How Do You Handle Flammable Materials Safely?
You probably handle flammable materials in your home or place of work every day without even knowing it. Flammable materials are simply any materials that can catch fire or ignite easily. There are different types of flammable materials: • Liquid – certain liquids produce vapors that, when mixed with air, can ignite. Gasoline, alcohol, thinner, acetone, and lacquer are considered flammable liquids. Paint, kerosene and diesel fuel are examples of combustible liquids. The only difference between a liquid that is flammable and one that is combustible is the temperature at which the liquid will ignite. • Solid – anything made of paper, fibers like clothes, linens, and rags, wood and wood products, fireworks, gunpowder, pyrophoric metals (these ignite upon contact with air like sodium and potassium metals) and others items that are soaked in flammable liquids. • Gas – examples are butane, propane, methane, and acetylene. Here are some tips for safely handling flammable materials: • Always h
