GWASANAETH TÂN AC ACHUBCanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru
Mid and West WalesFIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Working together for a safer Wales
fire safetYon Boats
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 1 11/03/2013 08:49:31
2
Did you know?Alarms and detectors save lives• Onaverage,89firerelatedaccidentsandinjuriesoccuronboats
everyyear.• Firesonprivatelyownedboatskillatleastthreepeopleeveryyear.Thisleafletprovidestipsandadviceonhowtoprotectyourboatandcrewfromfire,andwhattodoshouldafirebreakout.
Fire can spread quickly on a boat, even on water. Alarms and detectors can help keep your crew safe.
Smoke alarms• Opticalsensoralarmswith
hushbuttonsand‘sealedforlife’batteriesarebestforboats.Visitwww.boatsafetyscheme.com/fireforadviceandguidance.
• Fitalarmsinplacesyouwillhearthemclearlyiftheygooff.
• Considerinstallinglinkedalarmsthatwillgooffatthesametime.
• Testthealarmwhenyouboard.Neverdisconnectitorremoveworkingbatteries.
Carbon monoxide (CO) and gas detectors• FitaCOdetectortoalert
youtoanypoisonouscarbonmonoxide.
• CheckyourdetectorissuitableformarineuseandmeetstheBS7860orEN50291standards.
• Fitabubbletypeleakdetectorinthegaslocker.
• Pushthedetectorbuttonroutinelytocheckforleaksinthegassystem.
• Lookoutforthese‘approved’symbolswhenbuyingalarmsanddetectors:
Fit alarms and detectors to stay safe
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 2 11/03/2013 08:49:32
3
Safe cooking and heatingTurn cooking appliances off properly after use.
• Neverleavecookingunattended.Turnthingsoffuntilyoucomeback.
• Beextracarefulwhencookingwithoil–itcancatchfire.
• Avoidcookingwhentired.Remember,prescriptiondrugsandalcoholcancausedrowsiness.
• Keepthecookingareaclean–abuild-upofgreasecouldstartafire.
• Asparkdevice(proprietarygas-lighter)isthesafestwaytolightastovewithoutitsownigniter.
• Standardbarbecuesshouldn’tbeusedonboats.
• Keepcabinventilationcleartopreventabuild-upoftoxicCO.
• Trytokeepfabricsawayfromcookinghobstopreventthemfromcatchingfire.
• Checkthefluesofcoalandwoodburningstovesforsignsofleaksandblockages.
• Onlyusethefuelrecommendedbytheheatermanufacturer.Othertypesmayburntoohot.
• Disposeofemberscarefully.Ifthey’restillwarmtheycouldcauseafireorbuild-upofCO.
• Ensureallhobshaveshut-offorisolationvalves.
Turn appliances off properly after use.
Did you know?Alarms and detectors save lives• Onaverage,89firerelatedaccidentsandinjuriesoccuronboats
everyyear.• Firesonprivatelyownedboatskillatleastthreepeopleeveryyear.Thisleafletprovidestipsandadviceonhowtoprotectyourboatandcrewfromfire,andwhattodoshouldafirebreakout.
Carbon monoxide (CO) and gas detectors• FitaCOdetectortoalert
youtoanypoisonouscarbonmonoxide.
• CheckyourdetectorissuitableformarineuseandmeetstheBS7860orEN50291standards.
• Fitabubbletypeleakdetectorinthegaslocker.
• Pushthedetectorbuttonroutinelytocheckforleaksinthegassystem.
• Lookoutforthese‘approved’symbolswhenbuyingalarmsanddetectors:
Fit alarms and detectors to stay safe
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 3 11/03/2013 08:49:32
4
Protecting the inside of your boat
Cigarettes Furnishings
Put cigarettes out properly.
Dispose of cigarettes carefully. Put them out, right out!
• Keepcigarettesorpipesawayfromanythingthatcouldcatchfire,suchascurtains.
