Did you catch the news?
“Chicago firefighters battle blaze at food processing plant” or “Fire damages Moses Lake food processing facility” are just a couple of recent examples. These aren’t isolated incidents – multiple food processing plants across the USA have been ravaged by fire.
These fires have a devastating impact, leading to lost inventory, displaced workers, and most importantly, a damaged reputation.
But is this just a coincidence, or is there something more at play?
Join us as we delve into this burning issue and explore what can be done to avoid these. Is it simply bad luck, or is there a cause for serious concern?
Concerns about Fires at U.S. Food Processing Plants:
While exact data on food processing plant fires is limited, Birgitte Messerschmidt, director of the NFPA, points out a key risk factor: food itself.
Food is fuel, and the high heat and pressure used in processing can create fire hazards!
Here is a list of fire igniting activities at a processing plant:
- Combustible Dust: Flour, grains, sugar, and even some spices can create highly flammable dust clouds. A stray spark can ignite this dust, leading to a rapid and dangerous explosion.
- Overheated Equipment: The constant operation of machinery can lead to overheating, creating ignition points for nearby flammable materials.
- Electrical Faults: Worn or overloaded electrical wiring is a major fire hazard in any industrial setting, and food processing plants are no exception.
- Human Error: Accidental misuse of equipment or failure to follow safety protocols can create sparks or introduce ignition sources.
Claim of intentional fires:
There have been recent concerns about whether fires at food processing plants in the U.S. were intentionally set. However, investigations by authorities haven’t found any evidence to support these claims.
Claim of sabotaging the food supply chain:
There have been concerns about intentional fires being set to disrupt the food supply chain. However, investigations by authorities haven’t found any evidence to support these claims.
Additionally, no single fire has caused a production shutdown long enough to create a national food crisis.
While the broader supply chain hasn’t been significantly impacted yet, each fire disrupts production and can lead to product shortages, price increases and loss of jobs.
Even without a national food crisis, these fires pose a significant threat to individual businesses and communities!.
Let’s find out how catastrophic the situation is now:
How many food processing plants have been destroyed by fire?
While there may not be a specific list for food processing plant fires, reports on all manufacturing and processing facilities may portray a broader view of total fires.
Indeed, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 36,784 fires annually (2017-2021) at industrial and manufacturing sites.
Devastating fires across US processing plants:
Unfortunately, food processing plants have been subject to devastating fires in recent years. Here are a few examples:
Moses Lake, Washington (2023): A fire heavily damaged the Basic American Foods plant, causing significant disruptions.
Hermiston, Oregon (2022): An explosion and fire ripped through Shearer’s Foods, raising concerns about safety protocols.
Chicago, Illinois (Undated): Firefighters battled a blaze at an Evans Food Group processing plant, highlighting the ongoing risk.
Montebello, Los Angeles: The large QC Poultry processing plant in Montebello, just east of East Los Angeles, caught fire.
If you’re interested in exploring other regions affected by similar disasters, take a look at this compilation of U.S. facilities that have suffered destruction, damage, or effects from “accidental fires.”
What safety measures are typically in place at food processing plants to prevent fires?
Due to the flammability of food particles, authorities invest in high-powered ventilation systems, regular cleaning to prevent dust buildup, and potentially even explosion-proof equipment in high-risk areas.
While regular training, inspections, and equipment maintenance are crucial for fire prevention, additional measures may be needed to address the persistent challenge of unknown factors in food processing plant fires.
So now what?
Hire security guards?
Security personnel at extensive food processing facilities covering hectares of land may not be enough and might be susceptible to human risk factors such as fatigue, limited resources, and the inability to judge arson danger!
Our solution?
Check out our multi-layered security approach to safeguard every inch of the food processing plant!
Securing Every Square Foot: Multi-Layered Security for Food Processing Plants.
Strategic placement of cameras:
The delay in detecting smoke and fire is the main problem. Food processing plants require a proactive security solution.
Strategic placement of different types of CCTV cameras in high-risk areas may proactively detect security breaches and may reduce plant fires and explosions.
You can place the cameras in these crucial zones:
- Cooking Equipment: Place cameras directly above and around cooking equipment like fryers, ovens, and grills. Potential overheating, spills, and grease buildup may contribute to generating a fire.
- Storage Areas: Flammable material storage areas, such as refrigeration units, are hazardous zones that should also be monitored.
- Electrical Panels and Wiring: Monitor electrical panels and areas with exposed wiring because overheating and sparks may ignite a fire.
- Entrances and Exits: While not directly related to fire prevention, having cameras at entrances and exits can help deter arson and identify suspicious activity.
Thermal cameras:
Food processing plants can significantly reduce fire risk and ensure the safety of their employees, products, and reputation by integrating thermal cameras with standard visual cameras.
Thermal cameras can detect temperature changes before flames appear, providing an early warning of potential fire hazards.
PTZ cameras:
Nevertheless, PTZ cameras, when security cameras that are not monitored become ineffective. Large food processing plants need a multi-layered security strategy. Birgitte Messerschmidt, director of the NFPA, emphasizes the importance of fire protection within these facilities.
Regular maintenance and functionality checks of these systems are essential to mitigate the risks inherent in food processing. Utilizing remote video monitoring can greatly enhance the effectiveness of these safety measures.
Remote video monitoring of food processing plants:
Implementing advanced video analytics:
CCTV security cameras topped up with advanced video analytics can proactively identify smoke before it becomes a fire hazard. A top-notch live video monitoring company offers smoke and fire detection AI.
Food processing plants often have high temperatures and humidity. The smoke and fire detection AI solution is designed to distinguish between smoke and steam, reducing false alarms triggered by normal plant operations.
Some areas within processing plants may have limited lighting. The intelligent system can still function effectively in low-light conditions, ensuring smoke detection even in poorly lit areas.
Stronger access control systems:
Food processing plants require a high level of security to protect people, products, and sensitive areas.
Remote access control allows operators to manage entry points from a central location. This eliminates the need for physical presence at each gate and enables real-time monitoring of access attempts.
This prevents unauthorized personnel from entering the facility for illicit purposes.
RFID access tags:
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology uses electronic tags for identification and authorization. You can embed these tags in badges or key fobs.
Access points can be programmed to restrict access to specific areas within the processing plant based on individual RFID tags.
This ensures only authorized personnel with the appropriate clearance can enter critical areas like production lines, storage facilities, or laboratories.
Conclusion:
By implementing a multi-layered security approach that combines video monitoring with advanced features, access control systems, and RFID technology, facilities can significantly reduce fire risk, ensure the safety of their people and products, and protect their reputation.
If you’re interested in getting cost-effective security for your plan, please explore our industrial & manufacturing security solutions and contact us today. Thanks
