CELL PHONE RESULTED IN FIRE

CELL PHONE RESULTED IN FIRE

 
Recently, a flash fire occurred on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region while a contract panel specialist was working on an open panel that used supply gas for the instrumentation. The contractor was carrying a cellular phone that was turned on and rang while working on the panel. When the employee flipped the bottom piece of the phone to answer the call, a flash fire occurred causing second degree burns on his forearms and face.

To prevent portable electronic devices (PEDs) from igniting Class I, Group D gases or vapors (e.g. methane, propane, natural gas, gasoline), the MMS recommends you consider initiating one or more of the following practices:

• Include procedures for using PEDs in your "hot work" permit, if not already incorporated.

• Make employees aware of the potential hazards when using electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, laptop computers, drills, pocket PC’s, cameras, video equipment, and radios) in hazardous classified locations.

• Only allow employees to use PEDs that have been tested, approved and labeled by a third party testing laboratory such as Factory Mutual (FM) or Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certifying their use in Class I, Group D locations.

• Use intrinsically safe portable electronic equipment, that use low capacitance components, special board layouts, and encapsulation techniques which meet stringent standards (e.g., API RP 14F & 14FZ) for use in hazardous environments.