Causes and Countermeasures of Welding Fires - Fire Causes

1. The author spent many years working in the fire investigation department of the public security fire control agency. After examining a number of accidents caused by electric welding in both domestic and industrial settings, the author identified several key reasons behind the frequent occurrence of such fires:

1.1 A weak sense of fire safety among employers and employees is one of the main causes. Many organizations fail to properly manage welders, allowing unlicensed individuals to perform welding tasks without supervision, creating significant fire hazards. According to past incidents, many people are unaware of the risks involved in welding operations. They often hire unqualified welders without checking their credentials or ensuring proper safety measures are in place. In some cases, even when precautions are taken, they are not carried out thoroughly, leading to serious fire accidents.

For example, on April 21, 2002, a major fire broke out at a shoe factory. The direct damage amounted to 535,800 yuan. The fire was caused by an unlicensed welder named Song **, who performed welding in the paint shop without following safety protocols. Welding sparks fell into the funnel lining, igniting flammable paint. The workshop director, who was responsible for overseeing the operation, failed to verify the welder’s qualifications or ensure that flammable materials were removed from the area. This negligence directly led to the fire.

1.2 Some welders do not follow proper procedures and operate illegally, increasing the risk of fire. Even those with formal training sometimes ignore safety guidelines, turning a blind eye to flammable materials near the work site. This has resulted in significant property damage in several cases.

On June 30, 2002, a fire occurred during welding work at a steel company’s new No. 1 blast furnace construction site. The fire damaged a cooling tower and caused 260,000 yuan in direct losses. The incident was triggered when welding slag ignited heat-dissipating materials inside the cooling tower. Although the construction company had strict fire approval procedures and the welder held a valid certificate, he did not take necessary safety measures. There was a gas pipeline nearby, and flammable materials were present below the work area. Despite these risks, the welder proceeded with the job recklessly, hoping for the best, which ultimately led to the fire.

1.3 The management of welding sites is often chaotic. According to Article 18(2) of the "Fire Protection Law," personnel engaged in high-risk operations like electric welding must be certified and strictly follow safety regulations. However, large enterprises typically train their staff, while independent workers and small workshops are often overlooked. These individuals may lack proper training, creating hidden dangers.

1.4 There are gaps in national laws and regulations regarding the requirements and procedures for welders. Fires are generally classified into three levels based on the likelihood of an incident and the potential damage. To conduct open flame operations, an approval process is required. Relevant personnel should inspect the site, develop safety plans, and implement fire prevention measures. However, according to the author's experience, there are several shortcomings:

First, these requirements are often explained in interpretations of the Fire Protection Law or in training materials, but they are not clearly stated in the law itself. From a legal standpoint, interpretations cannot serve as a basis for enforcement, making these rules less practical in real-world applications.

Second, these regulations tend to apply more effectively to well-managed organizations, but have limited impact on smaller, poorly managed units or individual repair shops.

Third, some provisions are vague and lack clarity in terms of responsibilities. It is unclear who is responsible for cleaning up flammable materials, identifying hazardous areas, or approving hot work permits. Without clear definitions, it becomes difficult to assign legal responsibility after a fire occurs, resulting in situations where violations go unpunished.

China Labor Insurance Network