Rarely do two people working in the same space feel comfortable at the same temperature, which means it is important to prepare for the season with a few reminders about portable space heaters.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2011 (the most recent year for data), heating equipment accounted for more than 1,520 civilian injuries, 400 civilian deaths, and more than $893 million in direct property damage in an estimated 53,600 reported home structure fires.*
It’s important to remind your tenants to have guidelines in place, and to clearly post safety reminders, to reduce the risk of fire in the workplace.
GUIDELINES FOR USING SPACE HEATERS
- Space heaters must be approved by an OSHA recognized laboratory (Underwriters Laboratory, Factory Mutual, or the Canadian Standards Association, for example)
- Space heaters must be equipped with a tip-over switch
- Space heaters must NEVER be used with extension cords; always plug the unit directly into the wall outlet
- ONLY use space heaters that are clean and in good repair. Do NOT use heaters with missing or broken parts (including knobs, grills, or stands)
- NEVER leave the space heater on overnight, or if you are away from your desk/workspace for more than a few minutes
- Place space heaters AT LEAST THREE FEET from anything that can burn, including walls, furniture, supplies/paper, or the trash can
- Clean the area around your space heater every day, to ensure dust, dirt, or stray bits of paper have not accumulated on or near the unit
At Shockley Electric, we understand that a comfortable workspace leads to happier tenants and a more productive business environment.
When our Commercial Property Managers have questions or concerns, they know they can call Shockley Electric, their dedicated commercial electrician, to meet all their electrical service needs.
