Fire Safety Tips Through the Eyes of a Firefighter

BY CHRIS PANKOW SAFETY CONSULTANT

Do you look around your office and wonder….Do I have a safe work zone? If we had a fire would I be able to get out? Would I be able to help others? Do I have a headcount on how many people are in my office? What if my only exit is blocked, how am I getting out? Or something as simple as asking myself what have I thrown away in my trash that could be dangerous or flammable? Do not let your trash and litter accumulate. A lot of people don’t think about what they are throwing away or putting in their trash. Some people freak out about recycling. What we should realize is that you can pose a fire hazard by not throwing your trash away properly. The batteries you throw away contain heavy metals. Now, let’s say you throw your favorite candy bar wrapper away that was wrapped in aluminum foil. Well, guess what you just did! If the foil in the wrapper contacts the positive and negative ends of a 9V or AA battery, it will create a circuit and flames could start. When throwing away boxes, paper, clothing, and other extremely flammable material, what was once a small fire is now an even bigger one! Everyone knows at least one person or more that has papers all over their desk and floor. In the right conditions, this will give the fire more fuel and will increase the odds of it spreading faster, and don't forget the clutter in the nearby exits and hallways will obstruct an escape from the fire. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) states candles may be pretty to look at but they are a cause of an annual average of 90 deaths, 670 injuries, and $291 million in direct property damage. Another piece of information to think about is, on average, 3,340 office fires per year with 4 deaths, 44 injuries, and $112 million in property damage due to fires starting from holiday decorations. Keep your decorations away from lamps or any sources of heat. Always read the labels of those Christmas lights and look for the UL mark. Review manufacturer instructions to check if they are meant for inside or outside use only. When reusing lights from last year, carefully inspect the strands of lights. Check to make sure there are no missing or broken bulbs or frayed wires. Always run extension cords along the wall and never in a place that would cause a trip hazard. Do not run cords or cables under rugs or furniture or over metal studs. Avoid attaching multiple extension cords. Use a GFI outlet when applicable. When overloading plugs and sockets, with all the office electronics and extension cords added on, it can be the highest risk of fires in the office. Sometimes, in older buildings that are not wired for today’s electronics, people will run extension cords under desks and over metal, causing a pinch point.

Did you know phone chargers can overheat causing a fire hazard? Leaving them plugged in and sometimes laying on the floor, static electricity can cause them to catch fire. Any charger can catch fire, but most “knock-off” chargers are more susceptible to catching fire if they get hot enough.

COVID…. what has it brought to the office space? Using household chemicals like bleach and ammonia to sanitize things can be a problem. What happens when you mix these two things? They can react! They give off a gas that irritates your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Properly dispose of your cleaning products and rags separately from other trash.

Here are a few tips about electrical breaker boxes. The proper distance is 36 inches or 3 feet of clearance. Many workplaces combine signs with floor marking tape to make sure they keep the area clear. Maybe, a fan or a light causes a fire. The breaker box will need to be accessed. Make sure there is nothing heavy stored in front of it.

Why should you have a fire drill? It is vital that everyone in the building knows and understands how to get out of the building! This ties into why you should have a sign-in and log-out sheet. Then, you will know who is in the building in case of an emergency. A fire drill will show you if there are objects that are in the way. Keeping your walkway and doorways clear of obstacles to help people exit the building more quickly and safely. Human error is frequently the cause of a fire. There are many types of fires that are not intentional. They call an accident an “accident” for a reason. Unfortunately, human error simply is carelessness, habituation, or not knowing how to use the equipment properly. Having machinery that overheats and spills flammable liquids next to the wrong chemicals can cause a fire. The lack of proper care or not caring about your space can cause a fire. When employees hurry, or try to complete a task faster than they should, accidents happen. Arson is more common than you think! The commercial and industrial businesses are the higher target areas because of all the chemicals and excess materials laying around. Sometimes, it is very easy for vandals to gain access. For prevention, one effective way is to secure your worksite against unauthorized personnel. Securing the site includes anything from blocking any unauthorized access to installing motion sensors and cameras.

When doing fire drills, check your smoke detectors, fire doors, signage, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and all other fire safety equipment. Always make sure you have the right equipment and that the equipment is not faulty.

Just remember, when a fire or emergency occurs, take a deep breath, and stay calm! If you panic, everyone else around you will panic, too! If one person can keep everyone calm and take control of the situation, when the emergency crews arrive on the scene they have someone to contact and make their best plan of action. They will then be able to work quicker. Some firemen often say, “your worst day is our best day.” If you would like a safety-walk around the office or help identifing workplace hazards, reach out to Chris Pankow, CSSI Safety Consultant at Chris@IowaCSSI.com, or call at 563-880-2582.