Fair warning

The act of lighting a cigarette is riskier
Editor, WorkSafe Magazine (Re: January/February issue, “What’s wrong with this photo?”)
With regard to the worker smoking while filling the gas tank of
a pressure-washer; naturally, smoking in the workplace is a
health hazard. There must be a half a dozen no-no’s in this
photo. But there’s no risk of ignition here.
The lit cigarette is simply not hot enough to ignite the gasoline
fumes, even at an ideal 14-to-1 ratio. The act of lighting the
cigarette would certainly provide a source, though: open flames
Blowback is a big concern during power-washing
Editor, WorkSafe Magazine (Re: January/February issue,
“What’s wrong with this photo?”)
• The hose is wrapped around the spraying worker’s ankle.
• The workers are not wearing proper footwear.
• The workers are not wearing safety glasses.
• Neither worker is wearing ear protection.
• The ladder is unsafe — it hasn’t been opened properly.
• The hose is wrapped around the ladder legs — it’s unsafe.
• Smoking is a fire and health hazard.
• Filling gas with the engine running is a fire hazard.
• They should be wearing waterproof, protective clothing.
• They should move the hose from the spray area to eliminate
unnecessary blowback.
• No cones or barricades are in place to mark off a safe work
area, away from vehicles and pedestrians.
• The spraying worker should not blow the spray towards the
other worker.
• The pouring worker should wear gloves when handling fuel,
in case of spillage.
• The worker shouldn’t be laying anything on an engine while
it’s running.
• The worker should be wearing gloves to protect his hands.
• The worker’s mask is not being worn — it’s hanging around
his neck. Is it the correct type?
and the sparks from flints are at a much higher temperature
than the ash end of a lit cigarette.
Peter Doherty
Firefighter
Campbell River Fire Rescue
Campbell River, B.C.
• Move the machine away from the spray.
• One worker has no head protection — he needs a hard hat.
• The other worker has improper head protection — he needs a
hard hat.
• The worker has no mask.
• Operating a pressure-washer from this type of ladder could
be unsafe, due to the push-back from the spray.
• Loose clothing is a hazard.
• Suds may be slippery — there is no warning or barricade for
pedestrians.
• One worker is reaching across the equipment. It’s better to
fill from the opposite side, closer to the tank. It avoids
spillage onto the muffler or engine.
• One worker has bad posture for lifting fuel. He should move
closer to the tank.
• This worker should use two hands to hold the can.
• The hose is a tripping hazard.
Garry Geisler
Project Manager
Entek Engineering Ltd.
Langley, B.C.
WorkSafe Magazine March / April 2013 7