Potential Hazards

• No training program in place.
• Infrequency of training.
• Training is not effective or retained.
• Inadequate training.
• Unqualified trainers.
• Insufficient training of subcontractors, temporary workers and non-English speaking workers.

Requirements and Example Solutions

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)]

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)]

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)]

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)]
  • Basics of fire behavior, the different classes of fire and of extinguishing agents, the stages of fire, and methods for extinguishing fires. [1915.508(e)(2)(i)]
  • Extinguishing live fire scenarios whenever allowed by local and federal law. [1915.508(e)(2)(ii)]
  • Recognition of the adverse health effects that may be caused by exposure to fire. [1915.508(e)(2)(iii)]
  • Physical characteristics of the hot work area. [1915.508(e)(2)(iv)]
  • Hazards associated with fire watch duties. [1915.508(e)(2)(v)]
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to perform fire watch duties safely. [1915.508(e)(2)(vi)]
  • Use of PPE. [1915.508(e)(2)(vii)]
  • Selection and use of any fire extinguishers and fire hoses likely to be used by a fire watch in the work area. [1915.508(e)(2)(viii)]
  • Location and use of barriers. [1915.508(e)(2)(ix)]
  • Means of communication designated by the employer for fire watches. [1915.508(e)(2)(x)]
  • When and how to start fire alarm procedures. [1915.508(e)(2)(xi)]
  • Employer's evacuation plan.[1915.508(e)(2)(xii)]
• Fire watch must be trained to alert others to exit the space whenever: [1915.508(e)(3)]
  • The fire watch perceives an unsafe condition. [1915.508(e)(3)(i)]
  • The fire watch perceives that a worker performing hot work is in danger. [1915.508(e)(3)(ii)]
  • An evacuation is ordered. [1915.508(e)(3)(iii)]
  • An evacuation signal, such as an alarm, is activated. [1915.508(e)(3)(iv)]

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)]

• Use an open fire training system to train fire watches to extinguish fires.
• Use multimedia techniques such as signs, videos, pictographs and bilingual trainers, if necessary. 
• Test workers after training is conducted.
• Conduct annual refresher training.
• Conduct annual evacuation drills of workers (Figure 5).
• Use fire extinguishers in good working order and near expiration date when conducting live fire training.
• Sample Fire Safety Plans. Shipbuilders Council of America (2006).