Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

and other emergencies such as gas leaks, power
failure, flooding and water damage, damage to
building or display cases should be documented
and thoroughly disseminated. Accidents and
incidents that do occur must also be documented.
Thinking about what may have caused
an accident or incident and how could it have
been prevented may help to reduce the risk of
future occurrences. Write down your thoughts
and decide what actions need to be taken now
or in the future. Record what you have done
and tell everyone else you work with.
Fire prevention
For a fire to start there must be a supply of
fuel, a supply of heat energy and oxygen. You
can help to prevent fire from starting by checking
the work area carefully before you leave:
• Turn off all heat sources that can be turned
off
• Ensure that no heat source is left near combustible
material
• Do not overload electrical wall sockets (one
plug per socket)
• Unplug all electrical appliances
• Turn off lights
• Close all doors and windows.
Fire precautions
It is important for everyone to know what to
do if a fire breaks out. Each organization
should develop its own procedures which will
identify: how to prevent fire; the precautions to
be taken in the event of fire; what to do in the
event of fire; the alarm sequence and what to
do on hearing the alarm; escape routes from
the building; evacuation procedures; special
responsibilities for particular individuals. In
general, all staff should:
• Know the fire procedures
• Keep all fire doors closed
• Know the location of the nearest fire alarm
call point
• Know the location of the nearest fire fighting
equipment
• Know alternative escape routes.
On discovering a fire, staff should know how to:
• Raise the alarm – e.g. by breaking the glass
of the nearest fire alarm call point and/or
by shouting ‘Fire’ to summon assistance
and warn others in the vicinity
Conservation preliminaries 431
• Attack the fire if possible to do so without
danger but taking care to use the correct
type of extinguisher. Dry powder extinguishers
may be used on all types of fire.
Water extinguishers are suitable for general
use but must not be used on live electrical
apparatus or solvent fires. Foam-based
extinguishers must not be used on live electrical
apparatus, solvent fires, paintings or
textile objects. Carbon dioxide extinguishers
are best used for flammable liquid and
electrical fires
• Restrict the spread of fire and smoke by
closing doors and windows
• Leave the vicinity of the fire or the building
if necessary by the normal routes if usable
or by the emergency fire exits which are
marked.
Chemical spills
Procedures for dealing with chemical spills are
given for individual substances and chemicals
in Croners Spillage Guide. The first step is normally
to attempt to absorb the spill onto inert
material. Spillage absorption granules should be
kept wherever solvents are stored and
decanted. For major spills the area should be
evacuated immediately and management
informed. In the presence of flammable spills,
staff should know not to operate electrical
equipment.
9.7.13 Further information on health
and safety
In addition to references cited in the text, information
is given in the following publications:
• Essentials of Health and Safety at Work,
HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 0716X
• Management of Health and Safety at Work:
Approved Codes of Practice, HSE Books,
L21, 1992, ISBN 0 7176 0412 8
• General CoSHH ACOP (Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health Regulations
1994), HSE Books, L5, ISBN 0 7176 0819 0
• Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare:
Approved Code of Practice, HSE Books
• Work Equipment: Guidance on Regulations
• Personal Protection Equipment at Work:
Guidance on Regulations, HSE Books, L25,
1992 ISBN 0 7176 0415 2