Cell Phone Results in Fire

United States Department of the Interior

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Kumkum Ray
703-787-1604

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OMM Web Team

National Safety Alert No. 5
March 6, 2002

Cell Phone Results in Fire

Recently, a flash fire occurred on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region while a contract panel specialist was working on an open panel that used supply gas for the instrumentation. The contractor was carrying a cellular phone that was turned on and rang while working on the panel. When the employee flipped the bottom piece of the phone to answer the call, a flash fire occurred causing second degree burns on his forearms and face.

To prevent portable electronic devices (PEDs) from igniting Class I, Group D gases or vapors (e.g. methane, propane, natural gas, gasoline), the MMS recommends you consider initiating one or more of the following practices:

Include procedures for using PEDs in your "hot work" permit, if not already incorporated.

Make employees aware of the potential hazards when using electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, laptop computers, drills, pocket PC’s, cameras, video equipment, and radios) in hazardous classified locations.

Only allow employees to use PEDs that have been tested, approved and labeled by a third party testing laboratory such as Factory Mutual (FM) or Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certifying their use in Class I, Group D locations.

Use intrinsically safe portable electronic equipment, that use low capacitance components, special board layouts, and encapsulation techniques which meet stringent standards (e.g., API RP 14F & 14FZ) for use in hazardous environments.

For further information, please contact David Nedorostek, (703) 787-1029.

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Last Updated: 02/01/2006, 12:48 PM