| House And Garden Equipment |
Power Lawn Mowers
Power lawn mowers can be great time savers. However, about 50,000 people
receive hospital emergency room treatment yearly for injuries associated
with power lawn mowers. Every year operators of power mowers receive
severe cuts and amputations when they try to clear the discharge chute
of grass clippings and other debris or adjust the machine while it
is still operating. A power mower should be turned off and the spark
plug disconnected before any work is done on it. Care should be exercised
when operating an electric mower so that the cord does not become entangled
in the blades.
Not all victims hurt in power mower accidents are operators. By-standers
are also injured when the mower with a great deal of force propels rocks,
twigs and other objects on the ground. Raking the area before cutting
the grass may prevent that type of accident.
Wearing sturdy shoes, rather than sandals or sneakers, will give better
protection to the feet when cutting grass with a power lawn mower.
Insecticides/Pesticides/Toxic Household Substances
Spring and summer gardening may mean an increased usage of insecticides,
pesticides and weed killers. The Fire Department reminds people with
young children to store and lock up all toxic substances out of their
reach. A tragic accidental poisoning could be the result of storing household
and garden products underneath the kitchen sink or in an open shed. Pesticides
and insecticides will soon be available in child-protection packaging
to prevent accidental poisonings.
A number of general household products are already sold in safety packages,
such as drain cleaner, turpentine, lighter fluid, oil of wintergreen,
windshield washer solution, and furniture polish. Fire Officials urge
consumers to buy products with child-resistant packaging when available.
Swimming Pools
Each year some 40,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms
for injuries associated with in-ground swimming pools. The greatest number
of those injuries is a result of falls on slippery surfaces surrounding
pools. Installation of non-slip material around the pool could make the
area safer. It is also a good idea to place rescue and first aid equipment
nearby. Keeping electrical appliances, such as radios, away from the
swimming pool will reduce hazards of electric shock.
Consumers who may be building swimming pools this season should consider
constructing a tall fence on all sides of the pool. Young children drown
each summer because they wander into swimming pools unnoticed. And for
this reason, the swimming pool should not be directly accessible from
house or patio doors.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills come into prominent use in the spring and summer. Extreme
caution should be taken when cooking on charcoal grills to prevent painful
burn injuries and inhalation of smoke and gases. Gasoline should never
be used in place of charcoal lighter fluid. And never reapply charcoal
lighter fluid after the fire has started; the flames can ignite the vapors,
and travel up to the can causing an explosion.
Charcoal grills should never be used in confined spaces, such as homes,
campers or tents, or any other area not properly ventilated.
El Paso Fire Officials would like to remind the residents living in apartment
complexes and apartment managers about laws regulating the usage of “any” grills,
whether charcoal or gas, under a covered combustible walkway, combustible
decks or covered combustible balconies.
Under the International Fire Code:
Chapter 3 General Precautions Against Fire,
- Section 305 -- Ignitions Sources, Subsections 305.4 -- Deliberate
or negligent burning: It shall be unlawful to deliberately or through
negligence
set fire to or cause the burning of combustible material in such
a manner as to endanger the safety of persons or property.
- Section
308 -- Open Flames, Subsections 308.3.1 – Open-flame
cooking devices: Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices
shall
not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048
mm) of combustible construction.
- Subsection 308.3.1.1 -- Liquefied-petroleum-gas-gas-fueled
cooking devices: LP-gas burners having an LP-gas container with
a capacity
greater than
2.5 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity] shall not
be located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3080 mm) of combustible
construction.
Please take the necessary precautions to avoid any fires at your facility
and avoid any possible citations or fines. A citation shall be issued
to the person, owning or operating the grill being used at the time within
the prohibited area. The E.P.F.D. will allow the storage w/o the propane
tank of the “grills” on the balconies, decks, or walkways.
The Fire Department units will report any unauthorized usage to the Fire
Prevention Division and we will investigate and shall take the necessary
actions to correct the violation.
Managers: It will be your responsibility to report any unauthorized
usage of a grill within the prohibited areas. You may want to make copies
of this letter and distribute to the tenants; post the letter in a conspicuous
place; or advise your tenants at time of lease/rental agreement.
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