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Causes
of Fire
There are
numerous causes of Fire. Some of them
would include the following:
1.) Heating sources are often causes
of Fire.
Space
heaters, electric heaters and fireplaces should be used with caution.
Heating is the third leading cause of residential fire deaths. Heater
fires are the leading cause of fire deaths in the
southeastern U.S.; wood stoves are particularly a problem in the northern
U.S.
2.) Cooking accidents are a major cause of
home fires and cause us a lot of concern.
Cooking is the leading cause of apartment fires and the second most
frequent cause of single-family residential
fires. These fires often result from unattended cooking and human error,
rather than from mechanical failure
of stoves or ovens.
3.) Smoking is not only a major destroyer of
life, it is also a highly preventable cause of fires in the home.
4.) Electrical wiring can cause a
fire if it is not large enough to carry the load being supplied.
Neglect and
misuse of electrical wiring, fittings and equipment cane easily cause
fires in the workplace. Overheating of electrical appliances, poor wiring
connections, use of unauthorized appliances, multi-point
adaptors and problems with the use of extension lead are all hazards which frequently result in
fires starting.
5.) Rubbish and
Waste Materials
That are left to
accumulate can easily contribute to the spread of fire; they are also a place for malicious fires to
be started. Make sure that you remove all waste materials from the
workplace on a regular basis and place them in a suitable container
located in a safe position outside the
building. Ideally this
container will be of metal construction and fitted with a lockable lid.
Arrange for the container located
in a safe position outside the building. Ideally this container will be of
metal construction and fitted with a lockable lid. Arrange for the container to be emptied
regularly. Do not burn rubbish on
bonfire, even if it is thought safe to do so. They can easily get out of
control and spread fire to
nearby buildings or structures.
6.) Combustible Materials
Such as packing materials, glues, solvents,
flammable, liquids or gases or stored in the workplaces, it is recommended that:
The amounts
brought into the premises should be kept to a minimum and sufficient for the day's work only.
The bulk
supplies of such materials should be locked in a secure store, preferably outside the main premises.
7.) Hazardous Materials
If you use paints, solvents, adhesive, chemicals
or gas cylinders. Keep them in separate storage areas and well away from any sources of ignition. Gas
cylinders, even when empty, can explode when exposed to heat.
8.) Arson and Deliberate Fire
Setting
The setting of
deliberate fires by vandals, thieves or disgruntled persons is,
unfortunately, on the increase. Over 50% of major fires in the UK are
caused by arson. Help prevent this happening to your workplace by
ensuring that all doors, windows, gates and fences are secured
effectively, especially when it is closed at night and over the weekend.
Waste materials and rubbish are easy targets for the arsonist, so ensure
that all such material is carefully stored away and not left lying
about where it can be easily ignited.
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