• Neversmokewhenrefuellingorchangingagascylinder.
• Useaproperashtraythatwillstaystableontheboat.
• Avoidsmokingwhenyou’resleepytoavoidanaccident.
• Emptyashtraysregularly.Abuild-upofashcouldcatchfire.
• Trytochoosefurniturethatcarriesthefire-resistantlabel.
• Keepfabricsandpaperawayfromanythinghotlikehobs,fluesandlightbulbs.
• Heatfromlightbulbscancausefires.Energysavinglightbulbsdonotgetashotandarethereforesafer.
• Takeextracarewithlitcandles.Don’tleavethemunattended.
• Onlyusesecureholders,asarockingboatorsuddenjoltcouldtipcandlesover.
• Asnufferisthesafestwaytoputoutacandletoavoidsparksflying.
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 4 11/03/2013 08:49:32
5
Fuel and power safety
Maintain your boat’s engine and fuel systems regularly.
Make sure you check and maintain your boat’s fuel, gas and electrical systems on a regular basis.
Engine maintenance
• Don’tletoilordebrisbuild-upinthebilges.
• Inspectthelaggingofengineandheaterexhaustsfordamageanddeteriorationandnearbyitemsforheatdamageorcharring.
• Checkexhaustsystemsofinboardenginesforleaks.
• Checkforloosefueljoints,damagedfueltanksordeterioratinghoses.
Fuel safety
• Takecarewhenrefuelling.Putoutnakedflamesfirst.Turnofftheengineandcookingbeforehandlinganyfuel.
• Preventpetrolvapourfromenteringtheboatbyclosingthedoors,windowsorhatchesandclosingtheawning.
• Refueloutboardenginesandgeneratorswellawayfromtheboat.
• Leaks,spillsandvapourcanigniteeasily.Cleanthemupstraightawayandmakesurefillercapsaresecureafterrefuelling.
• Onlycarrysparepetrolifnecessaryandstoreitinaself-draininglockerondeck.
• Trytochoosefurniturethatcarriesthefire-resistantlabel.
• Keepfabricsandpaperawayfromanythinghotlikehobs,fluesandlightbulbs.
• Heatfromlightbulbscancausefires.Energysavinglightbulbsdonotgetashotandarethereforesafer.
• Takeextracarewithlitcandles.Don’tleavethemunattended.
• Onlyusesecureholders,asarockingboatorsuddenjoltcouldtipcandlesover.
• Asnufferisthesafestwaytoputoutacandletoavoidsparksflying.
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 5 11/03/2013 08:49:33
6
Fuel and power safety
Gas safety
• Ensuregasappliancesareinstalledandmaintainedroutinelybytrainedfitters.
• Neverrestrictairflowbyblockingventsorairgaps.
• Makesuregascylindersaresecureafterthey’vebeenchanged.Testforleakswithdetectionfluid.
• Wheneverpossible,turngasvalvesoffbeforeyougotobedorleavetheboat.
• Replacegashosesshowingsignsofcracking,brittlenessordiscolouration.
• Storegascylindersoutside,inaself-drainingandfireresistantlocker.Keepthemuprightandsecuredfrommoving.
Electrics
• CheckfortheBritishorEuropeansafetymarkwhenbuyingelectricalgoods.
• Useatrainedmarineelectriciantoinstallandserviceelectrics.
• Don’toverloadadaptors.Keeptooneplugpersocket.Usetherightfuseorcircuitbreakertoavoidoverheating.
• Unplugapplianceswhenthey’renotinuseorwhenyouleavetheboat.
• Damagedwirescanoverheatrapidly,solookoutforscorchmarksorburningsmells.
• Takeextracarewhenreinstallingtheboat’sbatteries.Checkstrapsorrestraintsaresecureafterwards.
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 6 11/03/2013 08:49:33
7
Have an emergency plan
Make an emergency plan with everyone on board before you set out.
