Risk Factors

Fair Warning: NFPA 70E Changes Coming Your Way

The 2012 edition of the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplaces, otherwise known as NFPA 70E, will soon be available as the updates were approved at the end of August. 

NFPA 70E was published by the National Fire Protection Association in 1979 and was written to protect electrical workers in every industry around any type of device capable of generating an arc flash. NPFA 70E is a “consensus standard” referenced by the National Electric Code for safety requirements. While it is currently voluntary, each year more states, departments and organizations are adopting NFPA 70E.  While some of the elements of NPFA 70E have been integrated into OSHA electrical standards, NPFA 70E is not an OSHA standard.  However, OSHA can cite companies under the General Duty Clause as it relates to the recognition and abatement or control of electrical hazards.

How does this affect you?  According to Workrite.com, virtually any facility housing electrical equipment falls under NFPA 70E guidelines, especially in enterprises dependent upon heavy machinery operations.  This includes manufacturing operations of any kind, food processors, hospitals, and petroleum companies to name a few.

What do you need to know about NFPA 70E?  A simplistic and brief response is as follows: 

1.)  Any personnel working near or on electrical equipment should not only be trained in Lockout/Tagout, but should also be trained in recognizing electrical hazards such as the potential for arc flashes and blasts.  Training regarding the NFPA 70E standard will be required to occur every 3 years.

2.)  A shock and flash hazard assessment must be performed to determine the flash protection boundary, and the appropriate level or category of personal protective equipment required.

3.)  Appropriate apparel should be selected, and employees trained on the appropriate use and care of this apparel.  Flame-resistant (FR) clothing is required in many instances, and is designed to protect from two different exposures:  flash fire and electric arc flash.  The new NFPA 70E standard will delineate between arc-rated clothing (which is always flame-resistant) and flame-resistant clothing (which is not always arc-rated). 

What level of exposure does your operation include, and how have you protected your employees?

For more information on the NFPA 70E standard updates, go to this National Safety Council publication:  Safety+Health December 2011 issue Stay Current article  

For more information on the NFPA 70E standard, go to   “Why FR Clothing?” 

Additional Resources:

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/08/01/fr-garment-program-development.aspx?sc_lang=en

http://www.workrite.com/whatsnew/industrynews.htm

http://www.aramark-flameresistant.com/NFPA-70E.html

 

Flammable Liquids Use & Storage (Part I)

In a previous blog (http://losscontrol.westfieldinsurance.com/2010/03/fire-hazards-of-spray-finishing-with-flammable-liquids.html), I wrote about spray finishing with flammable liquids. In that blog, I stated that flammable liquids should be stored in accordance with NFPA 30 Storage of Flammable Liquids. This blog will present the basics of flammable liquids and the options generally available to use and store them. Because this topic is too complex to fit into one blog article, we’ll need to break it down into segments. For this first segment, we’ll define flammable liquids, key considerations, and the primary best practice standards that govern their use and storage.

 The Nature Of Flammable Liquids (Classification)

• First of all, we must identify the liquids as in fact being considered flammable. The manufacturer/distributor must provide what is called a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for their liquid. There are different classifications of flammable liquids per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), but generally any liquid with a flash point of 100°F or less is flammable. Liquids with flash points of greater than 100°F are classified as combustible liquids. The flash point is an indicator of how easy a liquid will ignite and is defined as the lowest temperature at which liquid will generate enough vapor to flash, but not continue to burn. Flammable and combustible liquids are further broken down into classes, as depicted in the following charts:

 

 

• Flammable and combustible liquids themselves do not burn. In simple terms- it is the mixture of their vapours and air that burns. At normal room temperatures, flammable liquids can give off enough vapour to form burnable mixtures with air.
• The vast majority of flammable liquids produce vapors that are heavier than air. This means that vapor that is released from containers (and no container contains all vapor) will sink to the floor and not travel very far without strong pressure. Vapor is released through expansion/contraction of the containers. Most containers are designed to relieve pressure build-up that occurs during movement, temperature fluctuations, and other factors.
• Because flammable liquids (and to a lesser extent- combustible liquids) ignite much easier and burn much faster/hotter than typical combustible material, special care must be given to separating these materials from potential ignition sources. Ignition sources that are not normally a concern with ordinary combustible materials become significant when flammable liquids are present. These include static electricity, electrical systems (even enclosed with metal conduit), heating units, hot surfaces, motors, and even simply heat itself. It is called spontaneous combustion when this occurs. Related to the flashpoint is a material's autoignition temperature- the temperature at which the material self-ignites without the aid of an external ignition source.
• The specific gravity of a liquid is important to know. Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the weight of a substance (the liquid) to the weight of water and is noted as the base at which other liquids are based on. The specific gravity of a liquid indicates whether or not that liquid will float on top of water or whether water will float on top of the liquid. This is important from a fire protection standpoint when water (which is typically what a fire department will use to fight fire) is applied to burning liquids. This is why drainage or containment of the liquids is a critical consideration when storing any quantity.
• Water miscibility: This is a measure of whether the liquid that mixes in all proportions with water (generally only includes alcohols and acetone).
• Viscosity: This is defined as the resistance of a liquid to flow freely. If the liquid is thick enough, it will not form a pool. One of the items that make flammable liquids so dangerous is a flowing pool spreading the fire.  If the liquid will not form a pool, it easier to control as it will tend to “stay put” easier. There are various means to measure viscosity. For this article, we won’t go into the scientific methods that are used, however, the more viscous the liquid is- generally the lesser protection it requires, and thus viscous liquids can often be treated as standard commodities (1, 2, 3, 4, plastics) and may not need containment or drainage.

