If you talk about safety 24/7, here is an article to share with your employees.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 380,000 home structure fires per year during 2003-2007.

These fires caused an annual average of

• 2,840 civilian fire deaths,
• 13,160 civilian fire injuries, and
• $6.4 billion in direct damage.
• 92% of all structure fire deaths resulted from home fires.
• On average, eight people died in U.S. home fires every day.

Causes and Circumstances of Home Fires

Details from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System show that in 2003-2007:

• Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home structure fires

and home fire injuries.

• Smoking was the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths. Heating

equipment ranked second in home fire deaths overall, but was the

leading cause of fire deaths in one- or two-family homes

Almost all homes have at least one smoke alarm, but almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2007 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Kitchens were the leading area of fire origin.

Ø      41% of home structure fires started in the kitchen. These fires

caused 36% of civilian home fire injuries.

Ø      15% of home fire deaths also resulted from kitchen fires.

Ø      8% of reported home fires started in the bedroom. These fires

caused

Ø      24% of home fire deaths and 21% of home fire injuries.

Ø      4% of home fire deaths started in the living room, family room, or

den.  These fires caused 23% of home fire deaths and 10% of the home

fire injuries.

Ø      Fires confined to chimneys or flues accounted for 6% of all reported

home fires. These fires caused very few casualties

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 380,000 home structure fires per year during 2003-2007.

These fires caused an annual average of

• 2,840 civilian fire deaths,
• 13,160 civilian fire injuries, and
• $6.4 billion in direct damage.

• 92% of all structure fire deaths resulted from home fires.

• On average, eight people died in U.S. home fires every day.

Causes and Circumstances of Home Fires

Details from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System show that in 2003-2007:

• Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.
• Smoking was the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths. Heating equipment ranked second in home fire deaths overall, but was the leading cause of fire deaths in one- or two-family homes

Almost all homes have at least one smoke alarm, but almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2007 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Kitchens were the leading area of fire origin.

• 41% of home structure fires started in the kitchen.  These fires caused 36% of civilian home fire injuries

15% of home fire deaths also resulted from kitchen fires.

• 8% of reported home fires started in the bedroom.  These fires caused 24% of home fire deaths and 21% of home fire injuries.
• 4% of home fire deaths started in the living room, family room, or den.  These fires caused 23% of home fire deaths and 10% of the home  fire injuries.
• Fires confined to chimneys or flues accounted for 6% of all reported home fires. These fires caused very few casualties.

Recently, NFPA published a study by John R. Hall, Jr. on TheTotal Cost of Fire in the US. To see the complete paper click on the link provided.

The core of the total cost of fire was $134.2 billion in 2007. Other cost components that have been estimated only in one-time special studies may add about $42.3 billion to the total. Human losses, which many people resist converting to dollar equivalents, would add $42.5 billion in 2007 if valued along the lines discussed in this report. And the value of the donated time of volunteers is very roughly estimated as $128 billion, using the rough bases of valuation discussed here.

Adding these all together produces a total value affected by fire - lost to fire, spent to avoid or deal with fire, or donated to avoid or deal with fire - of $347 billion, or about 2.5% of U.S. gross domestic product.

It should be clear by this point that most of the analysis supporting these estimates is soft and has wide bands of uncertainty. Nevertheless, the conclusion that fire has a tremendous impact on the way the U.S. uses its scarce resources is indisputable.

It also is clear that we have a dual interest in reducing U.S. fire losses – which include human losses that are among the highest per capita in the industrial world – and in seeking ways to achieve equivalent fire safety at lower costs, since the growth in total cost of fire has been led not by the fire losses but by the other cost components. This provides a clear indication of need for product innovations or other programs (e.g., educational) that can improve fire safety at the same or lower costs. It also shows the need for improved methods (e.g., models) for calculating fire performance and costs, so the implications of different choices can be considered and judged more comprehensively.

Shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast are responsible for one worker death per day and 3,600 disabling injuries per year on average in the United States. Now NFPA 70E–the Standard developed for OSHA–is revised to address safety gaps and increase electrical worker protection, while helping companies comply with OSHA 1910 Subpart S and OSHA 1926 Subpart K. Major changes recognize new hazards and address safety gaps.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protects personnel and can significantly reduce the risk of injury in an arc flash. To help electrical engineers calculate incident energy–the vital first step in determining the correct type of PPE for a given task–revised Annex D consolidates all equations, adds new tables, and offers more options to detailed calculations.

Improved work practices reduce risks.

•A new requirement for Fire Rated clothing for H/R Category 1 precludes the use of cotton clothing. This change reduces the risks for second-degree thermal burns.
•An expanded Table in Article 130 covers added tasks such as thermographic imaging, and new equipment including arc-resistant switchgear.
•Added Article 350 provides first-time requirements for the protection of electrical personnel in R&D labs.
•A new exception verifies that 240 V and less power systems fed by a single transformer less than 125 kvs no longer require an arc flash hazard analysis.
•Expanded requirements for multi-employer relationships address potential areas of oversight.
•New recordkeeping requirements for training and safety program audits answer OSHA’s need for records.
Annexes expand knowledge about electrical safety.

