Question 241Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is D) discarded as soon as possible. Oily rags can pose a serious fire hazard due to the risk of spontaneous combustion. To prevent this, the best practice is to discard oily rags as soon as possible instead of storing them. Leaving oily rags in a confined space increases the likelihood of the rags heating up and igniting. The other options, such as storing them in a paint locker or non-metal containers, do not eliminate the fire risk. Thoroughly cleaning the rags for reuse may help, but does not entirely prevent the risk of spontaneous ignition. Therefore, the safest course of action is to discard oily rags promptly to mitigate the fire hazard.