Dangers with cigarette lighters...
Dangers with cigarette lighters...
(OP)
Hi all,
My company is considering banning lighters on their offshore oil & gas installations, and make smokers to use matches instead. Smoking is, and has always been (naturally) restricted to living quarters (and in the case of our FSO, control room).
Playing the devil's advocate here, my question is: Does lighters really pose a safety hazard conpared to matches?
I guess you average lighter contains about 5 cu cm of butane/propane; say 5-600 times expansion upon vapourisation, gives about 2.5-3 liters of gas at atmospheric pressure. I would have thought that this amount of gas, even released in a small room would dillute well below the LEL?
As for ignition sources, are matches a safer bet than lighters?
Would be interested to hear the forums thoughts (and facts, if anyone has any) on the subject.
Cheers,
Trond
My company is considering banning lighters on their offshore oil & gas installations, and make smokers to use matches instead. Smoking is, and has always been (naturally) restricted to living quarters (and in the case of our FSO, control room).
Playing the devil's advocate here, my question is: Does lighters really pose a safety hazard conpared to matches?
I guess you average lighter contains about 5 cu cm of butane/propane; say 5-600 times expansion upon vapourisation, gives about 2.5-3 liters of gas at atmospheric pressure. I would have thought that this amount of gas, even released in a small room would dillute well below the LEL?
As for ignition sources, are matches a safer bet than lighters?
Would be interested to hear the forums thoughts (and facts, if anyone has any) on the subject.
Cheers,
Trond





RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
Most plants with flammable process fluids, prohibit matches and lighters in the hazardous areas. It has to do the potential for ignition and the consequences of having combustable fluids in your pocket when a fire does breakout.
This is seen in areas where non-sparking tools are required and the common ban on nylon or polyester shirts. The shits are fine normally, but in a fire they are a real problem to the wearer. Ditto beards, etc.
By the way Nomex is required in many plants. A real hassle on a hot day, but a life saver when the un-expected happens.
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
Most if not all platforms in US waters have had this policy for several years. I never asked about it, but I had guessed with a lighter an employee would carry it at all times. Matches are supplied by the company so they tend to leave them in a smoking area.
Most majors in deepwater won't allow smoking in the quarters. There will be one designated smoking area outside.
Hacksaw made a very good point about NOMEX too. Most (not all) companies in US waters require NOMEX anytime you are outside the living quarters. Most of the major service companies require their employees to use NOMEX even if the operator dosen't.
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
Cheers,
John.
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
But first let me try to clarify a bit: I am not asking about bringing matches/lighters into the plant, but the presence of these in living quarters and designated smoking areas, and if one is really better than the other. My company want to ban lighters and introduce matches - is there really any safety benefit?
"smile1" mentions throwing a cigarette lighter on a fire - I did this several times as a kid, they resulted in a small burst of flames, but nothing spectacular. I remember we found it rather disappointing (proceeded to throw aerosol cans, which was a different matter altogether - but I am digressing).
As for having a cigarette lighter in your pocket when a fire breaks out - well, if you are so hot that the cigarette lighter ignites, you must be on fire for a while, right? Although I suppose a welding spark or similar could burn though a pocket without really being noticed.....
Liked the idea of the wall-mounted igniter, though!
If anyone has any further thoughts, please do share them.
Cheers,
Trond
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
Safety matches can only be ignited when struck against a specially prepared friction surface. This striking strip contains non toxic red phosphorus. The oxidizer is potassium chlorate, the splints -made from chipboard- and the tip are generally impregnated with wax. When there is a high relative humidity in the air they may not spark a flame. Matches may contain a variety of formulations including, for example, animal glue, starch, sulfur, fillers, and burning-rate catalysts to suit.
Lighters I know of, are lit by mechanical or electrical means, and mainly use light hydrocarbons of various volatilities to impregnate wicks.
I could add some other differences, such as, duration and size of flames based on the volumes of fuel, ways to interrupt kindling and put out flames, etc.
Surely somebody out there has sensible reasons for selecting matches over lighters on safety grounds. I'd certainly would like to learn about them.
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
A really exciting campfire trick was stumbled upon by the scouts at a jamboree, where they were melting wax over an open fire to make camp sterno cans. ( pour wax into a can with corrogated in it) When they were done, they attempted to quickly cool the remaining wax by pouring water on it. The hot wax flashed the water, the open fire ignited it, and a flame 15-20 feet high, lasting less than a second, erupted from a 2 cup melting pot with residual wax. That is dramatic. I recommend tossing the water at the wax pot froma safe distance.
Cheers!
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
OTH, it is not a good material to makes shirts from. It is hot scratchy and itchy, partly because the fibers have no spin coatings to make them less hot scratchy and itchy.
Dave
RE: Dangers with cigarette lighters...
In the UK Sector of the North Sea all personnel have their bags and pockets searched at the heliport before boarding the helicopter. Most platforms I've been on provide at least one "dirty" and one "clean" smoking area with matches. The striking surface for these matches is attached to the wall and cannot be removed.
Of course this doesn't stop any body removing the matches (so a wall mounted lighter sounds very good), but I have only come across one instance of a person smoking outside of the permitted areas. This incident was dealt with by the operating company very severely.
Even if all precautions are taken i.e. searches, wall mounted lighters etc. the best precaution is continual re-inforcement to the workforce of the dangers of uncontrolled ignition sources in a highly dangerous environment.
I hope that this is of help to you.