NEAFC 31st Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
for fire hazards, inspection and supervision of welding and cutting and other special
l~azard operations, etc.
Although all the duties and responsibilities o.f Plant Protection Fire Departmeri~ ~
personnel are too numerous to fully cover at this time, we.hope it may be of interest t?_
give an account of their control of welding, cutting, and other open flame operations.
This is o.ne of their most important and engrossing duties and responsibilities, a’g-a ~ -minimum
of 18,000 open flame operations are conducted annually in this plant.
The term "open flame operations" applies to the use of portable welding, cutting;
brazing, and soldering equipment, gas furnaces and torches, tar kettles, or any other
types of open flame producing equipment, in other than locatie.ns where production
processes require their permanent use~ and which have been made safe for these operations.
The use of portable open flame equipment in any plant can create potentially
serious fire andi safety hazards. For these reasons, the use of any type of open flame
equipment is not permitted in e.r on the property of United Aircraft Corporation
plants, except in locations where production processes require their permanent use,.
without authorization by the Plant Protection Fire Department. A. permit must be
obtained for each p~rticular job from the Plant Pr.0.tection Fire Department Headquarters.
Such work is not permitted in any area where the fire service system for
hose lines or for automatic sprinklers is out of service.
Contractors, or plant employees, must obtain permits signed by the Fire Department
officer-in-charge or his assistant, before engaging in. work of this nature. Advance
notice must be given when any work is contemplated at night or on a Sunday
or holiday, to insure the presence of Fire Deparement personnel as required: The~
nature c,f the work and the location must be described to assist the Fire Departmdnt’s
inspection.
Work permit forms are available ~t the Fire Department Headquarters in each
plant. When issued, the original copy is given to the person who is to per_form the
work andi the duplicate copy is retained in Fire Headquarters. The workmen performing
the job for which a permit has been issued must have the permit available forinspection.
After work is completed cn any job, tlae original of the permit bearing ~he
notation that the work has been completed, must be returned for file to Fire Depa)tment
Headquarters.
Permits are valid only for the date issued. Any work requiring more time to,,com- "
plete will require a new permit from Fire Headquarters for each subse_quent day; i.e.,
duration permits will not be issued.
When a permit is requested, the Fire Department shall inspect the propcsed operation
and work area to determine possible fire hazards. Where conditions are unfavorable,
measures must be taken to safeguard property before authorizing the work despite any
work slow-down. When in doubt, Fire Headquarters personnel shall notify the Fire
Department officer-in-charge.
Adequate precauticns must be taken and protection equipment made available
before any work with open-flame producing equipment will be permitted. At least
one fireman or other authorized person with proper fire extinguishing equipment, must ....
be in a position, to see that no sparks or hc.t molten metal, lodge in floor cracks;~pass’:~’ ~
through any openings in floors, walls, or partitions, such as doors, windows, or pipe
holes, or pass around asbestos curtains, sheet metal curtains, or cther non-combustible
guards protecting combustible materials. Such watch supervision shall be maintained
109