Fire Safety in TB Lab Settings

For a fire to start, three components of the triangle namely: Fuel, Oxygen and Ignition sources need to come together (Figure).

Figure: Components that cause a fire on coming together

• Fire will not start if any one of these components is missing.
• The laboratory personnel should ensure these three components will not come together, to reduce the chance of fire in the laboratory.
• Engineering controls and a variety of fire prevention and suppression strategies should be part of laboratory safety protocols.

Common Causes of Fires in TB Laboratories 

• Electrical circuit overloading
• Poor electrical maintenance, e.g., poor and perished cable insulation
• Excessively long gas tubing or long electrical leads
• Equipment unnecessarily left switched on
• Equipment that was not designed for the laboratory environment
• Open flames
• Deteriorated gas tubing
• Improper handling and storage of flammable or explosive materials
• Improper segregation of incompatible chemicals
• Sparking equipment near flammable substances and vapours
• Improper or inadequate ventilation

Considerations for Fire Safety

• Close cooperation between safety officers and local fire prevention officers is essential.
• The effect of fire on the possible dissemination of infectious material must be considered as this may determine whether it is best to extinguish or contain the fire.
• Fire warnings, instructions and escape routes should be displayed prominently in rooms, corridors and hallways.
• Fire-fighting equipment should be placed near room doors and at strategic points in corridors and hallways.
• Fire extinguishers should be regularly inspected and maintained, and their shelf-life kept up to date.

General Measures to Handle Fire in the Laboratory

• All lab personnel must learn how to operate a fire extinguisher.
• Fire extinguisher must be inspected annually and replaced as needed.
• Laboratory should have appropriate class of fire extinguisher.
• In general Class BC or class ABC extinguisher is appropriate.
• The contact information for reaching out to the fire department, should be posted at various locations in the lab.

Table: Types and Uses of Fire Extinguishers

Prevention of Fire due to Electrical Hazards  

1. Electrical installations and equipment should be inspected and tested regularly, including earthing/ grounding systems.
2. Circuit-breakers and earth-fault-interrupters should be installed in appropriate laboratory electrical circuits.
3. Circuit-breakers do not protect people; they are intended to protect wiring from being overloaded with electrical current, and hence to prevent fires. 
4. Earth-fault-interrupters are intended to protect people from electric shock.
5. All laboratory electrical equipment should be earthed/ grounded, preferably through three-prong plugs.
6. All laboratory electrical equipment and wiring should conform to national electrical safety standards and codes.

Resources

• World Health Organization Lab Safety Manual, 3rd edition.

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