Fire caused by welding in the paint spray room

Welding activities are inherently hazardous due to the intense heat and sparks generated during the process, and when combined with a flammable environment such as a paint room, the risk of fire escalates dramatically. In a recent catastrophic incident at a general assembly workshop, a welder was tasked with welding a workpiece within a paint room, a highly unsuitable and unsafe environment for such an activity. The scenario unfolded when sparks from the welder's tool splashed onto a nearby wooden board coated with a thick layer of paint. The paint film, often highly flammable, quickly ignited, initiating a fire that soon engulfed the area. The situation was further exacerbated by the initial reactions of the on-site workers, who, in a state of panic, attempted to extinguish the flames using inappropriate methods. Some workers grabbed brooms and attempted to beat down the flames, a method that not only proved ineffective but also potentially spread burning debris. Even more critically, other workers employed compressed air in a misguided effort to blow out the fire. This action, rather than extinguishing the flames, provided the fire with additional oxygen, accelerating its spread and making containment far more difficult. The fire brigade was eventually called and despite their prompt arrival, it took them a grueling half-hour to completely extinguish the blaze.

Upon analysis, the primary causes of the accident were identified: firstly, the hazardous environment was inadequately prepared, with flammable paint films not removed and no proper fire prevention measures in place; secondly, the improper fire-fighting techniques used by the workers on-site, particularly the disastrous application of compressed air, significantly worsened the situation. This incident underscores the absolute necessity for stringent safety protocols and extensive training in emergency response for all workers, especially in environments as flammable as paint rooms, to prevent such dangerous and costly industrial accidents in the future.