Health & Safety Risk Management GENERAL FIRE TRAINING Show overhead at start of session whilst students are arriving and taking their seats. Explain- It is a requirement of the NHS Firecodes that all staff receive fire training on an annual basis. Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management TRIANGLE OF FIRE FUEL OXYGEN The fire triangle. FUEL.- OXYGEN - TEMPERATURE. Whilst the three sides of the triangle are joined the fire will continue. Take any side away and the fire will go out. Water extinguishers take the temperature away. Foam extinguishers cool the fire and stop oxygen getting to the fire. Carbon dioxide extinguishers stop oxygen getting to the fire but do not cool the fire. Dry powder extinguishers stop oxygen getting to the fire and has a chemical reaction with flame itself which snuffs the fire out , this is the recommended extinguisher for the home. Fire blankets work by excluding oxygen from the fire. TEMPERATURE Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management WHAT IS FIRE Fire cannot exist without three things. OXYGEN This is present in air (19%) FUEL This may be: Solid : i.e timber, coal etc. Liquid : fats, petrol or oil Gases: Hydrogen, Acetylene or Liquid Petroleum Gas. HEAT Application of heat i.e. spark or lighted match Oxygen - Present in air ( 21% ) increase of oxygen = increase in speed and intensity of fire. Fuel - Can be SOLIDS -wood ,paper, textiles,coal and some metals. LIQUIDS- oil , petrol, cooking fats, alcohol GASES - Hydrogen,acetylene, liquid petroleum gas . Heat Oxygen and fuel are present in all buildings so all that is required is the application of a naked flame or spark to start a fire All combustible materials have a pre-determined temperature at which they will ignite, this is called the fire point.This varies on the substance. They do not need a flame applied to them to ignite. The more oxygen in the room the fiercer the fire will burn, therefore it is important that oxygen cylinders do not leak or are involved in the fire Health & Safety Risk Management

CAUSES OF FIRE IN THE N.H.S. The above figures show that smoking is the biggest cause of fire in the NHS. Followed by Arson, Electrical and Cooking. This contrasts with the causes of all fires in this country as cooking in the home is the biggest cause followed by Arson (38%). If the 28% of smoking causes in the NHS are broken down the majority are caused by Patients/clients carelessly discarding cigarettes and smoking materials.Therefore it is important that staff are aware of the danger. The majority of arson or deliberate ignition fires occur in Mental health and leaning disabilities buildings. Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management FIRE ACTION RAISE THE ALARM WARN PERSONS IN THE VICINITY REMOVE PATIENTS TO A PLACE OF SAFETY ATTACK THE FIRE IF SAFE TO DO SO Fire alarm call points are situated on most exit routes from the building and you just need to break the glass with you shoe or something similar, however not all buildings have fire alarms.In that case a verbal warning should be given to the occupants. In buildings where there are patients that are non-ambulant it is not always necessary to completely evacuate to outside the building, because the buildings are built with fire compartments in them. It will only be necessary to move patients to the other side of a fire door away from the smoke. If this compartment becomes smokelogged then move them on through the next fire door, etc. In buildings in which people are able-bodied it is expected that a complete evacuation to open air should take place. Check the red fire training manual in your building to see what applies where you work. Only fight the fire if you think it is safe. As a general rule if you think it will take more than one extinguisher close the door on the fire and leave it to the fire service. Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management FIRE DOORS KEEP THEM CLOSED Unless they are held open on automatic door releases linked to the fire alarm system. FIRE DOORS BUY YOU TIME Normally 30 mins, but only if they are closed BEWARE! Fire doors should always be kept closed unless they are fitted with magnetic hold open devices which close automatically when the fire alarm sounds. If you hear the fire alarm ensure all the doors are closed as you evacuate the building. Most fire doors will give 30 mins protection but in some situations are rated for 1 or 2 hours. Recognising a fire door:- (1) Has a closing device, either overhead or Perco chains within the door rebate. (2) Has an intumescent strip and smoke brushes around the top and edges of the door. (3) Some older type doors will not have strips and brushes but will must have a one inch door stop instead. (4) Any glazing will have wire reinforcing or will be special fire rated glass called Pyrane, Pyrostop or similar name. BRITISH STANDARD WEDGE Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management FIRE FIGHTING ONLY ATTEMPT TO FIGHT THE FIRE IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. NEVER attempt to under the following circumstances: 1. If the fire is in a closed room and the door handle is hot to touch or smoke can be seen seeping around the door. 2. If the fire is to big to handle or you do not know what to do. NEVER ALLOW A FIRE TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR EXIT. ALWAYS CLOSE WINDOWS AND DOORS. notes as overhead Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management EXTINGUISHERS WATER (H2O): used on paper, wood, textiles FOAM: used on all of the above and flammable liquids CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2): used on electrical fires FIRE BLANKET: used to smother small fires and a person’s clothing Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management NEW EXTINGUISHERS PURCHASED AFTER 1ST JANUARY 1997 MUST BE COLOURED RED (EEC Directive EN1) WATER LABEL POSITIONED ABOVE EXTINGUISHER TO AVOID CONFUSION FOAM 5% OF EXTINGUISHER DRY CAN SHOW ORIGINAL POWDER COLOUR CARBON DIOXIDE Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management FIRE PREVENTION Good housekeeping i.e. tidy habits Keeping combustibles away from heat sources Keep exit routes and staircases free from obstructions. Proper use of electrical installations and equipment. Adherence to smoking policies. Removal of refuse. Correct storage of oxygen cylinders. AS OVERHEAD Health & Safety Risk Management

Health & Safety Risk Management CONCLUSION Understand the nature of fire Fire can be controlled Fires are caused by people Most fires can be prevented Know what to do in case of a fire Know how to raise the alarm Know your workplace and exits Learn the evacuation procedures AS OVERHEAD Health & Safety Risk Management