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Alameda County Law Library Building
125 - 12th Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94607 · 510-272-6920

Risk Management Unit, a part of the CAO
Employee Safety

Fire Prevention

Every year, there are approximately 4,000 office fires in the United States. These fires result in business disruption, millions of dollars in property damage, numerous injuries, and a few fatalities. Although most of the fires in office buildings occur in the kitchen/cooking area, these fire result in the least amount of property damage. Fires in the office area account for the second most common area of occurrence, but these fires account for the most amount of property damage. This is because of the use of numerous electrical and electronic equipment, the use of personal heaters, and the storage of combustible material near these equipment and heaters.

The best time to think about fire prevention is before a fire starts. All employees should do the following:

  • Practice good housekeeping in and around your workstation and keep aisles clear.
  • Turn off all electrical appliances at the end of the day.
  • Keep combustible material away from heat producing equipment such as copiers, personal heaters, coffee makers and hot plates.
  • Do not overload electrical outlets, power strips, and extension cords.
  • Check electrical cords on appliance and computer equipment periodically and replace them if they are damaged.

Training:

  • On-site fire inspections of your Agency/Department are available by request through the Risk Management Unit. To request an inspection, Please contact Laura Kitsch, Risk Analyst / Safety Manager at 510-272-6698 or tie-line 2-6698.
  • On-site classes at the Agency/Department are available by request through the Risk Management Unit. To schedule a class, Please contact Laura Kitsch, Risk Analyst / Safety Manager at 510-272-6698 or tie-line 2-6698.

Resources:

Safety Regulations: