Applicable Statistics

Fires can occur in the workplace, and safeguarding the work environment against this hazard is the main goal of OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subparts E and L. Note the following statistics:

• Overall trends for nonresidential building fires and losses for the 10-year period of 2005 to 2014 show improvements through decreases over previous decade losses, such as:
  • An 8 percent decrease in fires
  • A 6 percent decrease in deaths
  • A 4 percent decrease in injuries
  • A 16 percent decrease in dollar loss

• National estimates for the leading reported causes of fires in nonresidential buildings for 2014 include causes, such as:
  • Cooking: 29,000 fires
  • Other unintentional, careless: 10,000 fires
  • Heating: 9,000 fires
  • Intentional: 8,800 fires

• National estimates for the leading reported causes of nonresidential building fire dollar loss for 2014 include causes, such as:
  • Open flame: $965,700,000
  • Other unintentional, careless: $271,800,000
  • Electrical malfunction: $207,600,000

• There are overall trends in the leading reported causes of fire dollar loss for the 10-year period of 2005 to 2014, such as:
  • A 313 percent increase in nonresidential open flame fire dollar loss. In 2014, there was a $600,000,000 loss to a board of education building in Kentucky.
  • A 2 percent increase in nonresidential other unintentionally or carelessly set fire dollar loss.
  • A 46 percent decrease in nonresidential electrical malfunction fire dollar loss.

To learn more about Dental & Medical Hazards visit our Dental & Medical Office Course Bundle Online Training web page.