Some Tips on Preventing Wildfires
Posted:
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
Category:
OSHA and Safety
After the catastrophic September wildfires in Texas, some basics to remember, courtesy of the Texas Forest Service, to prevent starting an accidental fire and causing another wildfire disaster in the future:
- Don’t do any outdoor burning, especially during the driest times of the year.
- If you have to do any burning at all, make sure to use a burn barrel or other fire-safe receptacle with a wire mesh. Stay with your fire until it is out.
- Mind the sparks when welding.
- Keep mufflers and spark arresters in good shape and beware of rocks and metal when bush hogging or mowing. These can throw out sparks that can ignite dry grass.
- Keep an eye on hay-baling operations; dry hay can ignite within the baler.
- Avoid driving or parking a vehicle in areas where dry grass can come into contact with hot pollution-control equipment under vehicles. The grass can catch fire.
The basics are the stuff to prevent accidents (and disasters) from happening in the first place. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has required safety training for workers across America. OSHA 10 hour and OSHA 30 hour training are two courses that teach workers how to identify, mitigate, and avoid or prevent hazards in the workplace.
OSHA 10 hour training is for the entry-level worker and is intended to teach the worker to recognize, reduce, and prevent hazards in the workplace. OSHA 30 hour training, on the other hand, is a comprehensive safety program designed for safety directors, foremen, and field supervisors.
