Group 8

Lahina, Jonelson
Halipan, Joemarie
Habbiling, Crisanta
Ligmay, Karen
Pun-adwan, Alyza
Fire Hazards
and
Control
Classes of fire
 Fire Hazards
A fire in the workplace not only puts the lives of employees and visitors at risk, but it can also result in costly
business interruption and damage to the company’s reputation. It is essential to have a fire safety plan in place
and to regularly review and update it.

Common fire in a workplace

01. Electrical Hazards

Electrical equipment and wiring are a
common workplace hazard and cause of
workplace fires. Electrical fires can
happen due to:
 Faulty wiring,
 Overloading circuits,
 Malfunctioning equipment.
To prevent electrical fires;

 Make sure all electrical equipment is properly maintained and repaired,

 Use surge protectors to prevent power fluctuations.
 Ensure that all electrical wiring is up to standard and not damaged.
 Electrical equipment that is damaged or not functioning properly should be
removed from service and repaired or replaced.
 It is also important to ensure that all employees are trained to recognize the signs
of an electrical fire, such as sparks, smoke, or an unusual smell.
 Fire Hazards
02. Chemical Hazards

In the event of a fire, combustible chemicals can release toxic fumes and cause explosions,
exacerbating the situation and putting people and property at risk.

Types of fire chemical hazards

•Flammable liquids
These are liquids that ignite easily
and burn quickly, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and
alcohol. They pose a significant risk of fire and
explosion, particularly in industrial and commercial
settings where they are commonly used as solvents
or fuels.
 Fire Hazards
 Combustible dusts
Fine particles of solids that are easily ignited
and burn quickly, such as sugar, wood, and grain.
Combustible dusts can ignite from a spark or static
electricity and can cause explosions, particularly in
industries that process these materials.

 Oxidizers
These are chemicals that release oxygen
when they catch fire, intensifying the fire and making
it harder to control. Examples of oxidizers include
peroxide, nitrates, and chlorine.
 .
 Fire Hazards
 Toxins
In the event of a fire, chemicals can release toxic
fumes that can cause serious health problems, such
as respiratory problems, chemical burns, and even
death. Some common toxins include carbon
monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and Sulphur dioxide.

Preventing Fire Chemical Hazards

• Proper Storage
Store flammable liquids and combustible dusts in fire-
resistant containers and away from heat sources, sparks, and
flames. Make sure containers are properly labelled and stored in
a well-ventilated area.
 Fire Hazards
 Safe Handling
When handling flammable liquids and
combustible dusts, always follow proper safety
procedures, such as wearing protective clothing
and using fire-resistant materials. Keep a fire
extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency.
 Maintenance
Regularly inspect and maintain equipment
that is used to store or handle combustible
chemicals, such as tanks, pipes, and valves, to
ensure they are functioning properly and free of
leaks.
 Fire Hazards
03. Combustible materials Hazards
Many workplaces have materials that are highly combustible,
such as paper and wood.

Prevention:
These materials should be stored properly, away from
ignition sources. It is essential to keep all combustible
materials away from clutter and debris, as well as to
regularly inspect for any potential fire hazards. Any
materials that are not needed should be discarded
properly to reduce the risk of fire.

Smoking materials, such as cigarettes, are a leading

cause of workplace fires.
 Fire Hazards
To prevent fires caused by smoking materials,

 employers should implement a no-smoking policy

 provide designated smoking areas that are away from combustible
materials.
 All smoking materials should be disposed of properly, employees should
be made aware of the proper disposal methods.
 It’s also essential to ensure that all smoking materials are
properly extinguished before being disposed of.
 Fire Hazards
04. Cooking Equipment Hazards
Kitchens and other areas where food is prepared are at risk for fires caused by cooking equipment
such as stoves, ovens and grills.

