Hazards and Possible Solutions

Fire safety becomes everyone's job at a worksite. Employers should train workers about fire hazards in the workplace and about what to do in a fire emergency. This plan should outline the assignments of key personnel in the event of a fire and provide an evacuation plan for workers on the site. In the construction industry, a "fire plan" should be set up prior to beginning any demolition job. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards and possible solutions in the workplace.

• Carbon Monoxide Explosion Hazards in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Operations. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (December 4, 2015).
• Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (July 31, 2005). Highlights hazards associated with combustible dusts; work practices and guidelines that reduce the potential for a combustible dust explosion, or that reduce the danger to employees if such an explosion occurs; and training to protect employees from these hazards.
• Star ME-1 Dry Fire Sprinklers. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin, (January 7, 2004).
• Total Flooding Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fire Extinguishing System. OSHA Technical Information Bulletin, (December 22, 2001).
• Fire Hazard of Polyurethane and Other Organic Foam Insulation Aboard Ships and in Construction. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin, (May 10, 1989).

General

• Small Business Safety and Health Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209, (2024) [Español OSHA Publication 4261, (2024)]. Summarizes the benefits of an effective safety and health program, provides self-inspection checklists for employers to identify workplace hazards, and reviews key workplace safety and health resources for small businesses.
• Fire Safety. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3527), (2020). Discusses how employers should train workers about fire hazards in the workplace and about what to do in a fire emergency.
• How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations. OSHA Publication 3088, (Revised 2001). Includes information on fire-related emergencies.
• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (January 20, 1999).
  • Chemical Protective Clothing. Includes information on firefighters' protective clothing.
  • Petroleum Refining Processes. Discusses the potential for fire hazards in different types of refining operations.
• Fire Safety. National Ag Safety Database (NASD). Lists fire safety information documents from NASD.
• For additional information on hazards and possible solutions, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
  • Compressed Gas and Equipment
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Hazard Communication
  • Pressure Vessels
  • Process Safety Management
  • Pyrotechnics Industry
  • Spray Operations
  • Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

Construction

• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (January 20, 1999). Includes information on fire safety.
  • Preparatory Operations. Contains a section on fire protection and prevention for construction/demolition activities.
• Fire and Explosions. Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health (elcosh). Provides a list of construction-related fire safety resources.
• For additional information on hazards and possible solutions, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
  • Demolition
  • Construction Industry