Fire hazard with paraffin-based skin products

This document alerts all healthcare staff involved in the prescribing, dispensing or administration of paraffin-based skin products of a potential fire hazard.

Bandages, dressings and clothing in contact with paraffin-based products, for example white soft paraffin, white soft paraffin plus 50% liquid paraffin or emulsifying ointment are easily ignited with a naked flame or cigarette.

Following a reported death, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) commissioned the Health and Safety Executive to undertake fire hazard testing with white soft paraffin on a variety of bandages, dressings and clothing. The results showed the ability to reproduce the fire hazard in a controlled environment. This risk was not previously well recognised.

This document is accompanied by:

• general advice and advice for hospital inpatients
• supporting information for healthcare staff including background and findings
• posters in English and Welsh
• Health and Safety Laboratory report FS/06/12 ‘Fire hazards associated with contamination of dressings and clothing by paraffin based ointments’
• examples of products containing paraffin
• warning / hazard stickers for products
• a patient safety video
• leaflets in English and Welsh.

View the video here