Most fires start from carelessness, and they could have been prevented. This lesson shows the most common causes and what you can do every day. It is based on § 17 of the Fire Protection Act.
Electricity
Electrical faults are among the most common causes of fire.
- Do not overload sockets or extension leads. Do not plug one extension lead into another.
- Stop using a damaged cable, socket or appliance and report it. Only people with the professional qualification may repair electrical equipment.
- Do not leave high-power appliances such as electric heaters, kettles and warmers unattended.
- Do not cover appliances that get warm, such as chargers, heaters or projectors.
- Now and then check that plugs and cables are not hot or scorched.
- At the end of the shift switch off equipment that does not need to run. Follow the workplace rules for charging batteries and accumulators.
Smoking and open flame
- Smoke only where it is allowed. Breaking a ban on smoking in a marked place is a misdemeanour under § 78 of the Fire Protection Act.
- Cigarette ends belong in a non-combustible container with sand or water. Never throw them into a paper bin.
- Do not use candles, lighters or open flame where there are combustible materials.
Flammable substances
- Store flammable materials, for example solvents, thinners, paints, cleaning products and gas cylinders, only in designated places, in closed and labelled containers and away from sources of heat.
- Keep only the smallest necessary quantity at the workplace.
- Follow the safety data sheet and the label on the container.
- Rags with oil or paint can ignite by themselves. Put them in a closed non-combustible container.
- When decanting flammable liquids, make sure there is ventilation and do not use sparking electrical appliances nearby.
Work with fire: welding, grinding, cutting
Work that can cause a fire may be done only by people with the professional qualification. § 17(3) of the Fire Protection Act forbids you to do it otherwise. The employer usually requires a written permit and measures such as removing combustible materials from the area, having an extinguisher at hand and carrying out a check after the work. Sparks and hot particles can smoulder for a long time after the work has finished. If you do such work too, follow the instructions.
Kitchens and welfare facilities
- Do not leave cookers and pans unattended. Switch them off when you leave.
- Fat and oil overheat quickly. Keep a lid or a fire blanket at hand.
- Do not dry clothes over heaters and do not cover heaters.
- Do not use unauthorised appliances, such as your own cookers.
Tidiness and escape routes
- Do not block escape routes and exits. Store nothing there, not even for a moment. This is a duty of the employer and of all of us.
- Do not lock emergency exits so that they cannot be opened from the inside.
- Do not wedge fire doors open. They must stay closed or close by themselves. They are the doors that stop fire and smoke from spreading.
- Keep access clear to extinguishers, hydrants, switchboards, gas and water shut-off valves and to manual call points (§ 17(1) of the Act).
- Do not store waste and packaging (cardboard, paper, pallets) near heat sources or exits. It is fuel.
- Follow the bans and orders on signs, for example "No open flame".
Supervision and reporting faults
If an extinguisher, a detector or a safety sign is missing or damaged, report it to your supervisor. Reporting in time is easier than dealing with the consequences. A covered detector, a sensor taped over or an extinguisher standing behind a cupboard are common reasons why a fire is not detected in time or cannot be put out.
Summary
- Most fires are caused by electricity, smoking, flammable materials and untidiness.
- Do not overload sockets, do not leave appliances unattended, and report damaged items.
- Smoke only in designated places and store flammable materials properly.
- Only a person with the professional qualification may weld or work with fire, following instructions.
- Keep escape routes, exits and access to extinguishers clear.