Fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of accidental injury deaths in the United States and the third-leading cause of fatal home injury. Workers need to be aware of the variety of potential fire hazards at the work site.
Here is an Example:
Tim was painting the walls of the attic in a three-story house. A fire began in the basement due to bad wiring in a light socket near the ceiling. There was no working smoke detector in the house, and because Tim was in the attic, he did not smell the smoke until it was too late. Tim was not able to make it out and he died.
- How could this tragedy have been avoided?
- What are possible fire hazards at your worksite?
- Make sure that there is a ventilation system, especially where paints, solvents, or other flammable materials are being applied.
- Ensure working smoke detectors are provided in building areas.
- Make sure that there is at least one fire extinguisher on all construction sites. All extinguishers should be easy to find and everyone should know where they are.
- Clean up all flammable liquid leaks or spills immediately.
- Never put water on an electrical fire.
- Use a CO2 extinguisher only if the fire is small.
- Don’t overload circuits or bypass the circuit protection.
- Inspect all electric devices and their cords. Replace frayed insulation at once. Most electric devices are subject to internal wiring failures, faulty power cords, and switches that add to fire risk.
Midsouth Mechanical has been doing business for almost 30 years. We offer our industrial clients efficient and cost-effective fabrication, modification, and repair of industrial equipment. From preventive plant maintenance, designing, installing and aligning machines, our exceptional skill and craftsmanship set us apart from the competition. Our number one priority day to day is safety. To see our published weekly Toolbox Talks, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.