§ 1915.504 Fire watches. ( 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 (§ 1915.508(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 29 CFR Part 1915, Subpart I.
( 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: ( i ) Insulated pipes, bulkheads, decks, partitions, or overheads; or
( ii ) 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 29 CFR Part 1915, Subpart B, 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: ( i ) Have a clear view of and immediate access to all areas included in the fire watch;
( ii ) Are able to communicate with workers exposed to hot work;
( iii ) Are authorized to stop work if necessary and restore safe conditions within the hot work area;
( iv ) 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;
( v ) Are trained to detect fires that occur in areas exposed to the hot work;
( vi ) 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 § 1915.508;
( vii ) Alert employees of any fire beyond the incipient stage; and
( viii ) 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.