ST-02 Safety, Fire & First Aid — Theory

01 Indian Railways Safety Policy

🏛️

IR Safety Mission

Safety is the topmost priority of Indian Railways. Every railway servant is responsible for ensuring safety — not just of passengers and goods, but also of co-workers and public. Safety cannot be compromised under any operational pressure.

Authority	Role in Safety
CCRS	Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety — apex statutory body for safety regulation on IR
CRS	Commissioner of Railway Safety — circle level; inspects and certifies new lines/works
Safety Dept (HQ)	Issues safety circulars, conducts safety audits, analyses accident data
SSE/JE (Tele)	Responsible for safety of all Telecom equipment and staff in his section
TM	First-line duty: follow safe working practices, report unsafe conditions immediately

SAFETY TRAINING ENTITLEMENT (per S&T staff)

Safety Category10 days/year mandatory safety training

Non-Safety Gr C&D15 days at a time maximum per training spell

RefresherEvery SSE/JE must attend refresher safety courses at IRISET/ZTCs

02 General Safe Working Practices

✅ Always DO

Obtain PTW (Permit to Work) before working on live equipment

Use proper PPE — safety shoes, helmet, gloves, goggles

Inform SM / Station Master before working on track-side equipment

Isolate and earth equipment before maintenance

Use insulated tools for electrical work

Keep work area clean, well-lit and obstruction-free

Test before touch — always verify de-energized before touching

Lock-out / Tag-out (LOTO) when leaving work mid-way

🚫 Never DO

Never work alone on high-voltage equipment

Never bypass safety interlocks or alarms

Never use damaged or makeshift tools

Never touch OHE mast, traction wire or return conductor without authority

Never work under influence of alcohol/drugs

Never energize equipment without confirming all staff are clear

Never cross track without looking both ways and allowing train to pass

📋

PTW — Permit to Work System

A formal written authority required before carrying out work on electrical equipment above 50V AC or 120V DC. Issued by SSE/JE. Contains: work location, nature of work, isolation details, earthing confirmed, time of issue, return time. Work starts only after PTW is in hand. PTW must be surrendered and cancelled after completion.

03 RE Area (Railway Electrification) Precautions

⚡

RE Area Voltage Levels — Know Before You Go

OHE (Overhead Equipment): 25 kV AC (single phase, 50 Hz)
Return Conductor / Rail: Effectively at ground but carries return current
Booster Transformer Secondary: 0V but inductively coupled
25kV is lethal at any distance less than 2 metres — even without touching

▸ Safe Distance Rules in RE Area

2 metres minimum clearance from any live OHE conductor or catenary at all times

No climbing on OHE masts, signal gantries or structures without earthing authority

When erecting antenna masts or cable poles near OHE — calculate and confirm clearance with TRD (Traction dept)

OFC cable laying / trenching near OHE track — obtain joint permission of TRD & P.Way depts

Telecom cable crossings over / under OHE must comply with Schedule of Dimensions (SOD)

Work in TSS (Traction Sub Station) or SSP (Sub-Sectioning Post) area — mandatory PTW from TRD SSE

Installation	Clearance Required	Authority
Telecom mast / antenna near OHE	Min 2m from nearest live conductor	TRD approval mandatory
Cable route crossing OHE	As per SOD (Schedule of Dimensions)	TRD + P.Way approval
Work inside TSS/SSP/SP	Equipment isolated + earthed	PTW from TRD SSE
OFC hut near RE track	As per IR bridge rules + SOD	CE/RE approval
Earthing of Telecom equipment	Isolated earth — not connected to traction return	TM to verify every maintenance cycle

Remember: In RE area, even the ground can be at elevated potential due to traction return current. Always use insulated boots and stand on insulating mat when working near TSS/SSP.

04 Electrical Safety — Key Rules

Voltage Level	Classification	Required Precaution
< 50V AC / <120V DC	Low Voltage (Safe)	Basic insulation — no PTW needed
50V–1000V AC	Low Voltage (Dangerous)	PTW + insulated tools + rubber gloves
1kV–33kV AC	High Voltage	PTW + earthing + safety screen + 2-person rule
25kV AC (OHE)	Extra High Voltage	Full TRD clearance + earthing + 2m clearance
48V DC (Telecom)	Telecom Standard	Standard insulated tools, no PTW, but battery isolation required
-48V DC (Battery)	Telecom Battery	Remove rings/metal before working; check for reversed polarity

ELECTRICAL SAFETY — REMEMBER THESE NUMBERS

Safe voltageBelow 50V AC or 120V DC — minimal risk

OHE voltage25,000V (25kV) AC — lethal at 2m distance

Telecom supply48V DC (nominal) or -48V DC (negative earth system)

UPS output230V AC 50Hz — requires PTW for maintenance

Body resistanceDry skin: ~100kΩ · Wet skin: ~1kΩ · Always assume low resistance

05 Fire — Science & Classification

🔥

Fire Triangle — All 3 Must Be Present for Fire

FUEL (combustible material) + HEAT (ignition source) + OXYGEN (air/oxidiser) → Fire
Remove ANY ONE → Fire is extinguished. This is the basis of all fire-fighting.