 

Regulatory & Best Practice Requirements Governing The Use And Storage Of Flammable Liquids

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, 2012 Edition is the primary standard that provides guidelines for the storage of flammable and combustible liquids. The NFPA, founded in 1896, is a consensus code publisher, meaning that codes are developed and voted on by stakeholders from a variety of industries/interests. NFPA 30, like all NFPA codes, is revised on a scheduled basis (generally every three years). Other NFPA codes that are related include:
  • NFPA 33: Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials, 2011 Edition
  • NFPA 34: Standard for Dipping, Coating and Printing Processes Using Flammable or Combustible Liquids, 2011 Edition
  • NFPA 56PS: Standard for Fire and Explosion Prevention During Cleaning and Purging of Flammable Gas Piping Systems, 2012 Edition
  • NFPA 329: Recommended Practice for Handling Releases of Flammable and Combustible Liquids and Gases, 2010 Edition
  • NFPA 385: Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, 2007 Edition
  • NFPA 497: Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas, 2008 Edition
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA): OSHA is a governmental administration and division of the Department of Labor (DOL). As such, it is charged with the development of legal, enforceable standards to protect employees in the workplace. This goal requires OSHA to consider a variety of sources. OSHA considers NFPA as a primary source of best practice standards as relates to fire and life safety (though not the only source). OSHA and NFPA rarely conflict with each other, but in some instances OSHA includes compliance alternatives in which facilities can choose to comply with either OSHA's specific regulatory language or NFPA requirements (e.g. means of egress in NFPA 101 Life Safety Code). OSHA also may add requirements specifically to protect employees or building occupants that NFPA may loosely recommend. The bottom line is that OSHA, being legally enforceable at all time, supersedes NFPA.
• FM Global (formerly known as Factory Mutual, Inc.): FM Global is a private property insurance company founded in 1835. Along with adopting other standards (such as NFPA), they also conduct/fund their own research (including scientific testing laboratories) and publish risk management standards that address specific loss exposures. With regard to flammable liquids, FM Global diverts somewhat with regard to fire protection. As a general rule of thumb, FM Global Data Sheets are more conservative and offer specific narrow solutions.  

Stay tuned for Part 2....

Tips to Protect Your Restaurant from Fire

Our sister blog, "At Your Service", has recently posted a great blog addressing restaurant fires.  Given that many of our customers are restaurants or have a cooking exposure (hotels, country clubs, etc.)  I thought it would be beneficial to share this article on our blog.  Should you have any further questions or concerns regarding restaurant fires and ways to prevent a fire please feel free to reach out to us or your local Risk Control Representative.  Thanks Kris!

- Lisa Mundt 

Tips to Protect Your Restaurant from Fire

The United States Fire Administration reports that between 2007 and 2009, an estimated 5,900 restaurant building fires occurred in the U.S. causing 75 injuries and $172 million in property loss.  The good news is that there were no fire-related deaths, although the potential exists.  The National Fire Incident Reporting System categorizes building fires into two severity classes 1) confined fires, which are confined to certain objects or types of equipment and 2) nonconfined.

Confined fires account for about 57% of restaurant fires with nonconfined fires accounting for the remaining 43% of restaurant fires. 

When do restaurant fires occur?  The highest frequency is during the late morning hours, between 10 and 11 a.m. 

What’s the primary cause of restaurant fires?  This won’t surprise you, cooking, is the leading cause of restaurant fires.  The vast majority (91%) of these fires are small confined fires a small amount of damage.  Electrical malfunctions and heating systems are the next highest cause of restaurant fires, both at 8%.  The risk with electrical fires is that they spread and are typically large, nonconfined fires.  Beyond electrical fires, the other common causes of fire are carelessness or other unintentional actions and equipment mis-operations and failures.

Where do nonconfined fires start?  Primarily in cooking areas and kitchens (41%) and less frequently on the roof (6%) and in walls (6%). 

