Heating Equipment

Heating Equipment

Temporary or makeshift devices for keeping warm appear around outside work areas when cold weather sets in. The simplest type of heater is a discarded oil drum with one end removed in which scrap lumber is burned. As the rate of burning cannot be controlled, these should be used only to burn trash away from buildings and equipment.

Kerosene fired salamanders are often used. The Problems here are:

1. The stack may reach very high temperatures and a guard is needed to protect men from contacting the stack.

2. The heaters may be overturned with the flaming kerosene splashing onto workmen or flowing onto flammable materials.

3. Attempting to re-light a recently extinguished kerosene salamander may easily cause an explosion of kerosene vapors in the flue since the flash point of the kerosene is 100F and the flue temperature may easily be above this level.

4. Kerosene salamanders should be cleaned daily to prevent a build-up of carbon which may retain heat and cause ignition during refueling.

5. LP. Gas heaters can cause explosions if the flame accidentally goes out and the gas travels over to be ignited by another heater.

Workers around such heaters are exposed to serious burns, particularly if they wear oil soaked clothing.

To prevent fires and injury:

1. Secure salamanders to prevent them from tipping.

2. Use salamanders only in areas free from flammable materials.

3. Tie down tarps that might blow into contact with the salamander.

4. Have fire extinguishing equipment available.