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Health and Safety Assignment

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Added on  2020-04-29

Health and Safety Assignment

   Added on 2020-04-29

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Health and Safety and Risk 1
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND RISK
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date
Health and  Safety Assignment_1
Health and Safety and Risk 2
Aircraft Fire Hazards
Identification of the hazard
Not all the crashes in aircrafts result into fire. The roles and responsibilities of the firefighting
department do not come to a halt when fire does not occur. It is important to take note of any
serious potential or even actual fire that may need to be done away with or its effects reduced as
soon as possible (Administration 2016, p. 564). Fires in aircrafts are mostly brought about by
spillages of fuel from the engine and the greater the damage that occurs to the aircraft during a
crash, the higher the chances of spillage of fuel. Fuel vapors can be ignited by a hot part of the
engine or even a spark that may result into a full-fledged fire that may consume the whole
aircraft and the passengers or goods aboard. It is for this reason that it is fundamentally important
to the aircraft operators to take the most precautionary measures that would thwart ignition of
fire hazards (Bier 2013, p. 236).
Detailing of the Hazard
Aviation gasoline, oxygen systems, jet fuels and hydraulic fluids are among the flammable, fire
accelerating and hazardous substances of fire hazards origin (Frolov 2016, p. 458). Whereas
aviation gasoline spreads at the rate of 700 and 800 feet per minute when on flames, jet fuels JP-
5 fuel which is a compound of kerosene and gasoline spreads flame at the rate of about 750 feet
per minute. JP-5, another jet fuel spreads flames at the rate of 100 feet per minute and has a flash
point of 60C.
There are four types of aircraft fires among them engine fires, cabin fires, hidden fires and
electrical fires (Granot 2012, p. 369). Engine fires occur at the engine of the aircraft and are
most easily noticeable and contained by the suppression systems and the fire detection
Health and  Safety Assignment_2
Health and Safety and Risk 3
department of the aircraft team. However, under certain circumstances for example in the case of
an explosion that leads to breakage of the turbine, the onboard systems of the aircraft may not
manage to contain the fire thereby spreading to the other parts of the aircraft like the fuselage
and/or the wing. Chances are that an engine fire can reignite even after it has successfully been
contained and eliminated. It is for this reason that the pilot is advised to land as soon as an engine
fire is detected so that the fire crews can examine the engine to ascertain safety (Gunnink 2011,
p. 562).
Hidden fires are detectable using onboard firefighting tools and equipment or by the crew or
passengers who make detect fumes or smoke. Other indicators of hidden fire include a hot spot
on the floor or wall or an abnormal electrical malfunction especially in cases where the systems
are not related (Favorsky 2012, p. 458). Hidden fires are the most dangerous of the aircraft
fires because they are not easily locatable and accessible for ease of containing them. The time
taken in locating the fire may be long enough that may lead to significant damage to the aircraft.
Another reason for the dangerous nature of hidden fires is the difficulty in the confirmation by
the pilot leading to delay in the initiation of the landing process. The result of such delays would
be the fire becoming not survivable before the aircraft can successfully land.
Cabin fires are fires within the cabin of the aircraft and can easily be detected early enough and
contained by the crew with the aid of onboard firefighting equipment. Just as in the case of
engine fires, in case of cabin fires, the crew is advised to land as soon as possible and a detailed
investigation into the causes of the fire is conducted and any damages accounted for (Avenhaus
2012, p. 582).
Health and  Safety Assignment_3

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