Workshop safety
Workshop safety
This domain tests whether you can identify hazards in a plumbing workshop, choose the right control or PPE, and act correctly in an emergency such as a fire, electric shock or gas leak.
Hazard groups and controls
- Housekeeping: water, oil and metal swarf cause slips; clear the bench and gangway before starting.
- Eyes: chipping, grinding and hacksawing throw particles - impact goggles; face shield for grinding.
- Hands: leather gloves protect when handling GI pipe and sheet metal, but never near a bench drill, grinder or any rotating spindle.
- Electrical: portable 230 V tools must be earthed or double-insulated and fed through an RCCB/ELCB; no wet hands, no cable trailing through water.
- Hot work: keep an extinguisher and fire blanket within reach, screen sparks away from PVC stock, never leave a flame unattended.
Fire classes and extinguishers
Class A (wood, paper, cloth), B (petrol, thinner, oil), C (LPG/CNG), D (metal). Water-type suits Class A only. CO2 and dry powder suit electrical and Class B fires; foam suits Class B liquids. Never direct water or foam at a live panel.
Height and confined space
Set ladders at about 4:1, tie the top, keep three points of contact. For sumps and manholes: gas-test first, wear a harness with lifeline, keep a standby person outside, ban flames.
Worked example
A grinding spark ignites thinner in an open tray beside live equipment. Reasoning: thinner is a Class B liquid, and electricity is present. Action: raise the alarm, switch off power, discharge CO2 or dry powder at the base of the flame, keeping an escape route behind you. Water is wrong - it floats the burning thinner and spreads the fire.
Traps that cost marks
Water on an electrical fire; cleaning chips with compressed air; gloves at a drill; LPG cylinder stored beside the cutting torch; answering call the fire brigade without mentioning isolation of power.