It can be tempting to run fire watch duties internally for your organization. However, fire watch roles and responsibilities are not always suited for employees on your team. Fire watchers are specifically trained for the role at hand. They play a crucial role in controlling fire hazards in the workplace. So, if you have received a request from your local Fire Marshall to run a fire watch, it’s essential to understand what it encompasses.
At DCS Rescue, we recommend that professionals thoroughly understand fire watcher duties to keep their team and premises safe.
Why do you need to conduct a fire watch?
First, it’s crucial to know why you need a fire watcher. The clue is essentially in the name: fire watch requirements are designed to prevent fire hazards. They do not replace a fire and smoke alarm inside your building and should not be used independently without fire safety policies.
A fire watch is required for specific events, per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA requires a fire watch to be conducted per the Code of Federal Regulations in areas where active surveillance is needed to prevent fire risks. Typically, a fire watch has a specific time duration linked to a unique event. You will be requested to conduct a fire watch in the following situations:
- Hot work using a torch or any other flame or spark-producing device. This can include cutting with torches or welding. You will typically find hot work on construction sites.
- During the demolition of a building, if the process involves hazardous activities, it could lead to fire risks.
- Fire watches will be conducted throughout the event in buildings that host dense crowds, such as public assembly areas.
- If the fire protection system, such as the fire sprinkler or fire alarm, is out of order or an outage is planned for an extended period (over 4 hours).
What are fire watch duties?
Fire watch duties are designed to keep the workplace or building and its occupants safe throughout an event.
A fire watcher must constantly patrol areas of fire hazards, including hot work areas and dense crowds. Experience with the procedure and facilities and knowing how to sound the alarm during a fire hazard can prevent many incidents.
The fire watcher needs a solid understanding of where fire hazards could arise and how to use fire-extinguishing equipment. He or she will be providing the first response to fire risks. This can include notifying the emergency services and operating hose carts, fire extinguishers, hydrants, etc.
Essential Training for Fire Watch Personnel:
- Fire-Extinguishing Equipment:
- Personnel should be well-trained in the use of all available fire-extinguishing tools to ensure they can respond effectively in an emergency.
- This includes understanding the operation and maintenance of hose carts, fire extinguishers, and hydrants.
- Immediate Response Protocols:
- Quick and efficient notification of emergency services when a fire risk is identified.
- Accurate assessment of the situation to determine the appropriate response.
Ensuring fire watch personnel are thoroughly trained and equipped increases the likelihood of effectively managing fire risks. This approach safeguards property and ensures the safety of all individuals on-site.
Primary Role During Emergencies
The primary role of fire watch personnel is not to engage in firefighting but to act swiftly and responsibly by sounding the alarm in case of an emergency. Doing so ensures that professional firefighters are alerted and can be dispatched promptly to manage the situation.
While fire watchers may attempt to control a fire in its early stages, their critical task is to efficiently communicate potential threats, ensuring the safety of everyone involved. This dual responsibility of initial response and immediate notification is essential for maintaining a secure environment during “hot work” activities like welding or cutting with torches.
By combining vigilance with a focus on immediate alert and response, fire watch workers play a key role in minimizing fire-related risks. Their ability to recognize hazards and act swiftly ensures that emergencies are handled efficiently and safely.
On a fire watch, fire watchers are tasked with maintaining the requirements and conditions described on the safety permit. As such, they are to remain on fire watch duty until the work is done, which means the reason for conducting fire watch duties ceases to be relevant. Full area inspection is required before, during, and at the end of the fire watch shift. To ensure maximum safety, fire watch personnel must conduct thorough inspections focusing on potential hazards. This includes examining the work area for any signs of flammable vapors or liquids. Such attention to detail is crucial at each shift stage—before commencing, during active monitoring, and after completing the shift.
Key Inspection Points:
- Identify Potential Hazards: Look for any signs of flammable vapors or liquids that could pose a risk.
- Consistent Monitoring: Maintain vigilance throughout the shift to catch any new safety threats as they arise.
- End-of-Shift Review: Conduct a final sweep to ensure no hazards have been overlooked and secure the area for the next team.
By adhering to these guidelines, fire watch personnel can significantly reduce the risk of incidents and maintain a safe working environment.
Due to the nature of the role, fire watch duties can’t be cumulated with other functions in the same area simultaneously. For instance, you can’t require a professional welding worker to perform fire watch and weld simultaneously.
Who should you trust with fire watcher duties?
At DCS Rescue Services, we understand that businesses can be reluctant to trust an external professional on their premises. Many assume their teams are trained to work on the premises and are best placed to recognize fire hazards.
However, we believe that fire watch is a specialist role that requires training. We provide a dedicated team trained to conduct fire watches in welding, hot works, and other environments that contain highly combustible materials. As a result, businesses do not need to rely on their in-house team to assume these roles.
Additionally, trained and certified professionals are equipped to respond to emergencies calmly and efficiently. Their no-nonsense attitude can save countless lives in the event of a fire. It would be unfair to rely on your in-house team to keep a cool head when they are not adequately trained to recognize and suppress fire risks. We also ensure comprehensive training in specialized environments. This includes refinery safety and fire chemistry. It also enables us to guarantee fast and smooth fire hazard management.