How do nonconfined fires start?   Heat from powered equipment is the leading cause of these types of fires, which includes electrical arcing and radiated or conducted heat from running equipment.  The most common equipment to ignite fires are deep fryers (9%), ranges (7%) and other kitchen cooking equipment (5%). 

What are the contributing factors to igniting a nonconfined fire?  The top three factors are:

•            Misuse of product or material (28%)
•            Electrical Failure, malfunction (27%)
•            Operational deficiency (23%)

 What can be done to reduce fire risk?

• Staff training and awareness to keep combustible materials away from heat sources.
• Fire extinguishers strategically located and staff trained to use them.
• Install alert or suppression systems to monitor heat and smoke to notify as soon as possible.  Automatic extinguishment systems, such as sprinklers and hood systems.
• Safe storage practices – store away from heat sources/ductwork, keep exits clear.

Click here to review Westfield Insurance’s Fire Prevention Checklist for Restaurants to see how you stack up on preventing fires at your restaurant.  

Kris Hawk is the business development leader for corporate hospitality at Westfield Insurance. She develops and implements marketing plans for Westfield Country Club, Blair Conference Center, corporate dining and Westfield Inn.          

Copper Theft: How to Protect Air Conditioning Units

Skyrocketing prices for metal, especially copper, have turned a minor problem into an epidemic.  Working in a claims service office, I am exposed to constant conversations regarding stolen air conditioning units.  These air conditioning units are being stolen for their scrap value.  I have heard of air conditioning units being stolen for residential, commercial and industrial customers. The thefts have been to both ground and roof mounted units.  No one is immune from this epidemic.

I have a large service account that was renovating a building for a new tenant.  Over a weekend, they had seven industrial air conditioning roof-top mounted units stolen.  The total loss was $20,000 per unit or $140,000.  They have replaced these units and are in the process of having them protected by their central station alarm company.

Preventative measures can be taken to protect your outside air conditioning units.  The following are several methods.  The method that you use will depend on the location of your unit and you budget.

• Lighting - Installing lighting on the air conditioning unit will deter theft
• Obstruction - Hiding the air conditioning unit behind hostile bushes
• Padlock & Chain - Will slow down theft of entire unit, but will probably not prevent stripping of the unit
• Metal Cage - Enclosing the air conditioning unit with a protective cage 
• Fence - Fencing in the unit will delay and possibly prevent theft
• Moving A/C Unit - Relocating to a less accessible or visible area
• Alarm - The air conditioning unit can be alarmed and monitored by a remote or central station

I have linked several websites regarding A/C unit protection methods.  These websites were included to provide protective method information.  These website should not be considered a product endorsement.

http://www.acwatchdog.com/

 http://www.acstolen.com/ac-cages-for-airconditioner-air-conditioning-protection-fort-myers

Thomas Russell is a Senior Risk Control Representative with Westfield Insurance. He has over 30 years experience in the insurance and safety industry.  

Building Means of Egress

 

Working in the field of Risk Management over the past twenty years and having conducted hundreds of site surveys of the properties of medium and large businesses, one aspect of risk management that always seems to need attention is the means of egress of employees and the public from buildings. The challenges change somewhat depending on the size of building and nature of operations being conducted in the building- but a significant percentage of the time they are not addressed appropriately.

 

Applicable Codes/Standards

Means of egress in the United States is established by building codes. In past years, the building codes that were in force differed substantially depending on the state and even local town/city. Only recently (in the past 10 years) have states consolidated and passed laws/ordinances adopting one code. For example, the State of Pennsylvania about ten years ago debated and adopted their Uniform Construction Code Act, which was the adoption of International Building Codes (IBC- which is published by the International Code Council, or ‘ICC’). It did not go into effect until 2004. Prior to that, it largely depended on what municipality (the “Authority having Jurisdiction” or AHJ) the building was located in as to whether there was even a code at all (my own personal residence- built in 1993- was ungoverned by any building code at the time and only during the sale of the property some things needed to be modified to be in compliance with existing building codes).

 

Also in past years, there were multiple building codes- depending on the region of the country. For example, the code most used and adopted by many states in the South was the Southern Building Code (SBC). The organizations that published these codes joined forces, forming the ICC, and began condensing the codes into the IBC and RBC (Residential Building Code). The first code went into effect in 2000. There have been three “updates” to these codes (this is done every three years).

 

One code that has been in place for over 80 years- and is the consensus “standard” for the life safety of building occupants- is the Life Safety Code®, also known as NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Standard 101. The 2009 Edition is the most recent edition. This document used to be referred to as the Building Exits Code before the name was changed. It was adopted decades ago by the ICC, as well as other international building codes, as the “bible” of life safety.

