Industrial fires and explosions cost companies and governments billions of dollars every year, not to mention the loss of life, which can’t be described in monetary terms.
According to the most recent fire statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
- An average of 37,000 fires occurs at industrial and manufacturing properties every year.
- These incidents result in.
- 18 civilian deaths,
- 279 civilian injuries, and
- $1 billion loss in direct property damage.
These disasters happen for many reasons, often because managers and employees aren’t aware of the risks that surround them at work every day.
According to one estimate the major losses reported by the Indian Insurance Companies in the year 2007-2008 indicate, that about 45% of the claims are due to fire losses. According to another estimate about Rs. 1000 cores are lost every year due to fire. Fire losses are reported both in industrial and non-industrial premises like hospitals, commercial complexes, educational institutions, assembly halls, hotels, residential buildings, etc… According to Fire Risk Survey (FRS) 2013, carried out by Pinkerton & Federation of Indian Chambers and Industry, in India, fire accounted for 8.45% of the overall ranking of risks. FRS also revealed that fire has been rated as the 5th highest risk in industry in 2013.