Fire Prevention & Safety

To protect its employees, contractors, and visitors, along with properties and assets, Dow Aero (“Company”) has developed the following Fire Prevention and Safety Program to limit the potential danger and damaging effects of fire. With this program, the Company has provided resources and guidance to reduce the risk of fire for:

  • Potential injury or death of an employee, contractor, visitor, or surrounding members within the communities we do business with;

  • Property damage to a Company facility, job site, vehicle, or other equipment; and

  • Significant productivity impacts and job loss due to damaged facilities, vehicles, and/or equipment.

The Fire Prevention and Safety Program purpose is to identify and control fire hazards, while remaining in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Rule 29 CFR Part 1910.155, 1910.157, 1910.159, 1910.160, 1910.165 and other applicable and supporting rule(s).

Types of Fires

Fires are classified according to the type of fuel or material being burned, as identified below:

  • Class A

    • Cloth

    • Paper

    • Wood

  • Class B

    • Gases

    • Grease

    • Liquids

  • Class C

    • Live electrical equipment; or

    • Materials near electrical equipment.

  • Class D

    • Combustible metals

      • e.g. magnesium, potassium, sodium, or zirconium.

Avoidable Ignition Sources

Eliminate all non-essential ignition sources where flammable materials are used or stored. Examples of ignition sources include:

  • Open flames (such as welding and cutting torches, furnaces, matches, and heaters) near operations that have flammable materials.

  • Cutting or welding equipment that contains flammable liquids without first being emptied and purged.

  • Chemical ignition sources (e.g. DC motors, switches, and circuit breakers) in areas where flammable materials are stored or handled.

  • Use of sparking tools in areas where flammables are stored or handled.

  • Static sparks — caused by electron transfers between two contacting surfaces — in flammable storage or handling areas.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

To provide aid for trained employee’s who may voluntarily attempt to extinguish a fire, the Company strategically provides portable fire extinguishers where appropriate and required within our facilities and applicable job sites. While a portable fire extinguisher used by a trained individual may be very effective at fighting small, contained fires and can potentially save both lives and limit property damage, it is important that the following steps first occur, or concurrently, before any attempt to extinguish a fire is made:

  • Provide notice to evacuate the facility or job site through an appropriate means of communication, or with the use of a fire alarm (if available).

    • Also attempt to notify your manager or supervisor, Department Lead, along with the Company’s Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) department personnel as soon as possible.

  • Call 911 if appropriate.

Portable fire extinguishers may be available in areas where other firefighting measures exist. For extinguishers to be effective in a fire, the following are essential:

  • Accessibility;

  • Proper selection; and

  • Routine inspections and maintenance.

This resource has been developed in an effort for the Company to maintain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Rule 29 CFR Part 1910.157 and supporting rule(s).

Inspections

Monthly Inspections

Portable fire extinguishers are to be inspected each month, within the first ten (10) calendar days. Inspections shall be performed via the Portable Fire Extinguisher Inspection - Monthly template available within iAuditor.

Inspections may be performed by any work area/site manager or immediate supervisor, Department Lead, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department personnel, or other appropriately assigned designee. The periodic inspection and monitoring of the fire extinguishers should include an evaluation for the following items, at minimum:

  • Validate within designated location;

    • Check the label on both the portable fire extinguisher’s casing and it’s mounted base to confirm correct location.

  • Affirm adequate signage is available;

  • Certify unobstructed access and visibility;

  • Guarantee the operating instructions on the nameplate are legible and face outward;

  • Confirm that there is no obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage, or clogged nozzle;

  • Check for broken or missing safety seals and tamper indicators;

  • Examine pressure gauges show readings or indications that are within the operable range;

  • Verify the annual inspection tag is current; and

  • Attest that monthly inspections to-date have been recorded on the portable fire extinguisher’s inspection tag.

If any deficiencies are found during an inspection, record any findings in iAuditor and ensure Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) department personnel are made aware of any necessary corrective action.

Annual Inspections

The Company has annual portable fire extinguisher maintenance services performed by the following provider:

Noble Fire & Safety
7311 Rutherford Road
Noble, OK 73068

1.405.201.0018 | Phone

While the service is completed by the provider identified immediately above, a Company inspection record shall also be prepared using the Portable Fire Extinguishers Annual Inspection Report available within iAuditor. This inspection may be performed by the Company’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department personnel or other appropriately assigned designee.

Issues

To report a problem with a portable fire extinguisher, please contact the Company’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department. Problems with portable fire extinguishers are usually in the form of:

  • Improper pressure; or

  • Discharged extinguisher.

Labeling

Any Company-owned portable fire extinguisher within a facility or job site shall be labeled in accordance with a naming convention that should appear similar to the following:

FE-####

Labeling shall be placed on both the portable fire extinguisher’s casing and it’s mounted base to aid in the prevention of a misplaced extinguisher.

Changes

Should a portable fire extinguisher need to be added, removed, or relocated please advise the Company's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department before taking any action as numerous considerations shall need to be made, due to strict regulatory requirements regarding portable fire extinguishers.

Training

Employees are not required to use a portable fire extinguisher. Training is available to employees interested in learning how to properly use a portable fire extinguisher on a voluntary basis.

Only employees who have been trained on the proper use of portable fire extinguishers, safe fire-fighting techniques, and appropriate Company policies and procedures can voluntarily attempt to fight a small, contained fire when there is a safe means of escape.

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