Statement of Policy Fire Extinguisher Use Policy #: SMS-041 Controlling Office: Director of Health, Safety, Education and Training Effective Date: May 1, 2013 Applies to CAMTS: Ninth Edition 04.02.01-E Last Review: January 1, 2016 Policy LifeMed Alaska will ensure that potential fire hazards within our facilities and vehicles are evaluated. This Health, Safety, Environmental and Training Plan is intended to address the safety needs of employees and to comprehensively address the issues of evaluating and identifying potential fire hazards, providing firefighting equipment and providing training concerning these hazards to employees. Responsibility: The Line Supervisor is solely responsible for implementation of all facets of this program and has full authority to make necessary decisions to ensure success of the program. The Director of Health, Safety, Environmental and Training is the only person authorized to amend these instructions. LifeMed Alaska has expressly authorized any employee to halt any operation of the company where there is unnecessary exposure to hazards. Written Program LifeMed will review and evaluate this Health, Safety, Environmental and Training Plan: On an annual basis When changes occur to 29 CFR 1910.157 that prompt revision of this document When facility operational changes occur that require a revision of this document When there is an accident or close-call that relates to this area of safety Any time these procedures fail Effective implementation of this program requires support from all levels of management within this company. This written program will be communicated to all personnel that are affected by it. It encompasses the total workplace, regardless of the number of workers employed or the number of work shifts. It is designed to establish clear goals and objectives. Selection and Distribution Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided for employee use and selected and distributed based on the classes of anticipated workplace fires, and on the size and degree of hazard which would affect their use. Class A Fires. Class A fires are classed as ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as: wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics. Portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class A fires will be distributed so that the travel distance for employees to any extinguisher is 75 feet (22.9 m) or less. Class B Fires. Class B fires are classed as flammable or combustible liquids, such as: gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane. Portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class B fires will be distributed so that the travel distance from the Class B hazard area to any extinguisher is 50 feet (15.2 m) or less. Page 1 of 5
Class C Fires. Class C fires are classed as energized electrical equipment, such as: appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools. Portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class C fires will be distributed so that the travel distance from the Class C hazard area to any extinguishing agent is 50 feet (15.2 m) or less. Class D Fires. Class D fires are classed as certain combustible metals, such as: magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. Portable fire extinguishers or other containers of Class D extinguishing agent used by employees will be distributed so that the travel distance from the combustible metal working area to any extinguishing agent is 75 feet (22.9 m) or less. Labeling Of Fire Extinguishers All fire extinguishers used by this company will be labeled in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. Locations where fire extinguishers are mounted will also comply with NFPA 10 for labeling purposes. General Requirements LifeMed has provided portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the event of an incipient fire. All fire extinguishers shall be mounted with the top of the extinguisher no higher than five (5) feet from the floor and the base of the extinguisher no lower than four (4) inches from the floor. The following key personnel have specific responsibilities: Director of Health, Safety, Environmental and Training Manage the Fire Extinguisher Program Schedule the proper training for employees Update the program when necessary Record and maintain training records Ensure monthly/annual inspections are being conducted Replace used and damaged fire extinguisher Division and First Line Supervisors Ensure all fire extinguishers are accessible Ensure employees are aware of where extinguishers are located Make sure extinguishers are clean and are free from obstructions Report to the Director of Health, Safety, Environmental and Training that a fire extinguisher has been used or damaged Inspection, Maintenance and Testing LifeMed is responsible for the inspection, maintenance and testing for all fire extinguishers on the premises. All fire extinguishers are subject to the following: Monthly visual inspections Annual maintenance check Six (6) year tear down maintenance 12 year hydrostatic test Extinguishers are promptly recharged Extinguishers are compatible Monthly Inspections Page 2 of 5
Portable extinguishers or hoses used in lieu thereof will be visually inspected monthly and documented. Items identified monthly will include: Numbered to identify their proper location Fully charged and in operable condition Clean and free of defects Readily accessible at all times Annual Maintenance Check Portable fire extinguishers will be subjected to an annual maintenance check and documented. This employer shall record the annual maintenance date and retain this record for one year after the last entry or the life of the shell, whichever is less. Hydrostatic Testing This employer shall assure that hydrostatic testing is performed by trained persons with suitable testing equipment and facilities. Alternate equivalent protection will be provided when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging. Test Records This employer shall maintain and provide upon request, evidence that the required hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers has been performed at the time intervals shown in Table 1. Such evidence shall be in the form of a certification record which includes the date of the test, the signature of the person who performed the test and the serial number, or other identifier, of the fire extinguisher that was tested. Such records shall be kept until the extinguisher is hydrostatically retested at the time interval specified in Table 1 or until the