To prevent fires,
 make sure that cooking equipment is properly maintained, and that employees are properly
trained in the safe use of the equipment.
 Any flammable materials should also be kept away from the cooking area. Cooking equipment
should be cleaned regularly to prevent a build-up of grease and oil, which can be a significant
fire hazard.
 Additionally, it is essential to have fire extinguishers readily available in the kitchen area, and
to ensure that all employees know how to use them.
 How to use fire Extingusher?
What is pass?
When using a fire extinguisher:
 PULL the retaining pin on the handle of the fire extinguisher Stand
back 8-10 feet from the fire
 AIM the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the fire
 SQUEEZE the handle of the extinguisher
 SWEEP the extinguishing agent at the base of the fire

Classification of Fire Extinguishers

1. Class A Extinguisher – will put out fires in ordinary combustibles

such as woods
2. Class B Extinguisher – should be used on fire involving flammable
liquids
3. Class C Extinguisher – suitable for electrical fires
4. Class D Extinguisher – designed to use on flammable metals
Chemical and Biological
Health Hazards
and Control
 Chemical Hazards
A chemical hazard is a type of occupational hazard caused by exposure to chemicals in the workplace.
Acute or Chronic diseases if exposed for a longer period of time or if proper precautionary measures are not
taken.
Long-term exposure to chemicals have been shown to increase risk of diseases such as:
 Heart disease
 Stroke
 High blood pressure
3. Flammable Materials (Including a flash point at
or above 100°F such as solvents, thinners, cleaners,
1. Liquids & Solvents - Including Benzene adhesives, paints, waxes and polishes)
(Industrial waste & smoking),
Formaldehyde (Fertilizer, glues & paper)

2. Vapors & Fumes (Including gases such as

Chlorine, SO2, NO, Ammonia)
 Chemical Hazards
Chemicals can exist in the form of:
 Dusts, fumes, fibers (solids)
 Liquids, mists
 Gases, vapors
Chemicals are found in variety of products used at construction sites. Workers may also be exposed to
chemicals generated during construction activities.

Examples of chemical hazards found in construction work:

 Asbestos
 Lead
 Welding fumes
 Spray paints
 Silica
 Cutting oil mists
 Cadmium
 Solvents
 Carbon monoxide
 Chemical Hazards
1. ASBESTOS
Construction workers may be exposed to asbestos
during demolition or remodeling of older buildings. Asbestos
removal can only be done by specially trained asbestos workers.
Asbestos exposure can cause breathing problems, lung cancer and
cancer of the lung lining many years after exposure.

2. WELDING FUMES
Welding fumes contain a variety of chemicals depending on
what is being welded on, chemical makeup of welding rods, fluxes and
shielding gases.
Generally, welding in confined spaces or welding on stainless steel
which generates hexavalent chromium, are the most hazardous welding
activities.
• Welding in a confined space
• Welding on a stainless steel tank
 Chemical Hazards
3.SOLVENTS
A variety of solvents with varying degrees of
toxicity are used in construction. They are in paints,
glues, epoxies and other products.
Solvents can:
 Irritate your eyes, nose or throat,
 Clean Strip
 Acetone CLEANS PROJECT RESIDUE
 Make you dizzy, high, sleepy, give you a headache
or cause you to pass out,
 Affect your judgment or coordination,
 Cause internal damage to your body,
 Dry out or irritate your skin.
 Chemical Hazards

4.SILICA
Silica or quartz dust exposure is very common in
construction from drilling, cutting or grinding on concrete,
sandblasting, rock drilling on masonry work. Exposure
causes lung scarring and lung disease over time.
 Brick cutting
 Blowing concrete dust with compressed air
 Concrete cutting
 Chemical Hazards
5. LEAD
Construction workers can be exposed to lead on
bridge repair work, lead paint removal on metal structures or
buildings or demolition of old buildings with lead paint, or
using lead solder.
Lead is highly toxic and can cause severe, long term health
problems.
 Lead in Paint work
 Lead in Bridge repair work

6. CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN CONFINED SPACES

Carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, welding fumes and solvent

vapors are typical confined space chemical hazards.
 In some confined spaces, oxygen deficiency will cause the person
entering to instantly collapse.
 Co-workers who attempt rescue may die in confined spaces due to
chemical contamination.
 Chemical Hazards
Routes to Exposure

1. Inhalation from fumes

Breathing of contaminated air is the most common way that chemicals enter the
body.

