7 Ways to Reduce Fire Hazards on the Construction Site
Help your crew practice fire safety with these tips.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments respond to an estimated 8,440 fires in structures under construction, renovation, or demolition every year. These fires cost around $310 million in property damage and result in around 130 civilian injuries and several fatalities.
On Fire Prevention Day, review these simple and effective ways to reduce fire hazards on the construction site and keep your crew safe:
Have a fire plan
Enact physical barriers around the construction site
Ban smoking on the site
Handle and store combustible materials with care
Clean the area at the end of each day
Ban cooking equipment on the site
Make fire extinguishers readily available
Learn more about each of these fire safety tips to keep your construction crews and worksites safe below.
Have a fire plan
Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you are prepared to handle fire hazards on the construction site. Establish a plan for the site that includes designating an individual responsible for site safety. Make sure to include procedures that everyone needs to follow in case a fire occurs, such as reporting the fire and safe evacuation. Having a plan in case the worst happens can help protect property and lives.
Put up physical barriers around the construction site
Construction sites may be at risk of vandalism, theft, and arson. Improving security on the site can help reduce the risk of unauthorized entry and the potential for fires. Consider putting up physical barriers around the site and install electronic detection systems or hire security guards to monitor the property after hours.
Ban smoking on the site
Smoking is a serious fire risk for any construction site. A strict “no smoking” policy is needed to help reduce fire hazards associated with ash or carelessly discarded cigarettes. Make sure that this policy is communicated to all employees and contractors on your crew. If needed, you could establish a designated safe smoking area away from the site for employee breaks.
Handle and store combustible materials with care
Flammable and combustible liquids and gases must be stored and handled carefully so that they don’t present fire hazards on the construction site. Limit these dangerous materials on the site and designate safe storage locations for combustible items. Training your crew on the dangers of these materials can help ensure they know how to handle and store them properly.
Clean the area at the end of each day
End each workday by cleaning up waste and other rubbish that are on the site. These materials could prove to be fire hazards, so it’s best to keep the area as clean as possible once work is done. Place trash and disposal bins a safe distance away from structures to further prevent the risk of fire.
Ban cooking equipment on the site
While an on-site break area can be safe, do not allow workers to bring any cooking equipment onto the construction site. Cooking equipment like grills, microwave ovens, and hot plates can quickly turn into fire hazards if they malfunction or are left unattended. It’s best to avoid using these tools and keep them away from the construction site.
Make fire extinguishers readily available
Our last fire safety tip is to make fire extinguishers easily accessible across the construction site. Until fire sprinklers are activated and working, fire extinguishers can be used to contain a fire and minimize damage in the case of an emergency. Automatic sprinklers should be activated as soon as it’s possible and makes sense during the project.
Follow these fire safety tips to avoid and prevent fire hazards on the construction site. Find more helpful tips for the construction trades on our blog.
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