What is the best way to ensure a work area is safe from fire hazards?

Storing flammable materials properly is crucial for ensuring a work area's safety from fire hazards. Proper storage involves using designated containers that are specifically designed for flammable substances, keeping them away from sources of ignition, and ensuring adequate ventilation in storage areas. By implementing these practices, the risk of ignition, accidental spills, and chemical reactions that can lead to fires is significantly reduced. This proactive approach not only protects the facility and personnel from potential fire hazards but also aligns with industry safety regulations and best practices.

The other options present practices that are likely to increase the risk of fire. For instance, keeping chemicals in open containers can lead to vapor accumulation and spills, while using candles for lighting introduces open flames that can easily ignite flammable materials. Ignoring spills allows hazardous substances to remain and potentially ignite, creating dangerous conditions. Proper storage of flammable materials is therefore the most effective way to mitigate fire risks in any work environment.