2. Injection
It can occur when a sharp object (e.g., needle) punctures the skin and injects a
chemical (or virus) directly into the bloodstream.

3. Ingestion
Chemicals may be swallowed accidentally if food, hands, or cigarettes are
contaminated.

4. Absorption
Some chemicals, when contacted, can pass through the skin into the blood stream.
The eyes may also be a route of entry.
 Chemical Hazards
Control Measures
1. First Aid Treatment
Providing express first aid to the victim is meant to mitigate the toxic substance as fast as possible, while
seeking medical assistance, maintaining breathing, blood circulation and other vital signs.
To correctly provide first aid, one should:

1. Make sure that there is no other risk - for you or the victim - due to administering first aid.
2. If possible:
 Identify the poison.
 Identify the dosage or the intake of such substance.
 Verify the duration (since how long has the victim taken it).
 The Victim's age and weight.
3. Observe the symptoms (acute or mild).
4. If the victim vomits, keep the vomited material (for test purposes by the concerned authorities).
5. Call the Poison Control or hospital and get the first aid advice.
6. Call the ambulance or medical assistance, or carry the victim to the nearest hospital.
7. If the victim is unconscious: Check his breath and provide C.P.R if needed.
 Biological Hazards

Any risk that comes from the biosphere - people, plants, and animals can be
considered biological hazards.
Some Examples of Biological Hazards are:
 Mold and Fungi
 Blood and Body Fluids
 Sewage
 Airborne pathogens
 Stinging insects
 Harmful plants
 Animal and Bird Droppings
 Biological Hazards

1. Solid Waste - Any non-sharp material that contacts human or animal

specimens.
2. Liquid Waste - Liquid medical waste is body fluids or blood that may
contain an infectious agent.
3. Microbiological Waste - Microbiological waste contains infectious agents,
microorganisms, and biologicals and is most common in laboratories.
4. Pathological Waste - Pathological waste includes any removed animal or
human organs, tissues, and body parts.
5. Sharp Waste - It is any medical device that could be infectious and is sharp
enough to puncture the skin.
 Biological Hazards

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION

Exposure may occur during demolition, renovation, sewer work, work on
air handling systems, or other construction work from contact with
contaminated or disease-carrying sources. i.e.
• Soil
• Water
• Insects (mosquitoes, ticks)
• Bird or bat droppings
• Animals
• Structures
 Biological Hazards
1. RADIATION
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma rays
X-Rays

2. BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

3. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION (UV)

• not wearing a shirt will result in skin damage.
• welder unprotected from ultraviolet radiation.
 Biological Hazards
4. Drugs and Alcohol
• Any persons caught in possession of or under the
influence of drugs or alcohol will be removed from
site
• If you are on drugs for any medical reason, please
inform your supervisor at once

5. Vibration
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and
Vibration White Finger (VWF) are very debilitating
• You need to protect yourself from excessive usage
of vibrating tools such as breakers and drills etc.
 Biological Hazards
6. POISONOUS PLANTS
• Poison Ivy
• Poison Oak
• Poison Sumac
 Biological Hazards
1. POISONOUS & INFECTIOUS ANIMALS
Snakes
 Virus reaches brain and causes fatal encephalitis.
 Virus ascends spinal cord.
 Virus moves up peripheral nervous system to CNS.
 Virus replicates in muscle near bite
.

Rodents
 Virus enters salivary glands and other organs of victim.

