U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

Evaluation of Fire and Rescue Services

When welding, grinding, torch cutting, and similar activities occur near combustible materials — such 

as fuels, cargo, building materials, and debris — small fires can occur and quickly get out of control. 

Oxygen-enriched atmospheres can cause ordinarily fire-resistant materials to readily burn. Often, 

these fire-producing activities occur in enclosed or confined spaces where combustible gases and 

toxic fumes can build up to unsafe levels or deplete oxygen. This makes it more difficult for workers to 

escape and be rescued. An effective rescue and response plan is essential for saving workers’ lives in 

shipyards where fires are a common hazard.

This document and checklists can help employers in the shipyard industry to evaluate the adequacy of their fire and rescue 

response capabilities. Where assessment results indicate inadequacies, a more thorough evaluation should be performed 

to ensure that fire and rescue services can respond effectively. Requirements for worker protection from fire hazards are in 

29 CFR 1915 Subpart P – Fire Protection in Shipyard Employment. Included in this subpart are elements designed to ensure 

adequate fire response, including planning, training, equipment requirements, and response methods. Other relevant OSHA 

requirements include 29 CFR 1915.12(e) through (f) that address emergency procedures and rescue teams for confined and 

enclosed spaces, or other dangerous atmospheres, and 29 CFR 1915.87(c)(1)(ii) for medical services and first aid providers. 

Make sure your facility is ready for an emergency by: 

• Having a written fire safety plan that covers policies for fire, 

rescue, and emergency response. Review and update the plan 

at least annually.

• Training workers on the fire safety plan, including hazards, 

controls, fire safety, health rules, and emergency procedures. 

Workers designated to fight fires must be trained on the fire 

safety plan’s written operating procedures on a quarterly basis. 

Employee training must include live response exercises and 

semi-annual drills.

• Establishing an in-house rescue team or arranging for an off-site 

source that can provide prompt fire, first aid, and medical response. 

Off-site first aid responders, such as local emergency medical 

services (EMS), must be able to reach the worksite within five 

minutes from receiving a report of an injury or illness at your facility.

• Training workers assigned to rescue teams on practices and 

procedures relevant to their assigned roles, and the proper 

selection, use and care of personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Similar preparation is recommended for off-site rescue teams, 

including training on the hazards they may encounter at each 

worksite, and familiarity with the layout of the facility.

• Developing an incident management system (or network) for the 

orderly and safe implementation of fire response functions. 

Shipyard

Employment Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

The checklists below provide a series of questions to assist in determining whether your facility is prepared to respond to a fire 

or other emergency.

Fire Safety Plan

Is there a written fire safety plan? Yes No

Does the written fire safety plan include the following?

• Identification of fire hazards Yes No

• Procedures for recognizing and reporting unsafe conditions Yes No

• Alarm procedures Yes No

• Procedures for notifying workers and the fire response organization of a fire emergency Yes No

• Evacuation procedures, including ways to account for workers after evacuation Yes No

• Whom to contact for additional information on the plan Yes No

• Policies for fire, rescue, and emergency response Yes No

Has the written plan been reviewed with workers and accessible to all? Yes No

Does the written plan include the following for evacuation?

• Emergency escape procedures Yes No

• Procedures for critical team members who must remain on-site during an evacuation Yes No

• Means of reporting fires Yes No

• Methods to account for workers after an evacuation is completed Yes No

Has the plan been reviewed and updated annually, and have all changes been documented? Yes No

Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Response

Has a determination been made whether personnel in-house, off-site, or a combination thereof will be used for 

fire, rescue, and emergency response? Yes No

Does the written policy for fire, rescue, and emergency response indicate whether in-house, off-site, or a 

combination thereof will be used and their organizational structure? Yes No

Is there an incident management system (or network) in place that establishes clear lines of authority, assigns 

responsibilities, ensures accountability, and outlines in-house and off-site resources? Yes No

In-House Response

Does the response policy include the following? 

• Evacuation procedures Yes No

• Structure of the organization Yes No

• Number of trained fire response workers Yes No

• Functions that may need to be carried out Yes No

• Number of fire fighters necessary to respond to a fire Yes No

• Number and type of apparatuses and suppression operations for each type of response Yes No
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

• Information on the layout of the facility, including access routes to potential fire sites Yes No

• How hose and coupling connections are to be made compatible and their locations Yes No

Does the policy contain a list of qualified individuals, emergency contacts and phone numbers? Yes No

Has the rescue team been trained and know how to use appropriate PPE, including respirators, and any 

special equipment that may be necessary for confined space rescue? Yes No

Has the rescue team conducted a drill using practice dummies and rescue equipment during the last 12 

months? Yes No

Has a live response exercise or drill been done in locations that closely represent those locations where an 

actual rescue may be required? Yes No

Does at least one person on the rescue team have current certification on basic first aid that includes 

maintenance of an airway, control of bleeding, maintenance of circulation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation 

(CPR) skills? 

Yes No

If contract employers are present on-site, have they received training on workplace hazards, safety rules, and 

emergency response policy? Yes No

Off-Site Response

Does the response policy include the following? 

• Types of incidents the organization is expected to respond Yes No

• Liaison between the facility and the outside organization Yes No

• Procedures for obtaining outside assistance Yes No

Has a copy of rescue policies been provided to the off-site rescue team for prompt response? Yes No

Has information on the hazards associated with conducting confined space rescue been provided to off-site 

organizations to ensure that they will have the proper training and equipment available? Yes No

Combination In-House and Off-Site Response 

In addition to those items outlined for in-house and off-site, does the response policy include the following?

• Organization structure of the combined fire response Yes No

• The number of combined responders Yes No

• Functions to be carried out by each organization Yes No

• The minimum number of fire response personnel necessary Yes No

• The number and types of apparatuses, along with a description of the fire suppression operations for

each type of response Yes No

• The type, amount, and frequency of joint training Yes No

Fire Response Medical Requirements

Do fire response workers receive annual physicals to ensure that they are able to perform their expected duties? Yes No

Are an adequate number of responders trained in respiratory protection, including fit testing where applicable? Yes No

Are medical records of current staff kept on file for at least one year? Yes No

Note: If an actual rescue has been conducted within the last 12 months, this type of training does not have to be repeated in the 12-month window. However, it is recommended that 

more frequent drills be conducted in locations where rescues may occur.
U.S. Department of Labor t www.osha.gov t (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or standards. It does not impose any 

new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer 

to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon 

request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: 1-877-889-5627.

DSG FS-3925 11/2017

Where Can I Get More Information?

Visit the OSHA website at www.osha.gov for more information 

about fire hazards in shipyard employment and fire and rescue 

services necessary to respond to and extinguish fires arising from 

shipyard operations. Your nearest OSHA office can also provide 

more information.

Also, OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free and 

confidential occupational safety and health services to small and 

medium-sized businesses in all states and several territories, 

with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-Site Consultation 

services are separate from enforcement and do not result 

in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or 

universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, 

provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in 

establishing and improving safety and health programs. To locate 

the OSHA On-Site Consultation Program nearest you, call 1-800-

321-6742 (OSHA) or visit www.osha.gov/consultation.

Workers’ Rights

Workers have the right to:

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.

• Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary the 

worker understands) about workplace hazards, methods to prevent 

them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.

• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.

• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they 

believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not 

following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential.

• Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including 

reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with 

their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against 

for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as 

soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.

For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers page.

How to Contact OSHA

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers 

are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their 

employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s 

working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and 

providing training, education and assistance. For more information, 

visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 

1-877-889-5627.