 

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code® is unique among NFPA codes because it not only addresses new construction, but also existing construction. The primary emphasis is life safety, though many of it’s specific directives also protect the property itself (e.g. fire protection).

 

Means of Egress Defined

To protect the life of building occupants, NFPA 101 has two goals- to provide an environment that is safe from fire and other emergencies, and secondly-  getting building occupants out of the building as safely and quickly as possible. From a “safe environment” perspective, much of the written code specifies the design of construction and fire protection (e.g. using building materials with a certain ability to resist flame).

 

The second goal of NFPA 101 is what most of us can have the most impact on- that being means of egress. Means of egress- in layman’s terms- is defined as the ability to exit the structure in the event of an emergency (e.g. fire). A means of egress (there are many in a typical building) includes 1) the path of travel to an exit 2) the exit, and 3) the exit discharge (to a safe area outside the building).

 

Primary “Practical” Issues

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code® is quite large and extensive. It has 43 chapters plus supplements and annexes. Each chapter contains its own provisions for means of egress, but there is one chapter in particular that addresses most of the provisions. This is Chapter 7, which contains the following sections:

 

7.1 General

7.2 Means of Egress Components

7.3 Capacity of Means of Egress

7.4 Number of Means of Egress

7.5 Arrangement of Means of Egress

7.6 Measurement of Travel Distance to Exits

7.7 Discharge from Exits

7.8 Illumination of Means of Egress

7.9 Emergency Lighting

7.10 Marking of Means of Egress

7.11 Special Provisions for Occupancies with High Hazard Contents

7.12 Mechanical Equipment Rooms, Boiler Rooms, and Furnace Room

 

This chapter alone comprises of 178 pages, and there are many issues that could be discussed here. For practicability, however, I will point out what I have found to be the most prevalent problem areas when considering means of egress-  which often is also the most immediately controllable by risk management personnel (and actually building occupants themselves).

 

• One that is obvious (one might think)- but yet in 2011 is still not always complied with (i.e. rental properties in small towns)- is that there needs to be at least two exits provided for each smoke compartment. One means of egress from a building is simply not enough in the event it is unsafe (e.g. smoke).
• Designated emergency exits should be provided with panic hardware. They can not be locked in such a way that prevents them from being easily and quickly opened (e.g. chains with padlocks).
• Locations of fire exits should be marked with clearly visible signs (and they need to be visible at all times, which may require lighting).
• If there is the possibility that an area is dark should electricity fail, there should be an emergency lighting system for the egress path to the exit.
• For most occupancies, the minimal travel distance to an exit (or at least a separate “smoke compartment” in the building) is not more than 100 ft (31 m), though there are acceptions based on type of construction and whether the building is protected by a fire sprinkler system or even an automatic fire detection system. In some cases, the distance can be reduced to 75’ or even 50’ for certain situations/occupancies.
• Egress routes have to be wide to handle all the foot traffic that is fed into them. For example, generally there is a required width 44 in (112 cm)- or not less than the width of the exit door serving the area.
• Exits should always open outward.  
• Obstructions in the walking path is a very common issue. Often a second means of egress is used only in the event of an emergency and thus the hallway leading to the exit is used as overflow storage. This of course defeats the purpose of that second means of egress and should be inspected often (plus it adds combustibles in the path).
• Walking surfaces in the means of egress should be resistant to slips/trips (e.g. rugs). When egressing in an emergency, falls by building occupants (i.e. in a panic situation) are not uncommon and could be the difference between life and death.  
• Changes in a floor level must be addressed by using ramps or stairs where the elevation difference exceeds 21 in (53.5 cm).
• During a fire, most building occupants will suffer smoke inhalation before burns. Because of this, NFPA 101 requires compartmentation. This is achieved by corridors with self-closing doors. Often, these doors are propped open by door stops, etc. Inspections must be made that corridor doors are not propped open. In addition, if magnetic holdback devices (activated by the automatic fire alarm system) are used, they should be inspected and documented regularly by maintenance or safety staff to make sure they function properly.
• Professional Engineers (P.E.’s) determine how many exits and the distance, etc. of means of egress during building design. Often times, internal staff (e.g. maintenance staff) will make changes that do not require building permits. When this occurs, a professional engineer should be consulted to determine if the changes will effect the capacity of the means of egress to safely evacuate the maximum number of building occupants expected to use that means of egress.
• NFPA 101 requires evacuation signals to be both audible and visible (to accomodate disabilities).
• Emergency Planning – this aspect is critical. Management should develop and test emergency evacuation preparedness plans. Emergency evacuation plans should address “reasonably foreseeable emergency situations” (e.g. fire, extreme weather). Easy-to-read diagrams should be posted (you can not have enough diagrams!). It is recommended that emergency response personnel (the fire department) be invited into the building to inspect and coordinate plans with management. The plan should identify the roles and responsibilities of all staff in the event of an emergency, as well as provide regular training. Plans should be practiced regularly and whenever updates are incorporated. Emergency evacuation drills should be conducted periodically (quarterly or more often is recommended).

