Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Page 2
Page 3
BURNING ISSUES
Space Heaters
With cooler weather approaching the workforce should remember space heaters are for temporary use only. Space heaters are not authorized at the organization level except for emergencies such as no heat and are generally prohibited for energy conservation purposes IAW CAM Reg 420-5, however when permitted approval by DPW shall be required. Space heater use is on case by case bases. Space heaters are not substitutes for central heating, nor are they designed for extended use. Occupants should dress appropriately for the cooler conditions. Do and Donts Safety Tips if Space Heaters are used: Do select a space heater that is rated by the manufacturer for the size space you intend to heat. Do make sure the heating equipment has the label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory (UL). Do plug heater into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord. Do use heater on the floor. Do kept at least 36 inches from any combustible materials such a furniture and paper. Do check for fraying or splitting wires, or overheating. Have problems repaired by a professional before operating the space heater. Dont position heaters near water or where there is danger of water being spilled, to avoid serious risk of electric shock. Dont hide cords under rugs or carpets. Placing anything on top of a cord could cause it to overheat, and can cause fire. Dont ever place heaters on furniture, since they may fall, dislodging or breaking parts in the heater, which could result in a fire or shock hazard. Dont leave space heaters operating when you are not in the room. Dont put drying clothing or combustibles over heaters.
Page 4
Carbon monoxide
Although the popularity of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms has been growing in recent years, it cannot be assumed that everyone is familiar with the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home. Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Facts & figures
The dangers of CO exposure depend on a number of variables, including the victim's health and activity level. Infants, pregnant women, and people with physical conditions that limit their body's ability to use oxygen (i.e. emphysema, asthma, heart disease) can be more severely affected by lower concentrations of CO than healthy adults would be. A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time. In 2005, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 61,100 non-fire CO incidents in which carbon monoxide was found, or an average of seven such calls per hour. The number of incidents increased 18 percent from 51,700 incidents reported in 2003. This increase is most likely due to the increased use of CO detectors, which alert people to the presence of CO.
RECALLS
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. For additional information on recalls and the CPSC go to http://www.cpsc.gov/
Page 5
Nine Manufacturers, Distributors Announce Consumer Recall of Pourable Gel Fuel Due to Burn and Flash Fire Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, is announcing a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies. Due to the serious risks of flash fire and burns when consumers add pourable gel to an already burning fire pot, consumers should immediately stop using the pourable gel fuel. The recall involves an estimated 2 million units of various pourable gel fuels packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs and sold in scented and non-scented formulations, which were sold since 2008 for between $5 and $20 by the companies listed below. Consumers can contact these firms to obtain instructions for a refund of the product and for returning unused bottles and jugs: Bird Brain Inc., of Ypsilanti, Mich. Updated details 10/5/2011 Bond Manufacturing of Antioch, Calif. Updated details 9/28/2011 Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.) of Milwaukee Company web site Fuel Barons Inc. of Lake Tahoe, Nev. Updated details 9/28/2011 Lamplight Farms Inc. of Menomonee Falls, Wis.Company web site Luminosities Inc. (Windflame) of St. Paul, Minn. Updated details 9/28/2011 Pacific Dcor Ltd. of Woodinwille, Wash. Updated details 9/29/2011 Real Flame of Racine, Wis. Updated details 9/28/2011 Smart Solar Inc. of Oldsmar, Fla. Updated details 9/28/2011 The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. CPSC is aware of 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns of the face, chest, hands, arms or legs. Of the 65 incidents, 28 of them, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June 2011, in cooperation with CPSC. Also in June, CPSC issued a press statement alerting consumers to the hazards of pourable gel fuels. All pourable gel fuel, regardless of manufacturer, poses flash fire hazards. Consumers should not attempt to use or fix pourable gel fuel bottles with homemade remedies, or replace the fuel with other flammable materials. Retailers should stop sale of existing inventory and immediately remove all stock of pourable gel fuel from shelves. Some firms are working on a design for caps that may prevent flash fire hazards. https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
Page 6
This newsletter is a tool of the Fort Campbell Fire Prevention office to share the fire safety message with as many people as possible. Any questions or concerns may be addressed to joseph.r.baker28.civ@mail.mil FIRE PREVENTION TEAM
Joseph Baker Chief Fire Prevention 956-1826 Gary Coplen Fire Inspector 798-7995 Darrell Brantley Fire Inspector 412-3600 David Harwell Fire Inspector 412-4078 Wendy Ewing Fire Inspector 412-3599 David Land Fire Investigator 412-4077 Glenn Pepper Fire Inspector 412-4075