Fire safety guidelines and risk management for working machines
The prevention of fires, correct fire extinguishing solutions and careful maintenance decrease the risk of fire and ensure a safe working environment.Prevention decreases risks
Preventive maintenance and inspections help prevent electrical faults, fuel leaks and other risks of fire.
Correct fire extinguishing equipment prevents the damage from spreading
Hand-held fire extinguishers and fixed fire extinguishing systems improve your company's fire safety and enable appropriate actions in case of fire.
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The fire safety of working machines – how to avoid accidents?
Ensure fire safety by inspecting the machines regularly. Maintenance and inspections must be regular and include an assessment of fire risks. As an example, the hoses and electrical wiring of a swivel joint must be inspected weekly, and the joint needs to be kept clean of rocks and branches that could damage the hoses or cause mechanical damage.
Cable connections must be implemented correctly, and the fastenings must withstand high temperatures and vibrations. Cables must never be attached to pipes or hoses that contain a flammable substance because a potential short circuit could cause a fire. It is important to use high-quality spare parts for working machines, designed for the machine in question.
With these methods, you can considerably decrease the risk of fire:
- Inspect electrical equipment. The regular inspection of working machines ensures that there is no wear or damage in the cables. Batteries must be attached correctly and their surroundings must be properly ventilated. Cables must be inspected frequently, and all cables must have protective tubes. Wiring harnesses must be protected against wear, and their connections must be inspected. The alternator must be well attached, and the belt tension must be correct.
- Keep the engine compartment clean. Ensure cleanliness, because dirt, grease and dust can easily ignite on hot parts.
- Carry out maintenance for fuel systems. Check that there are no leaks in the hoses or connections.
- The exhaust piping system must be airtight, and heat shields must be in place. The diesel particulate filter may cause problems if it is not handled correctly. During regeneration, it is important to ensure that the machine is in a safe place with no flammable materials.
- Ensure that fire extinguishers are available. Fire extinguishers are the primary means to prevent a fire from spreading. Remember to inspect the fire extinguishers regularly.
The training of employees is a part of fire safety. It is important for everyone who uses the machines to know how to prevent a fire and how to act in a case of an emergency. Correct ways of working decrease risks and improve the safety of employees and the worksite.
The operating instructions must be followed even with minor disturbances.
Fire prevention and extinguishing systems
Prevention is the primary means of fire protection, but you also need to prepare for situations where a fire occurs.
Every working machine that weighs more than 3,000 kg should have at least two easily available, frost-proof hand-held fire extinguishers (34A233B).
In particularly risky working environments, such as sawmills and power plants, fixed fire extinguishing systems are required that automatically react to a fire and suppress it before it spreads.
Inspection and cleaning of the engine compartment of a working machine is particularly important under conditions that involve dust or other fire hazards. Liquids and leaks create a fire hazard. Therefore, detecting fuel, oil and hydraulic oil leaks is a central part of fire safety.
Ensure the effective operation of the fire extinguishing equipment through regular inspections. Hand-held fire extinguishers must be in working order and serviced at least once a year. Fixed fire extinguishing systems must be tested and serviced as instructed by the manufacturer.