 

REFERENCES:

- NFPA 101 Life Safety Code®® Handbook, NFPA, 2009

- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Fire Protection Handbook. 20th ed. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 2008

 - Engineering and Safety Service, ISO Services, Inc. Life Safety Code®, Report Number: LB-30-01, c. 2005

Jeff Hendershot is a Property Specialist with Westfield Group. You can connect with him at h. ttp://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhendershot

Hot Work: Permits and Safety (part 3 of 3)

The following is the third post in a three-part series on hot work. The series offers an overview of hot work, safety hazards, team members, permit programs and a precautionary checklist.

Now that we have reviewed the basics of hot work and team members' responsibilities, we move on to the safety measures that are put into place to ensure workplace safety. 

Due to the extent of risk involved, hot work requires certain safety standards be met before work commences. This enables businesses to properly protect workers and property surrounding hot work activities. 

Hot Work Permits

Hot work permits are formalized checklists that help ensure safety precautions are met in the workplace. They should be issued directly to the person who will be performing the hot work.

A permit is issued only after the designated person, or their alternate, has inspected the work area and satisfactorily completed the inspection checklist on the permit. All the questions on the permit should be answered “yes” before the permit is issued. It should then be attached to the equipment being used. 

Immediately upon completion of the hot work, the permit should be returned to the person who authorized it, or an alternate, and signed off. Permits should then be filed for review by the person who authorized the hot work. 

Additionally, the person authorizing the hot work should maintain a cutting-welding-hot work log and monitor the permits being issued. Cutting, welding, and other hot work done by contractors should also be safely managed using the same permit system. 

Every contractor working at a facility should be aware of the requirements for credentials, experience, and adherence to the plant’s hot work permit program. These requirements should also be written into any bid/contract documents the insured uses.

Below is a sample permit safety precautions list that should be posted in conspicuous areas. [

Hot Work Precautions

1. Perform hot work in a properly arranged maintenance shop, unless the job cannot be moved to it.
2. Ensure equipment is in good condition, and thoroughly check all valves, regulators, hoses, and torches. 
3. Do not use welding, cutting or other hot work equipment in a building if sprinklers are out of service.
4. Move combustibles at least 35 feet from hot work operations. If combustibles cannot be moved, they must be protected by metal guards or by flameproof curtains or covers rather than ordinary tarpaulins.
5. Prohibit hot work in or on vessels containing flammable or combustible materials, including residues, until they have been completely cleaned and purged or made inert.
6. Check the atmosphere for combustible gases or vapors where necessary, using reliable detection equipment. If there is a chance of a gas vapor release during hot work operations, use continuous-duty portable combustible-gas detectors to constantly monitor the area.
7. Prohibit hot work until surrounding floors have been swept clean and, if combustible, wet down.
8. Prohibit hot work until all wall and floor openings within 35 feet of the operations have been tightly covered or otherwise protected with metal guards or flameproof tarpaulins.
9. Prohibit hot work until responsible persons have been assigned to watch for dangerous sparks in the area and on floors above and below.
10. Secure gas cutting and welding cylinders so they will not be upset or damaged and replace protective caps on all cylinders not actually in use.
11. Carefully connect the ground clamp when using electrical arc welding equipment.  Since an improperly made ground can be a source of ignition, the ground clamp should be connected as close to the work as possible sot that it may be easily observed.
12. Arrange for a patrol of the area, including floors above and below, during any break in the work, such as lunch or rest periods, and for at least half an hour after the work has been completed.  If the hot work ends near the time of a shift change, arrangements should be made for the patrols to continue into the next shift.
13. Use portable stands to elevate welding hose or cable off floor areas where it can be easily damaged.
14. Prohibit hot work until a permit is obtained from the person authorized to issue permits.

When hot work should not be allowed

Some areas simply cannot be made safe for hot work. When such conditions exist, hot work must be prohibited and moved elsewhere. 

Below are several examples of areas where hot work activities should not be performed:

• Where processes involving flammable liquids, gases and dusts cannot be shut down and made safe.
• Where lint conditions are severe beyond correction.
• On partitions, walls, ceilings or roofs with combustible coverings (e.g., expanded plastic insulation).
• On partitions of combustible sandwich-type construction.
• On pipe or other metals that can conduct enough heat to ignite nearby combustibles.
• Where there are large amounts of combustibles that are impractical to move or cover (for example, roll paper, cotton or jute storage).  

These areas should be clearly marked “No Hot Work.”

 Click here to view a sample permit tag. 