• Makesurepeopleknowhowtocloseemergencyvalvesandswitchesincaseoffire.
• Keepatorcheasilyavailabletohelpyouescapeatnight.Makesureyouhavesparesandtestthemregularly.
• Don’tgotoseawithoutaVHFradio.Haveacharged-up,handheld,waterproofonereadyforuseatanytime.
• Don’trelyonamobilephone.Therecouldbenosignalanditmaynotbewaterproof.
• Haveenoughlifejacketsforeveryoneonboard,andkeepthemingoodcondition.
• Keepexitsclearandkeystohand.Don’tlockorboltdoorsandhatchesfromtheoutside.
• Trackyourlocationsoyoucantelltheemergencyserviceswhereyouareifneeded.
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 7 11/03/2013 08:49:34
8
What to do if there’s a fire
• Donotenterasmokefilledspace.
• Ifyouarealreadyinasmokefilledspacekeeplowdownwheretheairisclearer.
• Ifyouneedtobreakglasstoescapeuseablankettopreventinjury.
• Starvethefireofair.Don’topenenginehatchesordoorsunlessyouhaveto.
Inland fires
• Ifyouareinlandormooredneartolandmoveeverybodyofftheboatandcall999immediately.
Fires at sea
• Ifyouareoff-shoremoveasfarawayfromthefireasyoucanondeck.Geteverybodyintolifejackets.
• TakeahandheldVHFradioondeckwithyoutocallforhelp.
• NotifytheCoastguardbyradio,makeaMaydaycalland/ordisplayadistresssignal.
Get out, stay out and wait for the fire service.
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 8 11/03/2013 08:49:34
9
Fire blankets and extinguishers
Familiarise yourself with how to use any extinguishers on board. Always read instructions before use.
• Onlytackleafirewithanextinguisherifyouareconfidenthowtouseit.Ifindoubt,evacuatetheboat.
• Keepfireblanketsandextinguisherswithineasyreach,closetoexitsandriskpoints,suchasthegalleyandenginearea.
• Checkextinguishersonaregularbasisforseriousdents,leaksandlossofpressure.
• Checkthepinandfiringmechanismforanysignsofproblemsorweaknesses.
• Checkthedatesonextinguishersandfireblanketsandserviceorreplacethemasrecommendedbytheinstructions.
• Onlychooseextinguishersthatcarryrecognisedapprovalmarkssuchasthese:
Always read instructions.
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 9 11/03/2013 08:49:35
Further information • Formoreinformationon
boatfiresafetyandroutinesafetychecksvisitwww.boatsafetyscheme.com
• Formoreinformationoncarbonmonoxidedetectorsvisitwww.hse.gov.uk
• ForinformationonsearegulationsandemergenciesatseavisittheMaritimeandCoastguardAgencyatwww.mcga.gov.uk
• Foradvice,emergencyequipmentchecksandemergencyrescueinformationcontactRoyalNationalLifeboatInstituteatwww.rnli.org.uk
• Forinformationaboutpastincidentswithlessonslearnt,andforreportingaccidentsseeMarineAccidentInvestigationBranchatwww.maib.gov.uk
Boating advice
• Forboatbuildersandservice
engineerscontacttheBritishMarineFederationwww.britishmarine.co.uk
• Foradviceonnavigation,boathandlingandemergencytrainingcontacttheRoyalYachtingAssociationwww.rya.org.uk
General fire safety
• ContactyourlocalFireandRescueServiceforfreeadvice.Youwillfindtheirnumberinthelocalphonebook.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewww.southwales-fire.gov.ukMid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewww.mawwfire.gov.ukNorth Wales Fire and Rescue Servicewww.nwales-fireservice.org.uk
Formoresafetyleafletspleasevisit:
www.freesmokealarm.co.uk
J/N7328-V1.0-2013
10
Fire Safety on Boats.indd 10 11/03/2013 08:49:35