Depending on where you work, open flames might be a common occurrence. However, these flames can quickly get out of hand if you aren’t careful. That’s why it’s important to be as safe as you can when using these flames. Doing so will let you get your job done while also keeping your workplace safe…
Open Flames: Practice Good Safety
Avoid flammable materials
The danger with open flames is how much less control a person has over them. As a result, the risk of them spreading is much higher than more-controlled flames. Therefore, you’re going to want to minimize that risk as much as you can. One way to do this is to keep flammable materials away from the flames.
OSHA requires workers to keep flammable liquids at least 50 feet away from the open flame. However, it’s best to keep them even further away if you can. Also, you’ll want to make sure they’re stored properly. You should store these materials in areas which clearly let others know they’re flammable.
Wear protective gear
Working with open flames can be very dangerous. If a worker isn’t careful, they can easily get burned by the fire. Of course, it’s important to minimize this risk as best as one can. The best way to do this is to make sure proper safety gear is worn at all times.
You’ll want to make sure you wear the right gear for the job you’re doing. For example, if you’re using tongs to hold something over the flame, then you’ll want flame-resistant gloves and goggles. However, if you have to get closer to the flame, you’ll want to make sure you use full-body protection, like flame-resistant suits.
Prepare for emergencies
On top of everything else, open flames can be a pretty unpredictable. You might not be able to fully control a flame, despite taking all the right precautions. When that happens, you’ll want to get the situation quickly under control. That’s why it’s important to prepare for potential emergencies.
Make sure you have fire extinguishers on-hand and easily accessible in case a flame needs to be controlled. If the flame gets out of hand, make sure you know where the fire alarms are so you can quickly let everyone know somethings wrong. You’ll also want to be well-versed in the emergency evacuation policies as well. Plus, make sure you have first-aid kits on hand just in case.