July 15, 1997
MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
|
THROUGH: |
FRANK STRASHEIM
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary |
|
FROM: |
STEVEN F. WITT
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
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SUBJECT: |
Hazard Information Bulletin1 - Potential Fire with Fluorescent Light Bulbs within Plastic Tubes |
The Consumer Product Safety Commission informed us that the fire department of Plymouth,
Massachusetts noted that fluorescent light bulbs with protective plastic sleeves used in some
bagel or donut display cases may cause a fire. The protective plastic sleeve covering is designed
to protect food from broken glass in the event a bulb breaks.
The potential for this lighting system to overheat and cause a fire was discovered during an
investigation of a fire in Plymouth, Massachusetts. During this investigation, the Plymouth Fire
Department discovered that the two pins at one end of the bulb were not properly seated in the
socket. Therefore, the fire investigator noted that the fire hazard appears to be due to the
improper installation of the fluorescent light bulb in its socket. That is, if the pins at the ends of
the fluorescent bulbs are not properly seated in the socket, the exposed pins can heat up and melt
the black end caps and then the plastic sleeve covering (protective covering) surrounding the
fluorescent bulb, and thereby create a fire hazard, as it occurred in Plymouth.
According to the Plymouth Fire Department, the plastic tube was manufactured by Tri Lite
Plastic, Falsington, Pa. The display cases were made by Monarch Industries, Inc., Providence, RI
and provided by Paramount Restaurant Supply Corporation. As a result of the incident,
Paramount and Monarch manufacturers voluntarily replaced the fluorescent light bulbs that were
equipped with protective sleeve coverings and end caps with a shatterproof bulb that is easier to
install, in order to eliminate this potential fire hazard. This corrective action should eliminate the
hazard. Some small shop owners, however, have not yet corrected the problem, and workers in
those shops could be exposed to a fire hazard.
Please distribute this bulletin to all area offices, State Plan States, Consultation Projects and
appropriate local, labor and industry associations. Copies of this HIB may be used for outreach
Purposes.
References
1 The Directorate of Technical Support issues Hazard
Information Bulletins (HIBs) in accordance with OSHA Instruction CPL 2.65
to provide relevant information regarding unrecognized or misunderstood
health hazards, inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, and safety
engineering controls. HIBs are initiated based on information provided by
the field staff, studies, reports and concerns expressed by safety and health
professionals, employers, and the public. Information is complied based on a
thorough evaluation of available facts, literature and in coordination with
appropriate parties. [Back to Text]
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