•Understand the Hazard/Risk evaluation procedure with clarification and sample worksheets in Annex F.
•Evaluate layering of PPE with new Annex M–Layering of Protective Clothing and Total System Arc Rating
•Follow safe work practices with new Annex N–Example Industrial Procedures and Policies for Working Near Overhead Electrical Lines
Engineers, designers, risk managers, maintainers, safety directors, contractors, and owners need the 2009 NFPA 70E to improve worker safety and avoid citations, rising insurance fees, and increased workman’s comp costs.

According to 29 CFR 1910.106, OSHA defines a combustible liquid any liquid having a flashpoint at or above 100°F (37.8°C). Combustible liquids are divided into two classes:

• Class II liquids include those liquids with flashpoints at or above 100°F (37.8°C) and below 140°F (60°C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 200°F (93.3°C) or higher, the volume of which make up 99% or more of the total volume of the mixture
• Class III: liquids with flashpoints at or above 140°F (60° C) and are subdivided into two subclasses
• Class IIIA: liquids with flashpoints at or above 140°F (60°C) and below 200°F (93.3°C), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 200°F (93.3°C), or higher, the total volume of which make up 99% or more of the total volume of the mixture.
• Class IIIB: liquids with flashpoints at or above 200°F (93.3°C). OSHA’s combustible liquids standard does not cover Class IIIB liquids. Where the term “Class III liquids” is used in this portion of the OSHA regulations, it refers only Class IIIA liquids

 When a combustible liquid is heated for use to within 30°F (16.7°C) of its flashpoint, it must be handled in accordance with the requirements for the next lower class of liquids. This could result in a Class II liquid being treated as a flammable liquid as a result of being heated.

According to 29 CFR 1910.164(c), it is the employer’s responsibility to maintain all fire-detection systems in an operable condition, except during maintenance and repair work.  You must ensure that these systems are tested and adjusted as often as necessary to maintain reliability and operating condition.

The frequency of the tests and cleaning cycle must be determined in part by facility conditions, such as dust, as well as manufacturer recommendations.  Conditions such as the amount of dust, dirt, or other particulates may vary widely from one facility to another and therefore vary the maintenance cycle.
Factory-calibrated detectors do not need to be adjusted after installation, unless recommended by the manufacturer or service representative. However, trained personnel knowledgeable in the operation and function of the system must perform testing, cleaning, and maintenance of fire-detection systems.

You must also ensure that pneumatic and hydraulic-operated detection systems installed after Jan. 1, 1981, are equipped with supervised systems.

QUINCY, MA — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests that now is the perfect time to Get Ready! for a disaster.

September is National Preparedness Month and NFPA is urging the public to take time this month to prepare for a disaster before one strikes.

Get Ready! Preparing Your Community for a Disaster is a comprehensive disaster preparedness guide developed by NFPA to make the daunting task of preparing for the unknown more manageable. The kit was recently sent to 30,000 fire departments across the country as a resource for them to help their community prepare. Materials are also available for download at no charge. Most materials are also available in Spanish.

“Preparing yourself, your family, and your community for the unexpected can be a frightening endeavor, but being caught unprepared in the face of disaster can prove to be deadly,” said Judy Comoletti, assistant vice president of public education for NFPA. “The Get Ready! program is designed to help people develop their emergency plan by putting much needed informational materials at their fingertips.”

Disastrous events in recent years have served as reminders that there is no single preparedness tool more important than a plan. Get Ready!  Preparing Your Community for a Disaster provides a foundation for understanding what to do, where to go, and how to survive in a disaster. Informational sheets provide guidance on what to do before, during, and after an incident on the following topics: home fires, blackouts, hurricanes, landslides, thunderstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes, national security, volcanoes, extreme heat, nuclear incidents, wildfires, floods, older adults, winter storms, hazardous materials, people with disabilities, and pets. The guide also provides a lesson plan and presentation materials, making conducting a workshop easy. A family emergency plan is available for download as well as an emergency supplies kit checklist.

Get Ready! Preparing Your Community for a Disaster was developed by NFPA for fire departments nationwide. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness.

NFPA suggests the following tips to keep in mind when preparing for a disaster. Visit www.nfpa.org/disaster for more detailed information.

How to prepare before a disaster:

• Be informed
• Make a plan
• Get a kit
• Volunteer to help others

Have an emergency plan that includes:

• Escape and evacuation routes
• Family communications
• Utility shut-off and safety
• Vital records
• Specific needs
• Caring for animals
• Safety skills

Get an emergency supplies kit that at a minimum includes:

• Bottled water: A minimum three-day supply of water. A seven-day supply is best, with a three-day supply ready to take with you. One gallon of water per person, per day is recommended.
• Food: Avoid foods that cause thirst. Include canned foods, dry mixes, and other nonperishable food. Remember to include a hand can opener.
• A battery-powered radio with extra batteries or a hand-crank radio
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Sanitation and hygiene items
• Matches in a waterproof container
• A whistle
• Extra clothing
• Cooking utensils
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards
• Cash
• Items for infants
• Specific needs items
• A personal pack for children
• Download an emergency supplies kit checklist

According to 29 CFR 1910.34, all workplaces in general industry except mobile workplaces such as vehicles or vessels must have a fire prevention plan. Your facility’s fire prevention plan must include, at a minimum, the following elements, as specified in 29CFR 1910.39(c):