Job Details

Potential Hazards

Combustible materials cannot be removed, protected, or shielded.
Climbing ladders with heavy fire extinguishing equipment.
Possible exposure to welding or toxic fumes.
Transfer of heat from one space to another or to spaces below.
Fire in adjacent spaces.
Coverings used to protect equipment may not be fire retardant.
Requirements and Example Solutions

For employees performing fire watch activities, a written policy must be created and maintained specifying:
Each employee must be provided training, including detailed fire watch requirements.
Duties to be performed.
Equipment to be used.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to be made available and worn. A fire watch must be posted during hot work when any of the following conditions are present.
Slag, weld splatter, or sparks might pass through an opening and cause a fire.
Fire-resistant guards or curtains are not used to prevent ignition of combustible materials on or near decks, bulkheads, partitions, or overheads.
Combustible material closer than 35 feet to the hot work cannot be removed, protected with flame-proof covers, or shielded with metal or fire-resistant guards or curtains.
Combustible materials adjacent to the opposite sides of bulkheads, decks, overheads, metal partitions, or sandwich-type construction may be ignited by conduction or radiation.
Hot work is close enough to cause ignition through heat radiation or conduction on:
Insulated pipes, bulkheads, decks, partitions, or overheads (Figure 4).
Combustible materials and/or coatings.
Work is close enough to unprotected combustible pipe or cable runs to cause ignition.
A Marine Chemist, a Coast Guard-authorized person, or a shipyard Competent Person requires that a fire watch be posted. A fire watch must not be assigned to other duties while hot work is in progress.
A fire watch must
Have a clear view of and immediate access to all areas included in the fire watch.
Be able to communicate with workers exposed to hot work.
Be authorized to stop work if necessary and restore safe conditions within the hot work area.
Remain in the hot work area for at least 30 minutes after completion of the hot work unless the employer or its representative surveys the exposed area and makes a determination that there is no further fire hazard.
Be trained to detect fires that occur in areas exposed to the hot work.
Attempt to extinguish any incipient stage fires in the hot work area that are within the capability of available equipment and within the fire watch`s training qualifications.
Activate the alarm if unable to extinguish fire in the areas exposed to the hot work.
Be physically capable of performing fire watch duties.