It is extremely important that everyone in the workplace feels safe and of course that there are no health risks or safety hazards. That is why I will share with you five of the most common fire safety hazards in the workplace. To be completely sure that you and everyone else who works with you are safe, it is best to get the work area assessed. For a fire risk assessment Gloucester, I recommend contacting Keloscape.
Here are the five most common fire safety hazards in the workplace to watch out for:
- Build-up of combustible waste materials like paper and cardboard. When flammable materials like this are stored in one place and accumulate it can create a potential fire hazard. This is because when there is lots of it in one place, it gives a fire plenty of fuel to spread quickly. It is better to dispose these materials away from the workplace and away from any potential sources of ignition.
- Flammable liquids such as fluids used for cleaning. Even if there is only a small amount of flammable liquids, it’s important to store them away from everything else, such as in a separate room.
- It may surprise you to know that dust is one of the biggest causes of fire in the workplace, especially when there is poor ventilation. This is because in workplaces where there is a lot of machinery, dust from wood and plastic can build up. That’s why it’s very important to keep the workplace as clean as possible.
- Objects that produce heat. Machines that can potentially over heat and catch fire must be handled with care. It’s important for employees who handle this equipment to be properly trained in fire safety in order to prevent any type of disaster.
- The last common fire safety hazard is simply people making mistakes in the workplaces that put themselves and everyone else at risk of being caught in a fire. As I said before, this shows the important of fire safety training.
I hope by learning these five most common causes of fire in the workplace, you feel more confident to know how to prevent fire where you work, and keep everyone safe.
Keeping warehouses free of dust and debris
Poor housekeeping is behind many workplace fire risks. Built-up debris provides ready fuel that lets a small fire spread quickly, and some types of dust can catch fire themselves. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require workplaces to be kept clean, waste must not be allowed to build up, and cleaning methods must not expose workers to large amounts of dust.
Clean equipment also tends to be better maintained. A forklift leaking oil is a slip hazard, debris hanging from racks can block drivers’ views, and leaflets left on the floor are easy to slip on.
A few simple habits make a big difference. Clean each area to a set timetable, with floors often done daily. Empty bins before they overflow and make one person responsible for doing so. Clear away packing waste as soon as each task is finished, and make sure every shift leaves the space tidy for the next. Keep cleaning equipment to hand, from brooms to dust extraction systems, and keep stock clean and rotated.