Some dust-handling plant has special safety features built in

Some dust-handling plant has special safety features built in. The purpose of these needs to be properly understood, and they should be maintained in good working order.

Flammable solids.

Some types of plastic foam, packaging materials, polyester wadding, and textiles will ignite easily and burn fiercely, giving off a lot of dense black smoke. Remember:
 Do not store these materials close to heaters or electrical equipment which could run hot and act as a local ignition source.
 Make sure that gangways and exits from storage and working areas are kept clear of packaging materials, finished products containing flammable solids etc. In the event of a fire, gangways and exits could become obscured by smoke, so the easier they are to find, the better.

Flammable gases.

Gases in cylinders are often stored at very high pressures, and so their uncontrolled release can be physically dangerous. A small amount of released gas can fill a large area with a potentially explosive mixture. This is particularly true of liquefied gases such as LPG.

The following points need to be considered:
 Stored cylinders need to be suitably restrained and their valves protected from impact damage.
• Gas cylinders may need special valves, fittings, and hoses.
• Always check the manufacturers’ or suppliers’ instructions and fit the correct equipment.
• Protect hoses from potential causes of damage that could cut, scuff or weaken them. Examine them regularly and replace them if they show signs of damage or wear that could give rise to a leak.

Oxygen.

Although oxygen is necessary for life and is an essential ingredient in controlled burning, such as in a gas fire or oxy-fuel gas welding and cutting, its misuse can lead to serious consequences. Materials that ordinarily will burn only slowly will burn very vigorously in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. Others, such as greases and oils, may burst into flames in this kind of atmosphere. As well as the precautions outlined above for flammable gases,
 the following points should be remembered:
• Never use oxygen instead of compressed air.
• Never use oxygen to sweeten the air in a working area or confined space.
• Never use grease or oil on equipment containing oxygen.

Reactive chemicals.

Some products contain chemicals, such as organic peroxides, which can explode if they are not stored and handled correctly. Other substances can react vigorously with incompatible materials or contaminants. For example, oxidizing chemicals can cause flammable materials to ignite, and some substances, such as sodium, react violently with water and can ignite. The following points need to be considered:

• Storage and process temperatures may need to be carefully controlled to prevent dangerous decomposition or reaction.

• Check labels and safety data sheets for physical properties and incompatibility with other materials.

1.3 Identification of fire hazards and assessment of risk. It is an organized look at what, in your work activities and workplace, could cause harm to people. This will allow you to weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to avoid harm. The important things you need to decide are whether a hazard is significant and whether you have covered it with satisfactory precautions so that the risk is acceptably low.

Hazard A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm

Risk A risk is the chance, high or low, of that harm, occurring

Before Starting Your Risk Assessment:

Check whether any of the fire safety arrangements in your workplace have previously been approved under other fire safety, licensing or building legislation. If this is the case, an assessment of the fire precautions required under that legislation will have been made at the time by, or in consultation with, the fire authority or the building control authority.

Regardless of any previous approval, you still need to carry out a fire risk assessment. However, if the previous approval covered all the matters required by the Fire Regulations, and conditions have remained unchanged, e.g. numbers of people present, work activity etc, then your fire risk assessment may well show that few if any, additional precautions are needed.

Your risk assessment may identify additional matters which need addressing if the previous approval was given according to an out-of-date standard of fire precautions, or the approval was under legislation which does not cover all the requirements of the Fire

 Regulations. If you are not sure, your local fire authority will be able to advise you.