How inevitable are construction site fires?

Construction sites have always had the potential to be fire hazards. In an environment surrounded by flammable materials, complex machinery and temporary structures it is almost inevitable that fire will occur without proper vigilance, resulting in property damage, financial loss, project delays and tragically, in some cases, loss of life,. In the United States, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has identified welding, cutting and hot work as the leading causes of fires on construction sites. It is a similar situation in Europe, compounded by the inherent risks associated with construction activities, such as human error, which also plays a critical role in fire incidents. To get it all into perspective, NIOSH’s National Traumatic Occupational Fatality (NTOF) database reported 220 deaths due to fire and 354 deaths due to explosion from 1980-1995 – when such statistics were available Carelessness in handling flammable materials, failure to adhere to safety protocols and inadequate supervision can have catastrophic consequences. Smoking on site, despite strict prohibitions, further remains a common cause of fires

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