Is it cold in your office? January is typically the coldest month of the year in New Jersey and if your building’s heating system is not up to the challenge, it can be tempting for staff to bring in portable heaters from home in an attempt to stave off the shivers. It is important to be aware that a portable heater can potentially be the cause of a workplace fire, which could endanger staff, damage your business premises and lead to a claim on your New Jersey business insurance. Here are a few safety precautions to keep in mind when using portable space heaters in your workplace:

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from any potential source of ignition. This can include paper, coats hanging on the back of chairs and blinds.
• Plug heaters directly into the wall, never into a power strip as this could overload circuits and cause a fire.
• Make sure heaters are in good condition and well maintained.
• Never place anything on top of a portable heater. Don’t let employees dry their wet gloves or jackets on heaters.
• Make sure heaters are turned off at the end of the day and preferably unplugged.

Keeping warm this winter doesn’t have to endanger your employees or your building. Taking care to reduce the risk of fire from portable heaters in your office can help keep everyone warm, safe and may even reduce the risk of having to claim for fire damage on your New Jersey business insurance.
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