Summer calls for care to avoid fire mishaps. Under high temperatures, things become dry and any trigger cause fire. Its spread is so fast mostly that not possible to douse humanly without mechanical intervention.
Chances of vehicle fire, particularly AC fires, are high during peak of the summer. Keeping this in mind the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) has called for precaution against fire incidents.
"Many fire incidents happen during the summer and vulnerability become high during the peak of summer," a top official from the Authority has told the Observer.
According to him, farm and vehicle fires besides fires from malfunctioning of air conditioners as well as industrial fires keep them on their toes during the summer season.
"Vehicle fires are mainly due to unmaintained parts and overheated cables burst car ACs. Industrial fires are also mostly due to negligence as the people do not heed to HSE guidelines. Machines get overheated to external as well as mechanical functioning,” the official added.
Prevention pays off. So better to be extra careful to maintain normal functioning during the summer season than putting in bigger trouble later.
AVERT VEHICLE FIRE
* Park vehicle under a shade as much as possible
* Keep the windows of the vehicle ajar when parked as it can help emit the hot air
* Do not keep inflammable materials inside the car
* Carry out routine checks of the parts and fix the loose cables
* Do periodic checks and change filter on time
* Be aware of the use of fire extinguisher kept near the driver’s seat
* Avoid smoking as even a small spark can lead to fire since vehicle interiors are built of plastic and other highly inflammable material
One should not forget to switch off the engine immediately in case of smell of rubber or plastic burning from inside or outside of the car.
To avoid industrial fires, production houses should adhere to HSE guidelines and all the staff members should have orientation about safety norms.
The top authority of any company or factory should use explosion-proof electrical equipment and other less-dangerous materials and keep the workplace clean.
There should not be accumulation of flammable materials and if at all useful for the industry, it should not be left unattended or loose on the premises.
Industries should avoid tampering with any fire system, such as smoke detectors, if the handler is not qualified to operate it.
The usage of flammable and combustible materials need to be limited and in case the company is using them, they should be stored and handled properly.
"Training programmes on safety and security should be an ongoing process and due priority should be given to man, machine and system," the CDAA official said.
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