The highest percentage of fires put out by rescue teams is from non-residential buildings. Many of these fires are recorded as workplace occurrences. A fire is disastrous to a business since it leads to property loss, injuries, financial loss, and productivity loss. Some companies never recover from the incident. Therefore, business owners need to know where most fire incidents come from and how to improve fire safety. If you want to know how fire starts in a business and what measures to take to prevent incidents, you are in the right place. This guide will give you six major causes of fires in business and safety measures to avoid them.
The Main Causes of Fire at the Workplace
Workplace fires are common. Some are accidental, while others are due to ignorance and bad intentions. It is crucial to understand how business fires happen and the best ways to prevent them. Read on to find out more.
Faulty Fire Detectors
The first mistake that leads to business fires is faulty fire detection systems. Even though these systems do not directly cause fires, they are installed to alert in case of smoke or fire. Therefore, failure to maintain and inspect them to ensure they work correctly leads to uncontrollable fires. It is vital to ensure that fire detectors and other detection tools are in good working condition to notify you of potential fires. It helps mitigate the situation early before there is an outbreak.
Faulty Electrical Equipment
Another major cause of workplace fires is faulty electrical equipment. Things like loose wiring, old equipment, and socket overload are examples of things that cause fire. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure electrical equipment in the workplace is well-maintained and tested to ensure its safety. Employees must also avoid overloading sockets to prevent fire hazards.
Smoking
Behaviors such as smoking on the business premises also pose a fire danger. There have been cases where tiny pieces of lit cigarettes have led to uncontrollable fires when disposed of carelessly. They set fires when they come into contact with flammable materials like paper or dry leaves. So, providing employees with a safe smoking zone away from the building is essential to prevent fire incidents.
Clutter
An untidy workplace is susceptible to a fire outbreak. For example, poorly lit and ventilated places, plus overloaded bins, can facilitate fires. Furthermore, forgetting to clean the equipment after use and allowing flammable materials to build up could also lead to fires. Therefore, it is advisable always to declutter the office before work. Clean equipment after use and invest in proper storage solutions.
Negligence
Negligence also causes fires in business. It includes failure to follow safety procedures, overusing machines, improper equipment use, and spilling flammable liquids. Teaching your staff about fire prevention and the importance of following safety guidelines is essential. Continuous training equips the team with fresh skills to prevent fire and recognize risks.
Flammable Materials
Flammable materials like paper, cardboard, wood, or fabric are also culprits of fire outbreaks in business. A tiny spark in such materials can lead to a huge disaster. Hence, all combustible materials must be managed appropriately to prevent buildup. You must ensure proper storage and disposal of the flammable materials since their buildup can fuel a fire outbreak. If possible, ensure they are stored off-site.
Reduce the Risks of Fire in Business
It is vital to keep your workplace safe from fire outbreaks. It starts with knowing the origin of workplace fires and developing solutions to prevent them. Your legal responsibility as a business owner is to protect your workers from any fire threat.