Dogs (Rabies)
 Virus enters tissue from saliva of biting animal.
 Biological Hazards
PREVENTION METHODS
Elimination of the source of contamination is fundamental to the
prevention and control of biological hazards. Washing hands with liquid
soap is the simplest and most basic method to avoid infection. However,
it is often neglected.
CONTROL MEASURES:
 Goggles/Face shields
 Gloves
 Shoe Covers
 Sterilization
 Personal hygiene
 Biological Hazards
 Surgical masks
 N95 or higher level respirators
 Powered Air Purifying Respirator
 Air-supplying respirators
 Protective clothing

Engineering controls such as improvement of ventilation, partial

isolation of the contamination source, installation of negative
pressure and separate ventilation and air conditioning system
and the use of ultraviolet lamps can help contain the spread of
contaminants.
Physical and Psychosocial
Hazards and Control
 Physical Hazards
Physical Hazards
Anything in the environment that can cause a bodily harm can fall under the category of physical
safety hazards. Environmental dangers include:

 Radiation: including ionizing, non-ionizing (ELF's, microwaves, radio waves, etc.)

 High exposure to sunlight / ultraviolet rays
 Temperature extremes – hot and cold
 Constant loud noise

To know if something is a physical hazard or not, just think about if it could

cause physical harm to an employee. This could include common workplace
objects like flammable items or objects that may violently react to other
environmental factors.
 Physical Hazards
Control Measures:
1. Engineering controls reduce risk through physical means. Examples of
engineering controls for physical hazards include:
 Providing safety equipment to employees that reduces their exposure to the
physical safety hazard
 Reduce noises and vibrations present in the workplace
 Place barriers between employees and physical hazards such as radiation or
microwaves
 Provide proper ventilation and air conditioning for employees
 Insulate any surfaces that could be prone to extremes in temperature
 Physical Hazards

2. Administrative controls reduce risk by changing work processes and activities to make them safer.
Some examples of administrative controls for physical safety hazards include:
 Handling smaller quantities of dangerous and reactive chemicals
 Spending less time in areas of exposure
 Working away from noise when possible
 Providing employees with rest breaks away from physical hazards
 Training employees to recognize and avoid physical hazards
 Psycho-social Hazards

Psycho-social Hazards
The construction industry has considerable safety and health hazards that result in high
rates of injury, illness, and fatality. Common hazards include:
 noise
 fall
 electrical
 chemical hazards
Approximately 60% of all construction fatalities each year can be attributed to the ‘focus four’
hazards of falls, struck-by, caught in and between, and electrocutions.
Construction occupational safety and health (OSH) has traditionally focused on eliminating,
mitigating, and managing those hazards that are common in many construction workplaces.
 Psycho-social Factors
Psycho-social factors are the social, organizational, and managerial features of a job that affect
the worker’s feelings, attitudes, behaviors, and physiology.

Working conditions such as:

 high demands
 low control over work tasks
 lack of support from a supervisor or coworkers
 job dissatisfaction

These health effects can include:

 heightened stress;
 poor safety outcomes (e.g., higher injury rates, more frequent incidents);
 greater risk for cardiovascular disease;
 higher susceptibility to musculoskeletal disorders,
 sleep disorders,
 gastrointestinal issues
 Psycho-social Factors
Psycho-social Factors of Work in Construction

As an example, construction workers are particularly prone to developing musculoskeletal disorders

(MSDs) due to the nature of their work:
• manual lifting
• material handling,
• repetitive motions,
• vibrations,
• frequent heavy exertion,
• Variable working conditions.

Additionally, there is growing evidence that workplace psycho-social factors may contribute to

• mental health disorders,

• suicidal idealization,
• Harmful substance use among construction workers.
 Prevention
1. Identify the hazards - Firstly, you will want to identify which psychosocial hazards may
potentially be causing harm to workers.

2. Assess the risks - Most safety professionals should already be equipped with these
analytical tools. Each hazard has a different approach, apply what is necessary.
3. Raise awareness - Being an effective communicator is such a key skill to possess.
4. Take preventative or corrective action - Put into place controls to help eliminate or mitigate
these psychosocial hazards. Not all risks can be eliminated, this is why it is crucial to have
plan in place to counter the negative effects of these hazards.

5. Have senior management commit to reduce workplace stress - With mental health
awareness being broader than ever before, senior management need to commit to creating a
workplace that effectively reduces worker stressors.

6. Communicate with the employees to create a mentally healthy workplace

May them feel like their voices are being heard and engage with them to create a workplace
that is more mentally and physical safe.
THANK YOU