Fire Safety Rules and Regulation

Fire safety rules are so commonplace that we may become indifferent toward them. This lack of personal interest is responsible for many fires and on-the-job accidents.

Let us review the leading causes of workplace fires. Number one on the list is electrical failures or misuse of electrical equipment. Next, listed in order, are friction, foreign substances, open flames, and then smoking and matches.

What can we as employees do to combat these hazards? First, of all, we can comply with regulations-obey “No Smoking” signs, dispose of cigarettes and matches by placing them in the proper receptacles, and make sure they are extinguished. We should watch for frayed electrical cords and overloaded circuits and dispose of flammable wastes and scrap by placing them in metal containers.

Another important point to remember is to store combustibles in a safe area. Combustible materials and fumes from paint, solvents, and other flammables are responsible for many fires both in the home and at work. Fumes can reach out a considerable distance and become ignited by a torch, electrical equipment, or even a lit cigarette.

If you should ever have occasion to dispose of flammable liquids, do not pour them down the drain. A proper method of disposal will be provided. If you should have to burn waste paper, make sure it does not contain explosive materials, such as aerosol cans or paint cans.

We should all be familiar with the location and operation of fire fighting equipment. Know where fire extinguishers are located and what types of fires they are to be used on.

Proper maintenance procedures are also important to fire safety. If you use electrical equipment or tools, inspect them regularly to make sure they are working correctly. Keep mechanical equipment properly lubricated to avoid excessive friction. Keep spark arrestors on exhausts.

Unless your job is maintenance, some of these things may not concern you directly. However, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep their eyes open for safety hazards and to eliminate them or report them to Supervisors.

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