1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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