6 Common Causes of Workplace Fires

What do you get when you combine building debris, partially installed electric systems, flammable materials, and chemical solvents? You get a high risk of starting a fire in your workplace. Structure fires cause thousands of deaths and millions of dollars in property damage each year. Taking precautions to prevent fires is especially important for municipal employees while doing their day-to-day jobs. The following are six common causes of structure fires:

1. Haphazard debris disposal – When focused on the task at hand, it’s easy to throw construction debris, empty boxes, and other flammable/combustible materials off to the side and not properly dispose of them. Always throw such debris into a proper waste receptacle. Keep garbage cans and dumpsters a safe distance from heat sources. Keep storage closets and rooms from cluttering up with old paper, wood, paint and other flammable/combustibles.

2. Temporary electrical systems – Electrical hazards on worksites are so common they have earned 2 spots on OSHA’s Top 10 Safety Violations list. Use of extension cords as a permanent energy source for machines and tools and using multiple power strips together to create more outlets. Both of these can start fires due to poor inspection practices and overloading power systems. Shorts and power surges can cause sparks and result in an electrical fire.

3. Space heaters – According to the NFPA space heaters are a common fire hazard. Keep space heaters away from flammable/combustible materials, keep them turned off and unplugged when not in use. Don’t hide them under a desk, keep them in the open. Turn them off when you leave a room; don’t leave them unattended. Inspect them and clean them frequently. Dust and debris can easily ignite or sparks from exposed wiring can cause fires.

4. Smoking in improper areas – An ember from one cigarette is all it takes to burn down an entire building. Allow smoking only in designated areas that are away from flammable/combustible materials. Hang signs to indicate where designated smoking is permitted and where it is not. Dispose of cigarette butts in approved containers and empty them frequently, making sure all butts are completely extinguished.

5. Cooking food – It’s common for employees to cook food on their lunch breaks. Flammables and combustibles should be kept away from cooking appliances. Don’t overload outlets with kitchen appliances and devices. Clean up after yourself, wash pots/pans, wipe down greasy surfaces, and properly throw away paper and plastic ware. Keep areas under and behind appliances swept and dusted.

6. Lack of fire protection training and resources – Train all employees on fire safety basics. Make sure they know what and where high fire areas are. Train them to use a fire extinguisher, know where the fire pull stations and emergency exits are, and how to safely evacuate the facility. Keep emergency routes and exits clear. In areas like shops where welding and other hot work are taking place, have someone act as a “fire watch” looking out for fires that may emerge from sparks spreading to flammable/combustible materials. They need to have a fire extinguisher ready for action.