Whether you’re a business owner, supervisor or worker, it’s essential to keep safety top of mind. What has work best with your hot work permit program? Have you been successful in avoiding risks to employees or property? 

We’d like to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment below!

Read part 1 and 2:

• Hot Work: The Basics and Hot Work Programs
• Hot Work: Team Members and Responsibilities 

Jeff Hendershot is a Board Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) with degrees from Kent State University (BS- Industrial Technology) and Southern New Hampshire University (MBA). He has nearly 18 years broad-based experience in the Risk Control /Management field, and is currently a Westfield Property Specialist.

Jeff has over 15 years concentrated training/experience in the property conservation discipline working with HPR/HVR accounts to control/protect property hazards/exposure. Prior to working with insurance companies, Jeff worked in manufacturing, was a small business owner, and served with the US Army Reserve.

Hot Work: Team Members and Responsibilities (part 2 of 3)

The following is the second post in a three-part series on hot work. The series will give an overview of hot work, safety hazards, team members, permit programs, and a precautionary checklist.

When working in a field that involves high risk, such as hot work, it is important to establish a reliable team that enables a safe and responsible work environment. Each member of a hot work team must understand how their role is integral to the safety of each worker, and their responsibilities to the overall project.

To briefly recap our first post, hot work is defined as any process that could result in ignition of explosive, flammable or combustible materials due to cutting, drilling, heating or other hot work activities. To ensure the safety of workers and property, areas designated for hot work are required to obtain a program permit and implement precautions to minimize risk.

So, who makes up a hot work team? And what are their individual responsibilities?

Hot Work Management

Management personnel have ultimate responsibility within a hot work team. As the team leader, these individuals are responsible for maintaining the flow of work, overseeing high-level contracting and safety needs. Below is a list of specific tasks delegated to management:

• Establish approved areas and procedures for hot work activities, including cutting, welding, drilling and more.
• Designate individuals responsible for authorizing hot work operations in areas not specifically designed or approved for such processes.
• Be aware of potential fire hazards involved in hot work process, as well as the provisions of the permit program. 
• Ensure that only approved equipment, such as torches, manifolds, regulators or pressure reducing valves, and acetylene generators, be used.
• Ensure that persons performing hot work are suitably trained in the safe operation of their equipment, the safe use of the process and emergency procedures in the event of a fire.
• Select contractors that employ suitably trained personnel and who have an awareness of the magnitude of the risks involved for various hot work activities.
• Advise all contractors with regard to flammable materials or hazardous conditions.

Supervisors 

For daily, on-site activities, supervisors take charge of the hot work process area and worker activities. It is essential that they are attentive to the status of the workplace, workers and any incidents that occur. Below is a list of a supervisor’s responsibility to the hot work team.

• Be responsible for the safe handling of hot work equipment and for the safe execution of the hot work process.
• Determine the combustible materials and hazardous areas present, or likely to be present, in the work location.
• Protect hot work combustibles from igniting by implementing the following:
• Have the work moved to a location free from dangerous combustibles.
• If the work cannot be moved, have the combustibles moved to a safe distance from the work or have the combustibles properly shielded against ignition.
• See that hot work is scheduled so operations that might expose combustibles to ignition are not started during the hot work process.
• Secure authorization for the hot work operations from the designated management representative.
• Determine that workers secure approval that conditions are safe before going ahead.
• Determine fire protection and extinguish equipment are properly located at the site.
• When fire watchers are required, the supervisor should see that they are available at the site.
• When a fire watcher is not required, a final check-up should be made by the supervisor one half-hour after the completion of cutting or welding operations to detect and extinguish possible smoldering fires.

Individuals performing hot-work

Individuals performing hot work activities, including cutters and welders, should handle the equipment safely and use it so as not to endanger lives and property. Although activities vary by project, the following are basic safety precautions that should be observed by workers.

• Obtain approval from supervisor before starting hot work activities at site.
• Perform hot work processes only where conditions are safe.
• Continue to work only as long as conditions are unchanged from those under which approval was granted. 

Fire watchers

Securing fire watchers is the responsibility of the individual in charge of authorizing hot work activities, such as the supervisor, whenever hot work is performed in a location that a fire might develop. A fire watch should be maintained for at least a half-hour after completion of hot work operations to detect and extinguish possible ignitions.

A fire watch should be obtained for the safety of the team and facilities when any of the following conditions are present:

• When a noticeable amount of combustible material within the building construction or contents is closer than 35 ft. (11 m.) to the point of operation.
• When a noticeable amount of combustibles are more than 35 ft. (11 m.) away, but are easily ignited by sparks.
• When wall or floor openings within a 35-foot (11 m.) radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas, including concealed spaces in walls or floors.
• When combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of metal partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited by conduction or radiation.

 Fire watchers should:

Have fire-extinguishing equipment readily available and be trained in its use, including practice on test fires.

