FOCUS


Waste management Hazard identification


In order to prevent fires, it is normal to identify hazards; but with domestic waste collection vehicles discharging unseen loads of whatever people decide to put into wheelie bins and black bags, it is often the case that the first opportunity to identify a hazard is after it has made its presence felt in the form of fires. These can be caused by incorrect disposal of batteries, especially lithium ion; incorrect disposal of medical and other gas cylinders; or even hot ashes – the list is far in excess of many other industrial activities. To reduce spread of fire on site and between


sites, it is a requirement to have sufficient spacing between fire loads, buildings and perimeters. In addition, it is required that in the event of an incident, there will be clear space for the quarantining of materials to further prevent spread by physically moving some of the materials. As well as spacing between waste stacks, it


is necessary to limit the height of any stack. This may seem an easy solution, but many sites are too small to allow for this means of operation, and economics will demand making maximum possible use of a premises. To reduce the level of use by limiting the amount that can be stored is often a difficult issue. Recycling is still in its infancy in many areas: when a company proposes that it intends to build a plant to process a particular type of waste material, it is in an enviable start up scenario in that it knows what demand is likely to be before it begins. However, it is too easy to begin taking supplies of waste from clients. This is an easy revenue stream, in many cases enabling the construction of the site before it is ready to begin processing. This results in a build up of waste, which has on many occasions resulted in a fire of considerable size. In addition to this problem is identifying what will be done with the daily supply of waste if the site is unable to process for any period of time. This must be diverted to an alternative site to prevent build up, especially because if the reason for not being able to process waste is a fire, extra fuel should not be added!


Training opportunities


The CIWM Fire Safety on Waste Management Sites course is intended to prepare the Fire Prevention Plan required to achieve an Environment Agency permit. Run over two non consecutive days, the course ensures that the requirements of both the FSO and Environment Agency are met. The first day is FSO compliance,


while day two becomes waste specific, covering all issues that must be considered. An exercise involving the production of a Fire


Prevention Plan is part of this course. Candidates are presented with an actual site plan as well as all relevant information about the site and its environment, how it is accessed and managed, and what other risks are in close proximity to it. No business operates in isolation – the waste handling site may be the victim of a fire started nearby by an unrelated activity, and this must be protected against. Other topics covered in this element of the


course include: maximum stack height; stack dimensions; maximum time of storage before processing or turning; water supplies; detection and suppression systems; and maintenance of equipment and systems. People who attend these courses come from local authorities, fire and rescue services, waste companies and consultancies. This mix of personnel also introduces an opportunity for people to share knowledge and experience. The trainers on these second days have specific scientific competence in the industry, and are able to introduce aspects of this area of the market that are not to be found elsewhere


Phil Drage is associate trainer at the Fire Protection Association. For more information, view page 5


For further information on WISH Guide 28, go to www.wishforum.org.uk/?page_id=33


30 DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 www.frmjournal.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60