IFIRE CONTROLS WOOD UPDATE

Educate employees about the risks, and update them when new equipment or processes introduce new hazards.

Inspect all areas for fire hazards on a regular basis, paying particular attention to places where fires are most likely to occur.Again, no surprises, but good to emphasize and reemphasize in safety meetings and training sessions: An incompletely extinguished cigarette carelessly tossed into a wastebasket or onto a warehouse floor can have disastrous consequences. Smoking: When employees try to defeat no-smoking policies, the results can be deadly.Machinery: Fires can be caused by inadequately lubricated or cleaned equipment as well as mechanical defects.Electric coffeemakers, toaster ovens, space heaters, and other appliances are also potential fire hazards. Electrical sources: Overloaded electrical circuits and outlets, damaged wiring, defective switches, and damaged plugs are potential causes of electrical fires.Rags and other oil-soaked materials can spontaneously combust if left lying around. Combustible materials: Culprits include paper, cardboard, cloth, and wood, or products made from these materials.Flammable liquids: Improper handling, storage, or disposal of flammables used in production processes, as fuel sources, or for cleaning are a leading cause of workplace fires.The tragic Imperial Sugar fire of 2008 resulted, in part, from release of sugar from improperly maintained dust-collection equipment. Dust: Excess dust or powder in the air from wood, plastic, metal, and other operations can cause an explosion if ignited.Once an ignition source is present, scrap and trash provide the fuel a fire needs to grow. Scrap and trash: When waste materials build up, the danger of fire increases.These 7 fire hazards are among the most common: Still it’s a good idea to review them with supervisors and employees just to make sure everybody is aware and remains alert. The list of workplace fire hazards doesn’t include many surprises. Keep fire safety top of mind at your company to reduce risk. That means fires are a largely preventable hazard. Experts say about 85% of workplace fires result from human error and 15% from equipment problems.

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