Potential Fire Hazards in the Workplace

Onsite Combustible Materials

Combustible materials are used all around us in our day-to-day lives and the workplace is no different. No matter the setting, there are likely to be a number of combustible materials on-site that pose a fire hazard in the workplace if exposed to a flame or spark. We all know that wood and paper are highly flammable, but plastic, rubber, cloth and straw are other materials to consider. Non-combustible material should be chosen wherever possible in workplaces, especially where fire risk is high.

Any business or organisation that has storage units needs to be aware of the potential fire risks when there is a significant amount of flammable material in one place. Other common culprits are paper or cardboard packaging that has not been discarded properly.

In addition, industries that use or stock fuels of any kind, such as coal or charcoal, need to be aware of how they store these combustible materials so that the risks of it catching fire are reduced and if this does occur, it cannot spread to other combustible materials.

Flammable Liquids

Although less commonly found than combustible solids, certain workplaces will have fire hazards associated with combustible liquids that they should be aware of. Flammable liquids can be difficult to control if they are not stored properly. This means they should be stored and used responsibly to reduce common fire hazards in the workplace, no matter where they are found. Any sort of mechanical workplace, such as a car garage, will be exposed to many combustible liquids such as greases, lubricants, kerosene oil, diesel or petrol fuel and other oils.

In addition, flammable liquids can be found even in less-specialised workplaces. People who work with oil-based paint, cooking gas and certain cleaning solvents should be aware of potential fire hazards in the workplace associated with these flammable liquids.

Faulty Electrical Equipment

Nowadays, most workplaces use electrical equipment in some capacity. Electrical equipment that is old, damaged or faulty can pose a significant fire risk due to the creation of sparks. If the sparks make contact with any of the combustible materials mentioned above, they will catch fire and spread rapidly, causing a major workplace fire hazard. Companies that work with large electrical equipment are at the most risk but even small offices or shops that use wires to connect small electrical devices can face this, too.

Human Error

One of the simplest fire hazards in a workplace is human error. Any small lapse in concentration or act of carelessness can cause a fire to break out. This could include accidentally putting combustible materials in a hot or exposed environment or smoking in an unsuitable area. This is why fire safety training is vital in all workplaces.

Build-Up of Dust

Without proper ventilation, dust build-up can cause a significant fire risk in industries that work with wood, plastic and other construction materials. If the dust builds up on equipment and machinery, it could cause blockages and faults that cause the equipment to malfunction or overheat, potentially causing explosions. In addition, the dust itself is flammable and could catch fire from the smallest of sparks which then spreads. To avoid this common fire hazard in the workplace, settings such as factories and warehouses should aim to keep machinery free of dust and install extraction fans where the dust could be airborne.

Equipment that Generates Heat

All electrical equipment and machinery pose the risk of overheating and causing a fire, especially if dust or other combustible materials are nearby. Again, this can occur with large machinery in factories just as much as it can with an office computer. This risk can be mitigated by turning off equipment whenever it is not in use if possible and keeping electrical equipment away from combustible materials.

For help with passive fire protection that reduces fire hazards in the workplace, contact Ark Fire Protection today.