Hi All,

First post so please be gentle.

I am doing RAs for our HGV workshop and I was wondering if there was a concensious regarding the overnight storage of truck batteries and two oxy acetylene torchs next to each other. Really wondering should they be apart or next to each other looking at this as a "what if there was a fire"

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Ash

Hi firesafety101,

Thank you for feedback we currently have two oxyacetelyne torches on trolleys and currently we do keep them seperated, the question was based on a quote from our man that looks after our fire extingushers and it raised the hairs on the back of my neck hence question.

Thanks Ash

I wonder if you have done a risk assessment whteher you actually need acetylene at all? Many businesses needlessly live with the risk of using this inherently unstable gas when there's no real need to as most (but not all) tasks can be completed  by substituting acetylene for a safer method

Acetylene does burn very hot in oxygen and for cutting work its almost untouchable - although plasma cutters are a safer alternative. But for soldering and light welding, there are a number of alternatives that can eliminate the risks associated with acetylene - including the disruption and damage to your premises if a cylinder was subject to heat and the fire service are let loose on it Its no good asking crusty old welder Fred. He's used acetylene for 40 years and his dad used it another 40 years before. He wont put up with it if you remove the bottle and may even resign This is what I was faced with when I suggested the removal of acetylene from my university workplace. We compromised and it was moved from a vulnerable workshop to an open air space 11 floors above. From "I use this every day", it was rarely used as it was a pain to access and move. This forced Fre to think of a plan B I rigged a tell tale covert strap to see if the bottle had moved from the cage and checked it weekly. Three months in, I removed the bottle quietly. It wasnt missed for 2 years!!!

Originally Posted by: ashley.rimmer@outlook.com

you have definetly given me food for thought and I will have a chat with the workshop manager on this

You might want to start with the why acetylene is used - most garages and exhaust centres tend to MIG weld with acetylene used for its heat to remove seized studs in manifolds etc. 

Hi Messey, would your hot works need a permit prior to starting the work.

Originally Posted by: firesafety101

Hi Messey, would your hot works need a permit prior to starting the work.

No. These would be used in connection with routine work by a competent person that is subject to a previous RA, so our HWP system doesnt apply.

Our HWPs are for hot and/or dusty of a non routine nature which is project work, repairs or an event where no previous RAMS has been drawn up