As an employer, it is a company's duty to ensure the safety of workers. When proper safety equipment is not present to prevent worker injury, accidents can happen. This was the case in an Indianapolis warehouse where an employee was recently injured in a fire.
Firefighters responded to a call of a fire at an h.h. gregg warehouse around 12:30 a.m. in Indianapolis on March 10. According to the Indianapolis Star, the fire occurred in the storage room of the warehouse, located on the city's northeast side
The Star reported an employee was the one who noticed the fire in a room where dryers and mattresses were stored. After he returned to the scene of the fire from notifying management, the flames were quickly spreading.
An employee was injured as a result of the fire after they tried to put out the flames with an extinguisher, according to the Star. The individual was taken to Community North Hospital for treatment of slight smoke inhalation.
Due to the size of the warehouse, firefighters encountered difficulty in getting the fire to subside, the article stated. The amount of damages as a result of the fire have not been released.
According to ABC affiliate RTV6, it took fire crews about an hour to contain the flames.
A fire detector sensor could have prevented the injuries the h.h. gregg employee sustained in the warehouse fire. Working detector sensors will notify employees of a fire before it spreads too far. Notification of the danger will give employees time in reaching safety and calling for help before injuries can occur.
OSHA can issue safety violations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration can choose to investigate the fire. If an investigation is issued, the federal agency may find evidence to issue safety violations to the owners of the warehouse. According to OSHA, employers are responsible for complying with the standards and regulations set and must keep workplaces free of serious recognized hazards.
Industrial Safety News brought to you by Safety Systems Technology, Inc., leaders in fire and gas detection systems.