New home construction trends place clothes dryers and washing machines in more hazardous locations away from outside walls such as bedrooms, second-floor hallways, bathrooms, and kitchens.
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Here are some tips to follow regarding safe operation of your clothes dryer.
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Always make sure the lint filter is in place & make sure to clean it out after each use. Failure to clean out lint traps is the main cause of dryer fires
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Make sure the dryer is plugged into an outlet that is suitable for its needs.
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Make sure the dryer is properly vented and that dryer vent flaps are not freezing shut or sticking (especially in winter).
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Remove lint build up inside the vent by vacuuming occasionally.
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Pull out the dryer occasionally to vacuum away any lint behind or underneath the dryer.
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Learn how to remove the front panel of a dryer and vacuum inside to remove built up lint. (Unplug the dryer before remove the front panel)
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Do not leave the house unattended when the dryer is on.
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Do not leave flammable items near the dryer (clothes, rags, cleaning supplies, etc.).
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A dryer is an electrical (or sometimes gas) appliance, make sure it’s serviced by a professional only.
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It’s recommended your dryer use UL- listed rigid aluminum or steel duct or spiral-wound aluminum flex hose, NOT white vinyl hose
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Have a functional smoke detector placed in the laundry room (somewhere near the dryer).
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Never put mops or rags that have been used with a wax, flammable solvents or oils in the dryer.
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Never put any items lined with natural or synthetic material, such as rubber-soled running shoes, in the dryer. Foam pillows or clothing with foam padding should also be left out to air dry.
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If your clothes are taking longer than normal to dry, check for blocked pipes or lint build up. If the unit is clean, the heater coil on the unit may be malfunctioning.
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Replace ripped filters or cracked exhaust vents.
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Liquid fabric softener boosts the burning speed of all-cotton clothing including fleece, terry cloth and velour. Use dryer sheets for these clothes instead.
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Make sure the dryer is plugged into an outlet with sufficient power.
From the Courts (via Ontario Newsroom)
Hardrock Forming Co. was found guilty and fined $50,000 on August 26, 2011, after being convicted of a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
On November 4, 2008, a Hardrock employee was working on a project. The project involved a system of wooden moulds for concrete called formwork. The worker stepped on the formwork and fell through, suffering a wrist injury.
A Ministry of Labour inspector attended the project and found that the support and bracing for the formwork had been removed, but appropriate signs warning workers of the hazard had not been placed.
After a trial, Hardrock Forming Co. was fined for failing, as an employer, to ensure that signs were posted in prominent locations and in sufficient numbers to warn workers of a hazard on a project.
Picture of the Week
For the record, this is NOT an approved smoke Detector
