Fire Watch Training

Course Duration: 45 Minutes

George Bunker LLC Learning Management System (BMLMS)

Hot work has the potential to ignite combustible material that can quickly grow out of control and result in the injury of workers and loss of property. Work involving welding and burning, or similar spark or fire-producing operations are considered hot work that can result in fire or explosion. Adequate planning, training, and quick response are necessary measures to prevent fires from advancing beyond the incipient stage. 

A fire watch is the person or persons responsible for continuously observing hot work activity for the detection of, and response to, fires during hot work operations. A fire watch has the authority to stop work if necessary and conduct essential steps for restoring safe conditions within the hot work area.

The person performing the hot work cannot be the fire watch. That worker is concentrating on their own work and will not be able to react quickly enough should a fire ignite. Therefore, another employee or employees must be assigned the fire watch duty. Similarly, personnel actively engaged as the fire watch cannot perform other duties. Their focus and only duty is to watch for and respond to fires that occur during hot work.

The Company requires a fire watch during hot work if any of the following conditions are present:

1. Slag, weld splatter, or sparks which might pass through an opening and cause a fire.
2. Fire-resistant guards or curtains are not used to prevent the ignition of combustible materials on or areas where combustables are stored.
3. Combustible material is located closer than 35 feet to the hot work area, in either the horizontal or vertical direction, that cannot be removed, protected with flame-proof covers, nor otherwise shielded with solid non-combustable fire-resistant guards or curtains.
4. Hot work occurs on or near insulation, combustible coatings, or combustable walls or walls with combustable inner core fill materials.
5. Combustible materials adjacent to the opposite sides of walls.
6. The hot work is close enough to cause ignition through heat radiation or conduction on the following:
   • Insulated pipes, partitions, walls, or overheads
   • Combustible materials and/or coatings, or
   • Unprotected combustible pipes or cable runs

The number and location of personnel performing fire watch duty depends on the scope of work. For example, if there are multiple combustable material opportunities that cannot be moved from the immediate vacinity of the hot work operation, a fire watch must be posted simultaneously in each area. Similarly, where hot material from hot work could spread or fall over more than one level, as in elevated storage areas, rafters, machinery spaces, or loading docks, a fire watch must be posted at each affected level, unless positive means are available to prevent the spread or fall of hot material. 

Worker safety in hot areas is important. Understanding the Company fire watch requirements is, too.

These are your responsibilities as a fire watch:

• Make sure all conditions of the hot work permit are in place.
• Keep yourself and all employees alert to the hot work activities in progress.
• Have your fire extinguishing equipment at hand in case a fire breaks out.
• It’s important to maintain very clear and constant lines of communication among workers involved in the hot work.
• Make sure flammable materials are not near the hot work ignition sources.
• Shut down all operations if you discover a fire.
• Immediately sound the fire alarm if a fire breaks out.
• Be prepared to call 911 if the fire cant be maintained.
• Try to put out the fire if it is possible to do so without putting yourself at risk.
• As much as you can, maintain visual and voice contact with employees involved with the hotwork operations.
• During shift changes and even before, you should inspect entire work areas.
• Always look for the potential of fire. This includes the release of flammable liquids or vapors.
• You have the equipment. Be ready to use it at any time. Be sure it’s all in working order as well. A faulty fire extinguisher does no good if it doesn’t work properly when you need it most.
• Absolutely never abandon the area while hot work is happening. If you must leave, you must stop the job and find a trained replacement.
• Before you leave the hotwork area, double-check for a few things:
  • No burning embers
  • hot sparks, or
  • other fire hazards
• Remain in the hot work area for 30 minutes after the hot work.
• Return all firefighting equipment to its designated location at the end of the day.