Seven Statistics on Fire Safety

The United States and Canada recently observed Fire Prevention Week. Here are seven statistics relating to fires in the workplace and at home.

1. Chemicals, electricity, combustible materials, flammable liquids, smoking, compressed gases and poor housekeeping are seven major contributors to workplace fires.
2. Fourthings your employees need to know about fire safety are: the location of two emergency exits closest to their work areas; the location of the nearest fire alarm pull station and how to use it; the emergency number to call (911 or otherwise) in case of a workplace fire; and what they need to do if a workplace fire breaks out.
3. About 200workers die in workplace fires each year across the US. (OSHA)
4. Fires kill about eight people in Canada each week. (Fire Prevention Canada)
5. Twoout of five home fires start in the kitchen. (National Fire Protection Association)
6. About 100firefighters die in the line of duty each year in the US. (Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness)
7. Coffee makers, space heaters and hotplates left on while no one is in the office are threesignificant contributors to workplace fires. (Fire Prevention Canada)

Fire Prevention Week has been recognized every October since 1922 (1923 in Canada) in memory of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed more than 250 people, left 10,000 homeless and destroyed some 17,400 structures. For Fire Prevention Week 2013, running Oct. 6-12, the theme is “Prevent kitchen fires.” Here are seven statistics relating to fires in the workplace and home: