Fire caused by welding operations.

A welder was welding a workpiece in a paint booth when sparks from the welding process ignited a nearby wooden board covered with a thick layer of paint. The workers present panicked; some tried to extinguish the fire by beating it with brooms, while others used a compressed air machine, ultimately causing the fire to spread. After half an hour of firefighting by the fire department, the fire was finally extinguished. Although no one was injured, significant property damage resulted.

The main causes of the accident were:

(1) Welding was carried out in a restricted area without prior authorization, violating operating procedures.

(2) Welding was performed without removing paint residue from the booth or taking any fire prevention measures.

(3) Inappropriate firefighting methods were used; the incorrect use of compressed air to extinguish the fire not only failed to put out the fire but actually intensified it, leading to a larger accident.

Accident prevention measures:

(1) Open flame work is prohibited in the paint booth. If welding is necessary, the hot work permit system must be followed;

(2) All combustible materials must be removed;

(3) Sand, foam, or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers should be available in the paint booth.