Figure 1 Fire triangle When identifying hazards you should have identified all of the sources of fuel in your workplace that contribute to fire and explosion risks. Fuels that present the highest risk are: those hazardous chemicals that are flammable (for example, flammable solids, liquids or gases, including their vapours and fumes) fire-risk substances in other hazard classes (for example, pyrophoric solids, liquids and gases that ignite spontaneously in contact with air, substances that react with water to emit flammable gases), and other materials that are not hazardous chemicals, like wood, paper and leaves, and other combustible materials that contribute to the fire load. You should also identify sources of oxygen, such as oxygen gas and compressed air in cylinders, chemical oxidisers and peroxides. Oxygen is always present in the air. Common fuel and oxygen sources are listed in . Note: Chemical reactions and other processes which generate gases can also cause explosions through an increase in the pressure in the container in which the chemical is stored if the gas cannot escape, even if that gas does not itself ignite. Identifying ignition sources Ignition sources can be any energy source that has the potential to ignite a fuel. They can be categorised into three broad types: flames, sparks and heat. Some common examples of ignition sources are provided in Table . Table 3 Common examples of ignition sources Type of ignition source Examples Flames Welding flames, gas heaters, pilot lights Sparks Welding arcs, starters for fluorescent lighting, electric motors, electrical equipment like power points, cigarette lighters, switches and telephones Static electricity including from friction sources Lightning Friction from drilling, grinding, scraping of metal on concrete Heat Hot surfaces including light bulbs, ovens, radiators or heaters, flue pipes, vehicle engines and exhaust systems, pumps and generators Exothermic chemical reactions (those which generate heat) Some electrical equipment may also be a source of ignition. However, not all electrical equipment is an ignition source if it is specifically designed so that it does not create sparks. This type of equipment is referred to as safe’. ‘intrinsically You must identify any ignition source in your workplace that has the potential to ignite flammable or combustible material. You should also consider sources of ignition that are adjacent to your workplace or may periodically come into your workplace, for example delivery vehicles (with hot engine and exhaust systems), visitors, or portable like cordless power tools, radios and fans.
Figure 1 Fire triangle When identifying hazards you should have identified all of the sources of fuel in your workplace that contribute to fire and explosion risks. Fuels that present the highest risk are: those hazardous chemicals that are flammable (for example, flammable solids, liquids or gases, including their vapours and fumes) fire-risk substances in other hazard classes (for example, pyrophoric solids, liquids and gases that ignite spontaneously in contact with air, substances that react with water to emit flammable gases), and other materials that are not hazardous chemicals, like wood, paper and leaves, and other combustible materials that contribute to the fire load. You should also identify sources of oxygen, such as oxygen gas and compressed air in cylinders, chemical oxidisers and peroxides. Oxygen is always present in the air. Common fuel and oxygen sources are listed in . Note: Chemical reactions and other processes which generate gases can also cause explosions through an increase in the pressure in the container in which the chemical is stored if the gas cannot escape, even if that gas does not itself ignite. Identifying ignition sources Ignition sources can be any energy source that has the potential to ignite a fuel. They can be categorised into three broad types: flames, sparks and heat. Some common examples of ignition sources are provided in Table . Table 3 Common examples of ignition sources Type of ignition source Examples Flames Welding flames, gas heaters, pilot lights Sparks Welding arcs, starters for fluorescent lighting, electric motors, electrical equipment like power points, cigarette lighters, switches and telephones Static electricity including from friction sources Lightning Friction from drilling, grinding, scraping of metal on concrete Heat Hot surfaces including light bulbs, ovens, radiators or heaters, flue pipes, vehicle engines and exhaust systems, pumps and generators Exothermic chemical reactions (those which generate heat) Some electrical equipment may also be a source of ignition. However, not all electrical equipment is an ignition source if it is specifically designed so that it does not create sparks. This type of equipment is referred to as ‘intrinsically safe’. You must identify any ignition source in your workplace that has the potential to ignite flammable or combustible material. You should also consider sources of ignition that are adjacent to your workplace or may periodically come into your workplace, for example delivery vehicles (with hot engine and exhaust systems), visitors, or portable like cordless power tools, radios and fans.
code_of_practice_-_managing_the_risks_of_hazardous_chemicals_0.docx