HS&E Operatives practice question: Fire prevention and response (2 of 7)
A. Working environment A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
Carpenters on your floor leave piles of timber offcuts and packaging lying around all week.
From a fire safety point of view, why should this waste be cleared away regularly?
Choose one answer.
AA. It stops the fire extinguishers on the floor from working
BB. It is only a fire risk if someone is smoking nearby
CC. It gives a fire fuel, so a fire would spread faster
DD. It makes the fire alarm harder to hear across the floor
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C
A. Wrong: Wrong. Waste doesn't stop an extinguisher working, though it must never block a fire point. The main problem is that the waste burns.
B. Wrong: Wrong. Smoking is one source of ignition, but there are many others, such as hot work, sparks from cutting, and electrical faults.
C. Right: Right. HSE says flammable waste such as packaging and timber offcuts should be cleared away regularly to reduce fire risks. A fire needs fuel, and waste piles give it plenty.
D. Wrong: Wrong. Waste piles don't affect how well an alarm can be heard. The fire risk comes from the waste being something that burns.
Explanation
Combustible waste is fuel for a fire. Clear it away regularly, store it in the right place, and keep it away from sources of ignition such as hot work.