Summer is right around the corner, and as the weather continues to get warmer, we need to be prepared for the possible fire and life safety risks. Parts of being prepared is being aware of the fire risks for each season. Summer fires peak around the 4th of July due to trees and bushes being ignited by fireworks and lightning. However, after the holiday, fires start to progressively decline, while natural caused fires increase during the summer months. Although most fires during this season are related to outside, there are a few things you can do around the office to help prevent a fire from starting.
1. Check For and Fix Damaged Electronics
Check to see if wires have become worn, cut or damaged during use. Replace any plugs that produce sparks when plugged into an outlet. If these hazards are found, they should be fixed or properly disposed of to prevent workplace fires.
2. Dispose of Cigarettes Safely
Designate certain areas of a facility for smoking with proper disposal bins and no flammable materials nearby. Make sure that a cigarette has been completely put out in order to prevent the possibility of something catching fire.
3. Never Leave Cooking Unattended
If there is a reason to leave the kitchen, make sure to turn off the stove and take your pots and pans off the heat. If you are cooking food in the oven, take the food out of the oven and turn off the broiler.
4. Keep Combustible Dust under Control
Manufacturing companies create large amounts of dust, which often times are not properly cleaned. If these dust accumulations are not cleaned correctly, it can remain in the air and collect on high surfaces. This allows for combustible dust clouds to form, which puts your plant at risk of a fire from a combustible dust explosion.
Performing normal housekeeping duties isn’t enough to keep combustible dust from collecting. So, call a professional to clean your dust with an explosion proof equipment to help prevent workplace fires.
5. Routine Fire Barrier Management
Of course, things happen and if a fire were to breakout, the best way to help contain the flames and smoke is through the maintenance of your fire-rated barriers. A building’s fire barriers include fire doors, fire and smoke dampers, and firestopping.
Fire doors, if kept shut, help to compartmentalize the building and allow for an easy escape plan for its occupants. Dampers help prevent the spread of fire and smoke through the ductwork of a building by closing off access after detecting heat and or smoke from a fire. Firestopping is used to restrict the spread of fire by separating the building into separate compartments with fire-resistant walls and floors.
