Potential Hazards:
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No training program in place.
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Infrequency of training.
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Training is not effective or retained.
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Inadequate training.
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Unqualified trainers.
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Insufficient
training of subcontractors, temporary
workers and non-English speaking workers.
Requirements and Example Solutions:
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General Fire Protection Training
- All workers must be trained on the applicable fire protection
requirements (Figure 1). [1915.508(a)]
- All workers must be trained on: [1915.508(b)]
- Emergency alarm signals, including system discharge alarms and
employee evacuation alarms. [1915.508(b)(1)]
- Primary and secondary evacuation routes to be used in the
event of a fire in the workplace. While all vessels and vessel sections must
have a primary evacuation route, a secondary evacuation route is not
required when impracticable. [1915.508(b)(2)]
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Figure 1. Fire response training by fire department personnel.
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Extinguishing
Small (Incipient) Fires
- All workers expected to fight incipient
stage fires must be trained in: [1915.508(c)]
- General principles of using fire extinguishers or hose lines (Figure
2). [1915.508(c)(1)]
- Hazards involved with incipient firefighting. [1915.508(c)(1)]
- Procedures used to
reduce these hazards. [1915.508(c)(1)]
- Hazards associated with fixed and portable fire protection
systems that workers may use or to which they may be exposed during
discharge of those systems. [1915.508(c)(2)]
- Activation and operation of fixed and portable fire protection systems
that the employer expects workers to use in the workplace. [1915.508(c)(3)]
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Figure 2. Training fire being extinguished by handheld fire extinguisher. |
Fire Response
- Workers designated for fire response must:
- Receive additional training on the written fire training policy and standard operating procedures. [1915.508(d)(1)
and 1915.508(d)(2)]
- Review fire response with training programs and hands-on sessions as
necessary. [1915.508(d)(3)]
- Ensure that fire response workers are capable
of carrying out their duties and responsibilities. [1915.508(d)(4)]
- Train new fire response workers. [1915.508(d)(5)]
- Provide quarterly training on the written operating procedures. [1915.508(d)(6)]
- Use qualified instructors. [1915.508(d)(7)]
- Conduct live fire response exercises (Figure 4). [1915.508(d)(8), NFPA
1403-2002]
- Conduct semi-annual drills. [1915.508(d)(9)]
- Prohibit the use of smoke-generating devices that create a dangerous
atmosphere in training exercises. [1915.508(d)(10)]
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Figure 3. Fireman training in low light conditions in an enclosed space on vessel.
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Fire Watch
- Each fire watch must be trained: [1915.508(e)]
- Before being assigned to fire watch duty. [1915.508(e)(1)(i)]
- Whenever there is a change in operations that presents a new or different
hazard. [1915.508(e)(1)(ii)]
- Whenever the employer has reason to believe that the fire watch's
knowledge, skills, or understanding of the training previously
provided is inadequate. [1915.508(e)(1)(iii)]
- Annually. [1915.508(e)(1)(iv)]
- Fire watch workers must be trained in: [1915.508(e)(2)]
- Fire watch must be trained to alert others to
exit the space whenever: [1915.508(e)(3)]
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Figure 4.
Fire watches in spaces with fire extinguisher. |
Training Records
- Records must be kept to demonstrate that workers have
been trained. [1915.508(f)]
- Ensure that records include the employee's name, the
trainer's name, the type of training and the date(s) on which the training
took place. [1915.508(f)(1)]
- Training record must be kept for one year from the time it
was made or until it is replaced. [1915.508(f)(2)]
- Make training records available for inspection and copy by
OSHA upon request. [1915.508(f)(2)]
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