• Be familiar with facilities and procedures for sounding an alarm in the event of a fire. 
• Watch for fires in all exposed areas, and try to extinguish them first only when obviously within the capacity of the equipment available, or otherwise sound the alarm immediately.

 

To create a well-oiled team that is proactive in making a hot work site safe, it is important to review these responsibilities and define roles up-front. What have you found to be effective for your team? Feel free to leave a comment below — we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Stay Tuned!

In the final post, we will discuss the specifics of a hot work permit program and provide a precautionary checklist for hot work safety. You can also read our first post on the basics of hot work.

Jeff Hendershot is a Property Specialist with Westfield Group. You can connect with him at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhendershot.

Image Source: TechShop

Will You Be Caught Unprepared in a Tornado?

I dreamed last night that I was in a tornado.  I grabbed the cat (I don’t have a cat) because I knew the dog would come willingly.  My family and friends (I didn’t recognize any of those people) crouched down in the basement area while the tornado went over.  I woke up when I realized the cat was no longer in my grasp.  Crazy dream, right?!

I think I might be dreaming about tornadoes due to the outbreak of tornadoes this past weekend.  March officially begins the tornado season in the south.  Based on an AccuWeather.com report, 289 tornadoes were reported in 15 states between April 14 and April 16.  Forty-five people were reported killed and dozens of others injured when these storms swept through the Midwestern and Southern states.  The AccuWeather.com link also shows where the tornadoes hit and how the weather produced the perfect scenario for tornadoes each of the 3 days.

According to Tornado-Facts.com, more tornadoes occur in the United States than in any other country, and ours are the most powerful as well.  Tornadoes can occurred in any state, but the most common ones are the Midwestern states (Nebraska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas), and the U.S. can have a thousand tornadoes touch down in a year. 

The strength of a tornado cannot be determined before it occurs.  Only after the event can data be compiled and damage assessed to determine the severity of the tornado.  Tornadoes are ranked on the Fujita – Pearson scale, from an F-0 (light damage) to an F-5 (total damage – the chances of this occurring are less than 0.1%). 

So, how do you know when a tornado is headed your way?  When the threat of severe weather occurs, tune in to your local news station or NOAA Weather Radio.  Information can be provided to you as to where the storm is headed, and if there is a threat of a tornado.  Outside, look to see if there are low-lying clouds.  Clouds that turn from a whitish-gray to a darker color means dirt and debris is being picked up from the ground.  Take cover!

What will you do in the event of a tornado?  Do you have a plan for your home?  At work?

For more detailed information on how to prepare for a tornado, what to do in the event of a tornado, and what to expect after the tornado, go to http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html.

 

Suzanne Coleman is a Senior Risk Control Representative with Westfield Insurance.  She had been with the company for 6 years, and is based out of the Nashville Tennessee office.

Image Source: tornado-facts.com.

Hot Work: The Basics and Hot Work Programs (part 1 of 3)

The following is the first post in a three-part series on hot work. The series will give an overview of hot work, safety hazards, team members, permit programs, and a precautionary checklist.

As a business owner or employee, workplace safety is one of your top concerns. Depending on the nature of your operations, your workers and property structures may be exposed to a variety risks.

One example of a technical expertise that results in increased risk is hot work. Incidents surrounding daily operations in hot work result in a number of worker injuries and structural fires each year in the United States. That’s why it’s important for businesses to implement hot work safety through a permit program.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Analysis and Research released in October 2009, 29 percent of reported industrial and manufacturing property structure fires from 2003-2006 involved shop tools and industrial equipment. This statistic relates directly to activities classified as hot work.

What is “hot work”?

 

Hot Work Safety Hazards

Because it is often performed in a confined or enclosed space, such as maritime vessels or industrial workshops, hot work presents a high risk for causing unintended industrial fires or explosive hazards. To help minimize worker injuries or structural fires, hot work is only performed in designated or permit-required areas, and protected by a variety of safeguards.

While fixed or permanent installations or work areas should have their own safeguards, a greater danger is posed by portable hot work equipment.

Portable hot work equipment, such as portable welders, torches, cutting, and brazing equipment, are used for maintenance or construction and is performed by employees or contractors. These tools present increased risk due to the lack of permanent non-combustible barriers such as weld curtains or walls. The tools do not have to create a flame though. Processes such as grinding and drilling become hot work when flammable materials are present.

 

Hot Work Permit Programs

According to the NFPA, any hot work performed outside a fixed facility should comply with NFPA 51B, Standard for Fire Prevention in Use of Cutting and Welding Processes. Compliance with these standards requires what is called a hot work permit program.

