Space Heater Fire Safety: Space Heaters Add Warmth and Risks

by Kristin Garland, Consulting Safety Officer, Safety Partners, Inc.
Denise Aronson, President, Safety Partners, Inc.
Kim Caserta, Consulting Safety Officer, Safety Partners, Inc.

With New Hampshire's bitter, winter weather come an increased use of alternative heat sources and an accompanying increased threat of fires. And, one of every space heater fire causes a fatality. In 2007, 32 percent of structure fires in New Hampshire were related to heating. In the neighboring Massachusetts, there is an average of 12 space heater fires each year with an average dollar loss of $48,700.

While those figures are concerning, there are things you can do to minimize risk and work comfortably without donning the long johns you wear skiing at Cannon Mountain.

First, report all complaints of cold offices and lab space to the facilities manager. This will make it possible for management to evaluate the problem and make any necessary adjustments.

If attempts to adjust the temperature of an area are unsuccessful, a space heater may be used under very strict controls and only if building management and local ordinances allow its use.

Here are some safety precautions to follow when using space heaters in your facility:

1. Make sure the heater is approved for use by the facilities manager.
2. Use only heating equipment labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratoratories (UL).
3. Make sure that the space heater is appropriate for use in the company space.
4. Place heater out of high-traffic areas and on a level, hard, non-flammable floor surface. Do not place it on a carpet, desk, or countertop.
5. Use heaters with timers, tip-over automatic shut down controls, heating element guards, and other built-in safety features.
6. The heater must be placed in full view.
7. Maintain a safety zone of at least three feet around the heater. Keep combustible materials away from it.
8. Do not place any items on top of a space heater.
9. Never run a space heater unattended.
10. Turn the heater off when you leave the room.
11. Unplug all space heaters at the end of each work day.
12. Keep all space heaters away from water. Never have one near a sink or toilet.
13. Keep the power cord away from any traffic area.
14. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy-duty cord marked with a power rating at least as high as that on the label on the heater.

Space heaters help take the chill out of a workspace, but not without risk. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the major cause of these winter fires can be attributed to faulty and improper use and maintenance of supplemental heating equipment, such as space heaters. By taking these precautions you can help make sure that your company safely uses this equipment.

 

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Safety Partners efficiently and cost-effectively implements hands-on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs at emerging life sciences companies. Safety Partners tailors its programs to each client's unique science, processes, procedures, and facilities, while reducing program implementation burdens. Its expertise is unmatched, clocking over 85,000 hours at over 120 New England life sciences firms.