Question 1

What type of fire extinguisher should never be used on an electrical fire (e.g. a switchboard or energised motor), and why?

Accepted Answer

Water or foam extinguishers should not be used on live electrical equipment, because water and foam conduct electricity and create a serious electric shock risk to the person using the extinguisher; CO2 or dry powder extinguishers, which do not conduct electricity, are the appropriate choice for electrical fires This is one of the most fundamental fire-fighting safety points for anyone working around electrical equipment — using a conductive extinguishing agent (water or foam) on energised equipment can complete an electrical circuit through the extinguisher stream and the person holding it, causing electric shock or electrocution in addition to the fire risk. CO2 extinguishes by displacing oxygen and is non-conductive, making it the standard choice for electrical fires in confined spaces such as switchboard rooms, though crew must also be aware that CO2 displaces breathable air and presents an asphyxiation risk if used in a small enclosed space.

Question 2

You're draining a thermal oil system that was running normally a short time ago. Before opening the drain point, what should you confirm?

Accepted Answer

That the system has cooled and depressurised, and you are positioned clear of the drain point's discharge path On the dredger MV Amazone, two crew members draining a thermal oil system after months of contamination were sprayed with hot oil, suffering severe burns. The investigation found company procedures lacked clear instructions for safe drainage — confirming the system has cooled and depressurised, and standing clear of the discharge path, are essential before opening any drain point on a hot oil system.

Question 3

A thermal oil system has been contaminated and needs draining for cleaning. The written procedure tells you to open the drain valve but doesn't specify a cooling-down period or PPE. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Treat the gap as a hazard in its own right: apply a suitable cooling/depressurising period and full PPE before proceeding, and raise the procedure gap with the Chief Engineer The FEBIMA investigation into the MV Amazone incident found that although the crew followed company procedures, those procedures lacked clear instructions for safely draining a thermal oil system. A procedure that's silent on cooling time and PPE for a hazardous task is a gap to be closed before the job starts — not a green light to skip those precautions.