Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a)
Written fire watch policy. The employer must create and keep current a written
policy that specifies the following requirements for employees performing fire
watch in the workplace:
(1) The training
employees must be given (Section
8397.13(c)
contains detailed fire watch training requirements);
(2) The duties employees are to
perform;
(3) The equipment
employees must be given; and
(4)
The personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be made available and worn as
required by Article 10 of the General Industry Safety
Orders.
(b) Posting fire
watches. The employer must post a fire watch if during hot work any of the
following conditions are present:
(1) Slag,
weld splatter, or sparks might pass through an opening and cause a
fire;
(2) Fire-resistant guards or
curtains are not used to prevent ignition of combustible materials on or near
decks, bulkheads, partitions, or overheads;
(3) Combustible material closer than 35 ft.
(10.7m) to the hot work in either the horizontal or vertical direction cannot
be removed, protected with flame-proof covers, or otherwise shielded with metal
or fire-resistant guards or curtains;
(4) The hot work is carried out on or near
insulation, combustible coatings, or sandwich-type construction that cannot be
shielded, cut back, or removed, or in a space within a sandwich type
construction that cannot be inerted;
(5) Combustible materials adjacent to the
opposite sides of bulkheads, decks, overheads, metal partitions, or
sandwich-type construction may be ignited by conduction or radiation;
(6) The hot work is close enough to cause
ignition through heat radiation or conduction on the following:
(A) Insulated pipes, bulkheads, decks,
partitions, or overheads; or
(B)
Combustible materials and/or coatings;
(7) The work is close enough to unprotected
combustible pipe or cable runs to cause ignition; or
(8) A Marine Chemist, a Coast
Guard-authorized person, or a shipyard Competent Person, as defined in Section
8355 of these Orders, requires that
a fire watch be posted.
(c) Assigning employees to fire watch duty.
(1) The employer must not assign other duties
to a fire watch while the hot work is in progress.
(2) Employers must ensure that employees
assigned to fire watch duty:
(A) Have a clear
view of and immediate access to all areas included in the fire watch;
(B) Are able to communicate with workers
exposed to hot work;
(C) Are
authorized to stop work if necessary and restore safe conditions within the hot
work area;
(D) 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;
(E) Are trained to detect fires that occur in
areas exposed to the hot work;
(F)
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, as defined in Section
8397.13.
(G) Alert employees of any fire beyond the
incipient stage; and
(H) If unable
to extinguish fire in the areas exposed to the hot work, activate the
alarm.
(3) The employer
must ensure that employees assigned to fire watch are physically capable of
performing these duties.
1. New
section filed 2-22-2006; operative 2-22-2006. Submitted to OAL for printing
only pursuant to Labor Code section
142.3(a)(3)
(Register 2006, No. 8).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.