extinguisher is taken out of service, whichever comes first. Dry Chemical Extinguishers This employer shall assure that stored pressure dry chemical extinguishers that require a 12 year hydrostatic test are emptied and subjected to applicable maintenance procedures every six (6) years. Dry chemical extinguishers having non-refillable disposable containers are exempt from this requirement. When recharging or hydrostatic testing is performed, the six (6) year requirement begins from that date. In addition to an external visual examination, an internal examination of cylinders and shells will be made prior to being tested or subjected to hydrostatic tests. Portable extinguishers will be hydrostatically tested at the intervals listed in Table 1, except under any of the following conditions: When the unit has been repaired by soldering, welding, brazing or use of patching compounds When the cylinder or shell threads are damaged When there is corrosion that has caused pitting, including corrosion under removable name plate assemblies When the extinguisher has been burned in a fire When a calcium chloride extinguishing agent has been used in a stainless steel shell Table 1 Type of Extinguishers Test Interval (years) Page 3 of 5
Training and Education Cartridge operated water and/or antifreeze 5 Stored pressure water and/or antifreeze 5 Wetting agent 5 Foam (stainless steel shell) 5 Aqueous Film Forming foam (AFFF) 5 Loaded stream 5 Dry chemical with stainless steel 5 Carbon dioxide 5 Dry chemical, stored pressure, with mild steel, brazed brass or aluminum shells 12 Dry chemical, cartridge or cylinder operated, with mild steel shells 12 Halon 1211 12 Halon 1301 12 Dry powder, cartridge or cylinder operated with mild steel shells 12 The purpose of this section is to establish training procedures which are necessary for the proper use and understanding of a fire and extinguishing the fire. Selected employees will be provided with an educational program to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage firefighting. Training will require annual updating to ensure the proper procedures are being followed. Initial Training Outline Retraining General principles of a fire Hazards employed with an incipient stage fire When to "back off" (evacuate) of an incipient stage fire General fire principles of a fire extinguisher Hazards employed with the use a fire extinguisher Retraining shall reestablish employee proficiency and introduce new or revised control methods and procedures, as necessary. Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever there is: Training Documentation A change in job assignment A change in machines, equipment or processes that present a new potential fire hazard There is a change in the fire prevention procedures This employer has reason to believe that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of fire extinguishers or fire prevention procedures Documentation will consist of, as a minimum, the employee's name, the trainer's name, the date of the training, and an outline of training provided. Certification This employer shall certify that employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up to date. Page 4 of 5
LifeMed Ground Ambulance Policy All LifeMed Ground Ambulance employees are to be aware of the location, procedure and use of fire extinguishers on the ambulance in the event of a fire onboard. There shall be fire extinguishers located inside the ambulance within easy access of crew for use while the vehicle is both at rest and in motion. There will be one located in the driving cabin as well as in the rear section of the ambulance as well as an exterior compartment. In the event of a fire while the vehicle is at rest, the crew should ensure that there are no occupants on board the ambulance, and if there are occupants, they should be evacuated immediately. If a fire extinguisher is easily accessible without subjecting the crew member to harm, it should be used. The fire department should be notified and additional resources should be sent if necessary. In the event of a fire while the vehicle is in motion, the driver is to stop the ambulance as soon as is safely possible and the ambulance must be evacuated. If a fire extinguisher is easily accessible without subjecting the crew member to harm, it should be used. The fire department should be notified and additional resources should be sent if necessary. In all such events, occupants and bystanders should be kept at a safe distance from the ambulance. If there was a patient onboard, an additional MICU should be dispatched to assume care of the patient. LifeMed Flight Policy All LifeMed Flight employees are to be aware of the location, procedure and use of fire extinguishers on the aircraft in the event of a fire onboard. Employees will be familiar with any aircraft s fire extinguishing equipment and capabilities that they enter by being briefed by the pilot-in-command. In the event of a fire while the aircraft is at rest, the crew member should ensure that there are no occupants on board the aircraft, and if there are occupants, they should be evacuated immediately. If a fire extinguisher is easily accessible without subjecting the employee to harm, it should be used. The fire department should be notified and additional resources should be sent if necessary. In the event of a fire while the aircraft is in motion, the pilot is to begin the emergency decent procedure as soon as is safely possible and the aircraft must be evacuated. If a fire extinguisher is easily accessible without subjecting the employee to harm, it should be used. The fire department should be notified and additional resources should be sent if necessary. In all such events, occupants and bystanders should be kept at a safe distance from the aircraft. If there was a patient onboard, an additional crew member should be dispatched to assume care of the patient. LifeMed Crew Quarters Policy All LifeMed employees are to be aware of the location, procedure and use of fire extinguishers on any LifeMed premises. There shall be appropriate fire extinguishers located within easy reach of all cooking areas, garages, hangars, sleeping areas, etc. Revision History Original: March 12, 2012 David Farris and Cody Allen Revised: April 13, 2013 Brian Heaslet Expanded beyond Ground Ambulance Policy to include entire organization Revised: June 11, 2014 Brian Heaslet Wheelchair Ops. Removed Revised: July 27, 2015 Brian Heaslet Designated SMS Policy (Previously OPS-055) Reviewed: January 1, 2016 Policy Review Workgroup Page 5 of 5