Class	Type of Fire	Examples	Extinguisher
Class A	Ordinary Combustibles	Wood, paper, cloth, rubber, plastic	Water (most effective) / ABC Dry Powder / Foam
Class B	Flammable Liquids	Petrol, diesel, oil, paint, solvent	Foam / CO₂ / Dry Powder (ABC/BC) — NOT Water
Class C	Flammable Gases	LPG, CNG, hydrogen, acetylene	Dry Powder (BC/ABC) — Shut off gas supply first
Class D	Combustible Metals	Magnesium, sodium, potassium, lithium	Dry Sand / Specialist Dry Powder (D-class) — NOT Water
Class E	Electrical Equipment	Switchgear, panels, cables, computers, UPS	CO₂ / Dry Powder — NEVER Water or Foam
Class F / K	Cooking Oils / Fats	Kitchen fires — deep fat fryers	Wet Chemical / Fire Blanket — NOT Water

⚠️

Critical Rule for Telecom Equipment (Class E)

NEVER use water or foam on electrical / electronic equipment fires. Water conducts electricity — it will cause electrocution and spread the fire. Use CO₂ or ABC Dry Powder only. De-energize the equipment first if safely possible.

06 Fire Extinguishers — Types & Use

Type	Colour Code	Fires Suitable	How it Works	Capacity / Range
Water	🔴 Red	Class A only	Cools burning material below ignition temp	9 litres / 6–8m range
Foam (AFFF)	🟠 Cream	Class A & B	Smothers fire + seals vapour — separates fuel from oxygen	9 litres / 5–6m range
CO₂	⚫ Black	Class B & E (Electrical)	Displaces oxygen — suffocates fire. Leaves NO residue	2–5 kg / 1–3m range · Discharge: 8–30 sec
DCP / ABC Powder	🔵 Blue	Class A, B, C & E	Chemically interrupts combustion chain reaction	1–9 kg / 3–6m range
Wet Chemical	🟡 Yellow	Class F (kitchen)	Saponification — converts fat to soap, seals surface	6 litres
Halon / Clean Agent	🟢 Green	Class B, C, E	Chemically interrupts reaction + oxygen displacement	Server rooms, aircraft — no residue

PASS — METHOD TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

PPull the safety pin

AAim the nozzle at the BASE of the fire (not the flames)

SSqueeze the handle to discharge

SSweep side to side at the base until fire is out

🔄

Extinguisher Maintenance Schedule

Monthly visual check (seal intact, pressure gauge in green, no damage) · Annual hydraulic pressure test · CO₂ cylinders: weight check every 6 months · Refilling after every use regardless of residual charge · Date of last service to be tagged on extinguisher.

07 AFDAS — Automatic Fire Detection & Alarm System

🚨

What is AFDAS?

Automatic Fire Detection & Alarm System — a network of sensors installed in railway buildings, OFC huts, relay rooms, exchange buildings and coaching depots that automatically detects fire and raises alarm without human intervention. Mandated in all new Telecom installations by Railway Board circulars.

▸ AFDAS System Architecture

DETECTOR

Smoke / Heat / Flame Sensor

Located at ceiling of protected area

ZONE

Zone Module

Groups detectors into zones for location identification

FACP

Fire Alarm Control Panel

Central brain — receives signals, identifies zone, triggers alarm

OUTPUT

Sounder + Strobe + Auto-dialler

Audio-visual alarm + auto SMS/call to SSE/JE

Detector Type	Detects	Best For
Ionization Smoke	Invisible combustion particles (fast flames)	Paper/wood fires in early stage
Photoelectric Smoke	Visible smoke particles (slow smouldering)	Cable insulation fires, slow burn
Heat Detector (Fixed)	Temperature exceeds threshold (57°C / 68°C)	Dusty/smoky environments (kitchens, relay rooms)
Rate-of-Rise Heat	Temperature rising faster than 5°C/minute	Fast-developing fires
Flame Detector	IR or UV radiation from flames	Fuel stores, generator rooms
Multi-sensor	Combination of smoke + heat	Modern telecom buildings — reduces false alarms

AFDAS KEY FACTS

StandardIS 2189 (Indian Standard for fire detection & alarm)

Power supply240V AC mains + backup battery (min 72 hrs standby)

Response timeAlarm within 30 seconds of detector trigger

TestingMonthly functional test + annual full test by SSE/JE (Tele)

Manual Call PointBreak-glass type — installed near exits, max 30m spacing

08 First Aid — Principles & DR ABC

🏥

Definition of First Aid

First Aid is the immediate and temporary care given to a victim of accident or sudden illness, before the arrival of professional medical help. Its goals: preserve life, prevent worsening, promote recovery.

▸ DR ABC — Emergency Response Protocol

📞 Call for Help — FIRST ALWAYS

Railway Emergency: 1800-111-139

Ambulance: 108

Police: 100 / Fire: 101

Inform SM / Station Master immediately

Do NOT move patient unless immediate danger (fire/traffic)

🚑 First Aid Kit — Mandatory Contents

Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)

Sterile gauze pads and roller bandages

Triangular bandage + safety pins

Scissors, tweezers, disposable gloves

Antiseptic liquid (Savlon / Dettol)

CPR face shield / barrier mask

Pain relief tablets (Paracetamol)

First aid manual

09 Electric Shock — Treatment

⚡

CRITICAL — Do NOT Touch the Victim Directly

If a person is in contact with a live conductor, touching them will make YOU a victim too. Always isolate the supply first. If isolation is impossible, use a dry non-conducting object (dry wood, rubber mat, rope) to push the victim away.

▸ Electric Shock Response — Step by Step

Current (mA)	Effect on Human Body
1–5 mA	Perception threshold — slight tingling
5–10 mA	Painful shock — can usually let go
10–50 mA	Muscular contraction — "let go" threshold crossed — cannot release
50–100 mA	Ventricular fibrillation — potentially fatal
100 mA+	Severe burns, cardiac arrest — usually fatal
1000 mA (1A)	Certain death — tissue destruction

10 CPR — Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation

❤️

When to Start CPR

CPR must be started within 4 minutes of cardiac arrest. Brain damage begins after 4–6 minutes without oxygen. Death within 8–10 minutes. Do not wait for a doctor — start immediately.

▸ CPR Procedure — Adult (2020 AHA Guidelines followed by IR)

Position: Lay victim flat on firm surface — NOT a bed or soft surface

Hand position: Heel of both hands on centre of chest (lower half of sternum)

Depth: Compress chest 5–6 cm deep (at least 2 inches)

Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute — think of "Stayin' Alive" beat

Allow full recoil between compressions — do not lean on chest

Rescue breaths: 30 compressions : 2 breaths (30:2 ratio) — tilt head, lift chin, seal mouth-to-mouth, 1 second per breath

Continue until: victim recovers, AED arrives, professional help arrives, or you are exhausted and relief arrives

Switch rescuers every 2 minutes if possible to avoid fatigue

CPR KEY NUMBERS

Ratio30 compressions : 2 breaths

Rate100–120 compressions per minute

Depth5–6 cm (adult) / 4 cm (child) / 2 finger-widths (infant)

Start within4 minutes of arrest for best outcome

Cycles per check5 cycles (≈2 min) then check for pulse/breathing

11 Burns & Other Common Injuries

Burn Degree	Appearance	First Aid
1st Degree (Superficial)	Redness, pain, no blisters. Outer skin layer only.	Cool running water 10–20 min. No ice. No butter/toothpaste. Cover with sterile dressing.
2nd Degree (Partial thickness)	Blisters, severe pain, wet shiny skin.	Cool water 20 min. Do NOT burst blisters. Sterile non-stick dressing. Hospital required.
3rd Degree (Full thickness)	Charred/white/leathery skin. Little pain (nerve damage). Life-threatening.	Do NOT apply water. Cover loosely with clean cloth. Call 108 immediately. Treat for shock.

🩸 Bleeding — Control

Apply direct pressure with clean cloth/gauze — maintain for 10–15 min

Elevate the limb above heart level if possible

Do NOT remove embedded objects — support around them

Tourniquet: only for life-threatening limb bleeding — note time applied

Wear gloves — protect yourself from blood-borne infections

🦴 Fracture & Spinal Injury

Do NOT move patient with suspected spinal injury

Immobilize fracture with splint in position found

Check circulation below fracture (pulse, colour, sensation)

Cover open fracture with sterile dressing — do NOT push bone back

Spinal — apply cervical collar only if trained

😮 Unconscious / Recovery Position

Breathing but unconscious → Recovery Position (lateral)

Tilt head back to keep airway open

Monitor breathing every minute until help arrives

Do not give fluids to unconscious person

🌡️ Heat Stroke / Exhaustion

Move to cool shaded area immediately

Loosen clothing, apply cool wet cloths to neck/armpits/groin

Give cool water/ORS if conscious and able to swallow

Heat stroke (no sweating, confusion) → medical emergency → call 108

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