An effective permit program is fundamental to any strategy intended to control the fire hazards of hot work operations, and should include the following:

•  A management policy that states clearly when, where, and under what conditions hot work may be performed.
• Detail who is responsible for management of the program.
• Establish the permit system.
• Provide the necessary safety equipment.
• Provide the personnel necessary to implement the program.

 

Does your business deal with hot work activities and the associated safety hazards? What have your experiences on the job site been? We’d like to hear your input and feedback to help offer the most helpful tips on properly protecting the workplace.

Stayed tuned!

In the next post we will discuss different members of a hot work team, their responsibilities and safety concerns that should be address.

 

Jeff Hendershot is a Property Specialist with Westfield Group. You can connect with him at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhendershot.

Combustible Dust Standards Update

Background/History

Combustible dust has become a much more visible hazard in the past few years as the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) in 2008 communicated that they were proposing a new standard on combustible dust. They also set in play a new directive for their staff to step up their inspections of plants that produce combustible dust, and began forcing companies to control the risk of explosion/fire (and related health concerns) through the execution of the general duty clauseusing best practice industry consensus standards (mostly National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards).

 

The concern was that in the past couple decades, multiple industries experienced dust explosions that resulted in the loss of life/injuries and major property damage. As a result of several high-profile incidents, in 2006 the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) published their Combustible Dust Hazard Study which reported that from 1980 through 2005, combustible dusts caused 281 incidents that killed 119 workers and injured 718. Between 2006 & 2008, an additional 16 deaths and 84 injuries occurred. Finally, in February 2008, the high-profile explosion(s)/fire at the Imperial Sugar refinery (Port Wentworth, GA) resulted in 14 fatalities and 42 injuries. This was the proverbial “last straw” for OSHA to take action.

 

 

Current Status

Almost exactly one year ago today (Feb 17, 2010), OSHA closed their public comments on their “approach” to use in developing their federal standard for combustible dust and hosted a Combustible Dust Stakeholder Meeting in Atlanta, GA to gather additional feedback from stakeholders before they started developing the standard in full force. On April 13, 2010, they published a summary report of the meeting (see http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/dust-meeting-notes.html).

 

Currently, OSHA continues work on this standard. In a “web chat” a couple days ago (2/14/11), Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis noted that the budget proposed by the Obama Administration calls for a $37 million dollar increase in funding for OSHA’s Standards Group. The development of the combustible dust standard is one of just a handful of priorities mentioned- so it is likely a measure of time until a standard is forthcoming.

 

 

Nature of Combustible Dust Hazards & Controls

Rather than go into detail here, OSHA has put together a comprehensive overview (in layman’s terms) of the hazards and necessary controls to consider at http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib073105.html. 

Other helpful related OSHA web links include:

-          http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/index.html

-          http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/standards.html (applicable standards)

-          http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=3830  (Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program)

 

 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a national organization that promotes and publishes fire and life safety consensus standards. They are not the only organization that publishes standards, but are the most well known and widely accepted organization in the United States (and much of the world for that matter). The primary standard that applies to combustible dust is NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. This standard was first published in 1975 and has undergone six revisions, with the newest revision scheduled to be adopted/published in late 2012 (originally in 2011 but was purposely delayed). Under the new edition, look for the following changes from the most recent (2006) edition:

-   Expansion of the definition of combustible particulate since most combustible solids that are broken down into a finely divided solid form can contribute to a deflagration.

-   Implementation of a planned inspection process to determine facility dust accumulation rates and determine housekeeping actions/frequency necessary to maintain accumulations below acceptable levels.

-   Recommended cleaning methods: Such as vacuuming rather than blowing down- which can create more hazardous conditions than simply doing nothing.

-   New/expanded sections on hazard assessment, ignition hazards, and contractors to name a few.

 

NFPA also publishes the following more specific standards relative to combustible dust (which all reference NFPA 654):

-          NFPA 664: Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities

-          NFPA 61: Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities

-          NFPA 484: Standard for Combustible Metals

-          NFPA 655: Standard for Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions

 These standards refer to a host of other NFPA standards (e.g. NFPA 70 National Electric Code) and can get quite complicated, so competent professional guidance is a must.

 

FM Global

FM Global (formerly Factory Mutual Insurance Co.) self-publishes Data Sheets that identify hazards and recommended controls based on both industry consensus data as well as their own research data. The company is well-known for its conservative approach to controlling property hazards. FM Global publishes Data Sheet 7-76 Prevention And Mitigation Of Combustible Dust Explosion And Fire as well as several related standards in addition to “approving” equipment that can be used for specific (e.g. dust) environments. FM Global used to charge for this information; however, they no longer do so as long as you register (for marketing/informational purposes). The website where these data sheets can be found is http://www.fmglobaldatasheets.com.

 

Jeff Hendershot is a Property Specialist with Westfield Group. You can connect with him at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhendershot