Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley and Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator Megan Lockhart discuss heater safety.

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Director/Host: Alyssa Burley

Guest: Megan Lockhart

Producer/Editor: Lauren Stumpf

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence

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transcript

[Introduction Music]

Alyssa Burley: Hi! This is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa’s Media Communications and Client Services Department. Thank you for listening to today’s top Rancho Mesa news brought to you by our safety and risk management network, StudioOne™. Welcome back, everyone. My guest is Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator with Rancho Mesa. Today, we’re going to discuss heater safety. Megan, welcome to the show.

Megan Lockhart: Thanks for having me in the studio.

AB: As winter and colder weather is now upon us, the use of portable heaters in the workplace/worksite is increasing. And electric or gas heaters are very handy to supplement insufficient heat in offices and jobsites; however, they can create hazards if not used properly. Megan, people use heaters in homes all the time, why should an employee be careful when using them in the workplace or on a jobsite?

ML: Well, without careful monitoring, heaters can create an electric shock hazard, burns to users, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, or possibly even explosions.

AB: How can employees safely use space heaters in the workplace?

ML: Well first, it’s important to understand that many heater fires are a result of the heat source being too close to combustible materials. That means maintain at least 36 inches between the heater and any flammable materials. Also, choose a heater with a low center of gravity and place it on a level surface. Place the heater and electrical cord out of the main traffic area of a room so they do not become a trip hazard. Don’t place the heater in locations that are normal paths of travel. And never drape or lay materials, such as wet clothing, over a space heater. Also, never leave a portable heater unattended.  Turn it off and unplug the heater when you leave the area.

AB: Are their ventilation concerns when using a portal heater?

ML: Yes, maintain you have proper ventilation. So, follow all manufacturer warnings and instructions. Fuel-burning heaters require ventilation to prevent the buildup of flammable gases and vapors. The accumulation of poisonous carbon monoxide is a concern with heaters that burn fuels. So, make sure that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are installed in critical locations throughout the work area and test them periodically.

AB: Are there specific things that should be checked when using an electrical-powered heater?

ML: Yes, you’ll need to maintain and inspect the equipment to detect problems, like poor connections or electrical wire damage. Also, make sure the circuits providing electricity to the heater are not overloaded.

AB: Are there areas where a portal heater just should never be used?

ML: Yes, you should never use a portable heater where it can ignite combustible or flammable materials. These are things like paper, wood debris, cardboard, and even frayed curtains or carpets can ignite if they are placed too close. Never use them in an area where there might be a possibility of an explosive atmosphere. Or, in a wet environment or where moisture may be prevalent. For electric heaters, moisture or water presents an additional risk to electrical shock.

AB: What should you consider when buying a portable heater?

ML: For a portable heater (either gas or electric), be sure that it’s an approved model from a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters’ Laboratories.

And assure that it has a safety "automatic turn-off device" that will turn the heater off if it is accidently tipped over or if overheating occurs.

AB: Megan, if listeners want to learn more about heater safety, where should they look?

[Outro Music]

ML: Listeners can utilize Rancho Mesa’s safety resources to get safety training materials on proper heater usage.

AB: Megan, thanks for joining me in StudioOne™.

ML: Thanks for having me.

AB: This is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa. Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne™. For more information, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.