1. Fire-Watch Training:

2. Fires can rapidly spread
What we MUST prevent!
Fires can rapidly spread

9. The only “bad” question is the one we fail to ask.
Arc-gouging was to be performed in W-76.
A permit was written.
The tower was not clean.
The contractor did not contain sparks.
A fire started.
BOTH PARTIES COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE INCIDENT!

10. Definitions:
Hot Work - Any task that uses or creates an ignition source.
Examples:
Flame cutting or welding.
Grinding.
Use of electrical tools or some pneumatics.
Vehicle entry.

11. Definitions: Firewatch:
An employee responsible for ensuring that fires are not started while others are performing the Hot Work.
Should a fire start, the Firewatch will attempt to extinguish, or sound the alarm.
In the presence of combustibles, the Firewatch will remain on duty for 30 minutes after Hot Work is finished.

12. Firewatch quenching sparks with steam.

13. Definitions: Hot Work Permit:
Is issued by Conoco Operations and will list safety requirements for specific areas and tasks.
Must be posted in the work area.
Must be signed by the contractor performing the work.
Is generally not required for offices, the warehouse, fabrication shops or areas.

14. Permits
Must be posted in the work area.

15. General Requirements:
Prior to the issue of a Hot Work permit, operations will perform a gas test.
Contractors signed on the permit are responsible for area safety, clean-up and to return the permit to operations.
Permits are to be returned when work is complete or at the end-of-shift.

16. General Requirements:
When welding on process equipment or piping, a gas test will be performed as close to the Hot Work location as possible.
It may be necessary to drill piping with an air-powered drill to create an opening to be sniffed.

17. Using an air-powered saw to “cold-cut” piping.

18. General Requirements:
Process piping and equipment will gas test at Zero LEL for Hot Work.
Positive isolation is required for Hot Work on piping and equipment.
Valves are NOT considered positive isolation. Blinds must be installed.

19. Blinds must be installed to perform Hot Work on process piping or vessels.

20. General Requirements:
An area gas test may be necessary before the start of Hot Work.
A 35 foot radius around the work area should be checked for flammable vapors.
Inspect the work area for leaks and spills.

21. General Requirements:
Cover all sewers and drains within 35 feet of the Hot Work,
Remove covers when work is complete or at the end of shift.
A Firewatch is required, unless otherwise specified on the permit.
Or the work is located in a non-permit area.

22. Important !!!
Cover sewers and drains with rubber mats to prevent sparks from entering.

23. Check piping and sewers within 35’ of the Hot-Work area.
Cover all sewers and oil-stained pipe.

24. Fire blankets and steam can be used to prevent fires on flanges and pumps.

25. General Requirements:
The Firewatch shall remain within 20 feet of the fire extinguisher and keep constant watch while work continues.
No other hazardous work will be performed in the Hot Work area.
Examples include pulling blinds, bleeding lines, taking product samples, etc.

26. Fire-watches on duty! .

27. General Requirements:
When installing (welding) flanges to eliminate the cleaning of an entire system:
A non-inflatable Plumbers Plug (mudder) is used.
The mudder must be vented 50 feet away from the Hot Work area. (or inert piping)
The seal of the mudder must be gas tested, prior to Hot Work.

29. Welding with vented plumber’s plug in place.

30. General Requirements:
The welder and unit operator must survey the area for tubing. (copper or stainless)
Tubing in the weld area must be depressured, drained or insulated to prevent welding arc damage.

32. Firewatch Duties:
It is a requirement that all Firewatches are trained. Training is detailed in Conoco procedure SH400.1, Appendix F
Personnel selected for Firewatch duty must realize the seriousness of the job.

33. A Fire-Watch must be trained!
In fire extinguishing techniques:
Extinguisher capabilities.
Safe activation.
Approach.
Application technique.
Retreat.

34. NOTE:
This training is for “incipient-stage” fires ONLY! (The first few minutes.)
Never place yourself in DANGER!
Never turn your back on a fire.
Sound the alarm first !!!

35. Basic Fire Science: Four parts of the fire process:
FUEL (Flammable or combustible materials.)
HEAT (or Spark.)
Oxygen (Air)
Or a Chemical Chain Reaction
(A strong oxidizer and a fuel source)

36. Types of Fires: Class A (Wood, Paper, Cloth, Rubber, etc.)
Class B (Flammable liquids, vapors or gas.)
Class C (Energized electrical.)
Class D (Combustible metals.)

37. Extinguishing Agents:
Water
Foam
Dry Chemical
Halon

38. Water: Advantages: Disadvantages: Cooling . . . . Absorbs heat.
Expands Approximately 1750 to 1.
Disadvantages:
Conducts electricity.
Can “float” flammable liquids.
Some materials react with water.

39. Foam: Advantages: Disadvantages:
Floats on flammable liquids such as gasoline.
Slows vapor release from liquids and solids.
Disadvantages:
Foam blanket easily broken.
Conducts electricity.
Can not be applied to vertical surfaces.

40. Dry Chemical Advantages: Disadvantages: Is rated either ABC or BC.
Easily portable.
Disadvantages:
BC rated dry chemical extinguishers are not effective on Class A fires. (Wood, paper)
Monoammonium phosphate forms a varnish-like coating at 300 degrees F.

41. Halon: Advantages: Disadvantages: No residue. Nonconductive.
Toxic if inhaled at a 5% or greater concentration.
Has no cooling effect.

42. Review:
Water works well on combustible materials such as wood and paper.
Water only gives a “cooling effect” on flammable liquid fires and may spread the fire.
Water is not to be used on live electrical equipment.

43. Using a fire hose requires training.

44. Risky Hose Use !!!
Let the ERT handle this task! You could be injured if you use a hose improperly.

45. Review: Foam works well on flammable liquids but . . .
Can easily be displaced by wind or hose stream.
Does not work on vertical surfaces.

46. Controlling a tank fire with foam.

47. Review: Dry Chemical Can be either ABC or BC. Nonconductive.
Easily portable.
Used instantly.

48. Using a large Dry Chemical extinguisher.

49. Review: Halon: Intended for use on B-C fires. Can be toxic to people.
Can cause cardiac arrhythmia.

50. Dry Chemical Extinguisher Use:
Ansul type Extinguisher:
Place extinguisher on ground.
Remove hose and break seal.
Lean extinguisher away from you.
Place hose under thumb.
Depress cartridge puncturing mechanism.
Squeeze handle to test extinguisher.
Direct powder to base of flame.

51. Set FX down.
Kneel by FX.
Lean FX away.

52. Remove hose.
Put hose under your thumb.
Press lever to activate FX.

53. TEST YOUR FX before you get too close!

54. Aim powder stream at base of fire.
Use a side-to-side sweeping motion.

55. Success !

56. Pre-pressured Extinguishers.
Inspect the Extinguisher when you check it out from the tool room or tool trailer.

57. Check the pressure gauge to make sure the needle is in the GREEN!
If the needle is not in the Green zone, the FX is not properly charged. Return the FX to the tool room or trailer.

58. Shake the FX to be sure the powder is not caked.

59. To use a pre-pressured Extinguisher . . . .
1. Remove pin

60. 2. Point hose away from yourself and others.
3. Squeeze handle to test.

61. Don’t step or walk in the “fuel pool”.
Approach the fire from upwind or crosswind.
Don’t step or walk in the “fuel pool”.

62. Aim powder stream at base of fire.

63. Use a side-to-side sweeping motion.

64. Important !!!
Always back away from a fire.
The fuel may re-flash from hot pipe or equipment!

65. A Fire-Watch must know
Where to locate alarms and safety showers.

66. A Fire-Watch must be able to read and understand the Hot Work permit.

67. A Fire-Watch must have
A Vest.
A Whistle.
A Fire Extinguisher.
A steam or water hose.
A Hot-Work Permit.

68. Important !!!
Cover sewers and drains with rubber mats to prevent sparks from entering.

69. Check piping and sewers within 35’ of the Hot-Work area.
Cover all sewers and oil-stained pipe.

70. Fire blankets and steam can be used to prevent fires on flanges and pumps.

71. Stainless or copper tubing must be protected from sparks and welding arc strikes.

72. Sparks must be contained or quenched !!!
Read the Permit !!!

73. Prevent smoldering fires!
The fire-watch must remain on duty for 30 minutes after the hot-work stops when combustibles are present.

74. Remember: Lives may depend on YOU!
Performing Fire-Watch Duty is one of the most important jobs within the Refinery.
You are the “eyes & ears” of your fellow employees.
Lives may depend on YOU!

75. THE END