Question 623 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) spontaneously heat and catch fire. Oily rags stored in a pile that is open to the atmosphere can spontaneously heat up and catch fire due to the chemical reactions occurring between the oil and the air. This is a serious fire hazard, as the piled rags can ignite without any external ignition source. The open exposure to the atmosphere allows oxygen to continually feed the chemical reactions, leading to the buildup of heat and eventual ignition. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not directly explain the fire hazard posed by the oily rags. Deterioration and noxious gas emissions (A) or attracting vermin (B) are not the primary concerns in this situation. The key issue is the spontaneous combustion risk (C), which makes this the correct answer.