

 

q  Supervisors and Employees are clear which items shared in this Safety Flash are mandatory.

 

q  Employees/Supervisors will focus on recommended actions during future work activities of a similar nature.

 

 

Contract Firm Management Representative

 

 

Date

 

Contract Firm Management must retain signed copy.

Inspections for combustibles and flammables may require employees to enter a confined space to perform a thorough investigation.  Be sure to follow proper confined space procedures

3.    Ensure good communications with the work group that was performing work in the area before the next phase of work starts so everyone has a good understanding of what just took place and what is about to take place.  This will act as a check that one activity won’t affect the other

 

Consider this example as you complete today’s work activities.

Safety Flash Action Items:
  • Date Contractor Safety Flash posted for all employees to review: _______________
  • Safety Talk meeting date: _______________
  • Full employee attendance and participation at safety meeting to review this incident (documentation required).
  • Employees understand urgency in protecting themselves and others.
  • Supervisors and Employees are clear which items shared in this Safety Flash are mandatory.
  • Employees/Supervisors will focus on recommended actions during future work activities of a similar nature.
Contract Firm Management Rep Signature____________________
Date____________

THINK about the hazards associated with your particular work, and the steps that can be taken to increase safety on your job.
 
If you have questions about this CONTRACTOR SAFETY FLASH, please contact [email protected]

 

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