Authorities are continuing an investigation into a fire that killed an Illinois man at his business April 5. According to the Daily Herald, the man killed in the blaze was Kurt Cina, owner of Trinity Landscape of Northern Illinois in Carpentersville.
Alan Popp, the city's public safety director, was expected to meet with state authorities to discuss the investigation into the cause of the fire at the Trinity Landscape warehouse where landscaping equipment and supplies were stored. Cina's body was found near a door of the warehouse when firefighters arrived on scene shortly before 5 p.m.
The day after the fire, debris from the building continued to smolder and the warehouse was blocked off from the rest of the industrial park where the business was located as officials tried to piece together the incident, the article stated.
Fire safety regulations
In regards to fire safety at work sites, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets regulations for employers to abide by to maintain employee safety.
OSHA focuses on fire safety due to fires being a major cause of injury and death in the workplace. If the proper precautions and equipment are used in factories and other places where fires may develop, employee injury can be prevented.
The construction industry, as well as other general industries that deal with flammable and explosive components, is required to abide by OSHA regulations. Some states have an OSHA-approved State Plan which includes additional adopted standards and regulations.
Written fire prevention plans are required by OSHA for employers with more than 10 employees. The plans must also be available for employees to review and understand in case a fire ever erupts and they need to seek safety.
In the prevention plans, employers are required to list all major fire hazards. They must also list the proper procedures to handle and store hazardous materials as well as include listings for potential ignition sources and the type of fire protection equipment needed to control every major hazards in a workplace location.
Additional minimum elements of a fire prevention plan include the procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials, lists of those responsible for controlling hazardous materials and the procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards on heat-producing equipment in order to prevent accidental fires or combustion.
Proper safety equipment including an industrial fire alarm can aid in alerting employees if a fire has broken out and can help them reach safety.
Industrial Safety News brought to you by Safety Systems Technology, Inc., leaders in fire and gas detection systems.
