The leading cause of workplace fires might surprise you

When heating up a quick lunch at the office, potential fire risks may be the last thing on your mind.

Office breakrooms often just have basic cooking equipment such as a microwave, toaster oven or coffee maker. But, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is the leading cause of non-residential building fires, accounting for 30% of incidents.

So, how can heating up lunch or toasting a bagel become a workplace fire safety risk?

A small kitchen fire can have a big impact on workplace fire safety

It’s easy to assume that if a fire does start in an office kitchen microwave, it may be small or easy to contain, but the reality is actually quite different.

In 58% of non-confined, non-residential building fires, the fire spreads beyond the room it originated in, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Once flames or smoke escape the kitchen, the impact can quickly extend to the rest of the facility.

Within minutes, a fire caused by a microwave could escalate into building-wide damage.

How office cooking fires typically start

Employees are busy, so taking a “quick lunch” is a common mindset. Workers who are distracted or multi-tasking while preparing food are more prone to leaving microwaves and toaster ovens unattended while cooking, which can lead to fires. And, although job functions are often clearly defined in an office environment, knowing who oversees shared kitchen equipment can be a different story. Since the office microwave or toaster oven are shared appliances, there is often no clear ownership or routine cleaning to remove food debris or grease buildup, leading to potential fire risks.

Limited space and electrical outlets in office kitchens can also cause cooking devices to be plugged into power strips or overloaded outlets.

A small kitchen fire can have a big impact on employee safety and productivity

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that non-residential building fires most frequently occur between 2 to 7 p.m. during the workday.

These fires during peak work hours can put your employees’ safety at risk. Non-residential building fires have contributed to an annual average of 90 deaths and 1,1 25 injuries across the U.S.

Even small fires can place employees at risk of burns and smoke inhalation.

And even without injuries, experiencing a fire is certainly nerve-wracking and can significantly disrupt your employees’ concentration, focus and sense of well-being.

Fires can also trigger alarms, cause large-scale evacuations and require emergency response, which can halt office productivity, increase downtime and make it harder to get back to everyday work operations.

What can you do to help prevent an office kitchen fire

Simple, everyday prevention practices can go a long way in helping to prevent office kitchen fires:

• Never leave cooking appliances unattended
• Plug microwaves and toaster ovens directly into wall outlets
• Keep paper products and packaging away from heat sources
• Plan and assign responsibility to regularly clean shared appliances to avoid debris and grease buildup
• Set clear expectations for breakroom use

These easy-to-follow steps can help keep everyday cooking from turning into a serious incident.

What to do if a kitchen fire does happen

Prevention is important, but being prepared is key to improving workplace fire safety.

Since fire can easily spread from the kitchen to other parts of the building, your staff needs to know what to do if a fire does break out.

Important questions to consider:

• Are exit lights clearly marked and unobstructed near breakrooms?
• Do employees know when to evacuate versus when to intervene?
• Is fire protection equipment visible and accessible near kitchen areas?

Clear guidance along with easily accessible and visible workplace fire safety equipment can help reduce hesitation and confusion when seconds matter.

Partner with a trusted resource for workplace fire safety

Being prepared, keeping your employees safe and staying compliant are important priorities for any business.

When it comes to workplace fire safety, partnering with a trusted and knowledgeable fire protection provider like Cintas can help ensure you have the up-to-date, accessible and compliant fire safety equipment you need to stay prepared — without adding more responsibilities to your plate.

Download our helpful Fire Safety visual to print and hang in your workplace kitchen!

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Learn how Cintas Fire Protection can help you protect what matters most.