Industrial fires can cause significant damage to factory or manufacturing property and equipment, along with the risk of fatally injuring an employee. These disasters can become extremely expensive, yet they are avoidable. Reduce the threat of industrial fires in your factory to keep workers and equipment safe. Below we go over each type of industrial fire and how you can reduce the potential risk of catastrophe.
Electrical Fire Prevention
One of OSHA’s primary concerns in industrial settings is the safety of employees working with electricity. Equipment and tools that use electricity risk electrocuting a worker themselves, or they can provide the starting spark for a major fire. Prevent this by unplugging equipment not in use, avoiding the use of extension cords, never overloading equipment or circuits, using antistatic tools, and following a routine cleaning schedule.
Combustible Dust Fire Prevention
One of the major causes of industrial fires is combustible dust mixing with the air. For example, hazards of combustible dust in food processing are a serious issue because this dust can come from food products—something employees and managers are probably unfamiliar with at first. While you cannot remove this threat entirely, you can reduce it by inspecting for dust residue, using cleaning methods that do not generate dust clouds, having a proper dust collection system, and implementing a dust control program.
Flammable Gas and Liquid Fire Prevention
Most commonly found in chemical plants, flammable gas and liquid fires can increase the severity of an existing fire or ignite one from the sparks of a previous hazard. Ensure you are reading and following the safety instructions on the back of each chemical product to avoid disaster. Further prevent these fires by storing products properly, enforcing the wear of PPE, and keeping ignition sources away from chemicals.
Hot Works Fire Prevention
Hot work is when a worker uses an open flame to heat treat products, weld, solder, or torch cut. When an open flame is present, it provides the perfect environment to cause a fire. Reduce the threat of industrial hot work fires by avoiding this practice when possible, clearing flammable materials away from the open flame, and training employees on the hazards of hot work.
Equipment and Machinery Fire Prevention
The last cause of industrial fires involves the equipment and machinery workers use daily. While it may not seem like a major fire hazard, if these machines are not properly maintained, they can pose a risk of causing one. Prevent these fires by maintaining and cleaning equipment, training workers to spot hazards, and following the manufacturer’s guidelines for the machine.
It may seem like you need to safeguard a lot of your facility to reduce the risk of industrial fires, but these procedures and prevention methods are necessary for keeping workers safe on the job. Avoid the potential hazards of fire by following the practices above.
