r 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
- 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
- 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)]
- 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
- 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)]
- Fire watch must be trained to alert others to
exit the space whenever: [1915.508(e)(3)]
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- 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)]
Maritime Labor/Industry Recommendations
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Figure 5. Workers exiting vessel during evacuation drill.
- 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).