The most common causes of house fires don’t tend to vary much among different populations. You can’t say the same of fires in commercial spaces. Every industry comes with a different set of fire risks. The people employed in these industries ought to know the most common causes of fire at their workplace. Today, we’d like to address the most common causes of fire in a few industries.
Do you know the most common cause of fire in your industry?
Office Spaces
We know—these days, fewer people are working in offices than in decades prior. But for much of recent history, a significant chunk of professional work has taken place in office buildings among various industries.
The leading cause of fires in office buildings may surprise you. Most people would probably assume that electrical fires are the most common, owing to the abundance of computers and other electronic equipment in offices.
In fact, the most common cause of fire in office spaces is cooking. ‘Kitchen’ fires in office buildings account for nearly 30% of fires in these spaces annually—much higher than any other causes of fire.
We know that when you’re at the office, you might have other things on your mind than safety while cooking. But please follow your best practices, and take note of where the nearest fire extinguisher is.
Manufacturing Plants and Factories
If you work in a more industrial sector, you face a different set of fire safety threats. It is somewhat challenging to find the precise statistics about what most commonly causes industrial fires. This is because what goes on in manufacturing plants and factories is highly variable.
Still, here are some common causes of fires in industrial spaces you should keep an eye out for:
- ‘Hot work’ such as welding or torch cutting
- Overloaded electrical equipment
- Combustible dust and flammable liquids
Every manufacturing industry ought to have a fire protection professional come out to assess their risk of fire. With the help of a professional, you can take steps to reduce your risk.
Restaurants
If you work at a restaurant or other commercial kitchen, it’s probably not too difficult to guess the most common causes of fires in your industry. That’s right—it’s kitchen fires. Thankfully, there are a slew of steps you can take today to reduce the risk of a fire in your restaurant.
For one thing, you should review how to react during a fire with your coworkers or subordinates. In kitchens, it’s especially pertinent that you brush up on what to do during a grease fire, as those pose a whole different set of issues.
Finally, make sure that your kitchen equipment is not defective and that your fire suppression system is in working order. This includes a system to cut off gas and electricity, as well as your fire sprinklers and fire extinguishers.
Residential and Commercial Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience in designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.