Operator Safety - Wastewater Operators - page 33

1.13.8.2 Fire Protection
OSHA requires employers to provide portable fire extinguishers
that are mounted, located, and identified so they are readily accessible
to workers without subjecting the worker to possible injury. In addi-
tion, OSHA requires that each workplace institute a portable fire extin-
guisher maintenance plan. Fire extinguisher maintenance service must
be performed at least once a year and a written record kept to show the
maintenance or recharge date.
Note: When the plant safety person provides portable fire extinguishers
for worker use in the plant, the worker must be provided with an educa-
tion program to learn the general principles of fire extinguisher use and
the hazards involved with fire fighting.
Wastewater workers must be trained to know where and what type
of fire extinguishers are available for the different classes of fire. The
ABC type of fire extinguisher is probably best suited for the wastewater
industry. These extinguishers can be used on Class A, B, and C fires.
The only exception to this practice is fire extinguishers located in elec-
trical substations or switchgear rooms. In areas like these, only Class C
(carbon dioxide; CO 2 ) extinguishers should be used. Combination ABC
fire extinguishers will extinguish most electrical fires, but the sticky
chemical residue left behind can damage delicate electrical or electronic
components; thus, CO 2 extinguishers are more suitable for extinguishing
electrical fires. Each worker must know how to use the fire extinguisher.
Most importantly, the workers must know when it is not safe to use fire
extinguishers—that is, when the fire is beyond being extinguished with
a portable fire extinguisher. Emergency telephone numbers should be
strategically placed throughout the workplace. Workers need to know
where these emergency numbers are posted. Moreover, workers should
be trained on the information that they need to pass on to the 911 opera-
tor in case of fire.
1.13.8.3 Flammable and Combustible Liquids
In addition to basic fire prevention and emergency response train-
ing, workers must be trained on flammable and combustible liquids.
29 CFR 1910.106 addresses this area. Wastewater treatment and col-
lection operations use all types of flammable and combustible liquids.
These dangerous materials must be clearly labeled and safely stored
when not in use. Additionally, the safe handling of flammable and com-
bustible liquids is a topic that should be fully addressed by the plant's
safety person and workplace supervisors. The importance of worker
awareness of the potential hazards that flammable and combustible
liquids pose must be stressed. Workers need to know that flammable
and combustible liquid fires burn extremely hot and can produce copi-
ous amounts of dense black smoke. In addition, explosion hazards exist
under certain conditions in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces where
vapors can accumulate. A flame or spark can cause vapors to ignite, cre-
ating a flash fire with the terrible force of an explosion.