Fire Bucket - Some of the auditors say it should be kept and some others say it creates environmental hazards

Dear All, Many of us keep a sand bucket for fire extinguishing in case of fire. Some of the auditors say it should be kept and some others said that sand creates environmental hazards as it contains silica. So pl. suggest whether fire buckets should be kept or not. Or any other suggestions that you want to give or guide.

Dear Hansa,
You may use fire extinguisher for the safety purpose instead of sand bucket.
Regards
Ashutosh

Dear Ashu,
we have sufficent no. of fire extinguishers. I just need to know is their any law/ ammenment or discussion point that sand should be used as extinguishing agent due to silica, some health or env. issue may be their.
Regards,
Hansa

HI
you can always keep the sand buckets for fire safety, There are two clauses here: 1. Basically silica refered here is the purest form of sand. But it is always safe to use the purest sand to put off the fire, there is no harm in it. 2. Avoid the sand to become wet while you dispose, it wont get neutral with the normal sand surface. We are ISO 14001 certified and no question raised for the usage of Sand buckets.
if you refer the Factories Act rules 61, the water buckets can be replaced with sand buckets ( incase of Class B fire).

Dear Hansa
I would like to support what Mr. Christopher was added.
When comes to creation of environmental hazards due to the use of Fire Bucket, it's very negotiable. If we see in this pretext every activity have an impact on the environment, Ex. Use of Washrooms. We have to apply the concept of ALARP and choose the actions accordingly.
The auditor who raises this point, ask him what is the logic with reference of law / legislation supporting his submission.
Please continue the practice of using fire buckets. Fire buckets are even mention in NBC as a first aid fire fighting equipment.

Interesting topic.. but what is the environmental hazard of using sand ??? deserts and beaches are full of sand and that too is a part of our environment.

There is no law or regulation prohibiting usage of sand bucket as a fire extinguishing medium. Silica may not affect the person when the sand is being used in a normal condition. During the sand blasting operation, the sand is being pressurised and creating large volume of dust particles and there is a chance for inhalation and ingestion of silica. So that sand blasting is banned. Hope i am right.

Please explain about ALARP concept. I am requesting all our colleagues to mention in full while using acronyms / abbreviations as all of us may not familiar.

@ snsitaram
Well noted your point.
Can you please do a goggle search on the term ALARP and find out the answer to your questions yourself?
I am requesting you to first try to find out the answers by doing a self search in goggle or RESEARCH option on the top of this page before raising queries.

Dear Sir,
I did not wish to trouble you. Certainly will search. I suggested for full form of abbreviated and acronyms, as it will give an initial idea about it. Thank you very much.