Potential Hazards

• Inadequate communication between responsible parties.
• Lack of coordination when developing the program.
• Alarms may not be heard in remote or high noise areas.
• Lack of coordination during an event.
• Lack of accountability for workers after evacuation occurs.
• Local fire department has not evaluated facility.
• Incompatibility of local fire department equipment with facilities.
• Failure to locate utility shutoffs.

Requirements and Example Solutions

• The following type of fire response must be decided upon and implemented by the employer: [1915.505(a)]
  • What type of response will be provided and who will provide it. [1915.505(a)(1)]
  • Create, maintain, and update a written policy that: [1915.505(a)(2)]
    • Describes the internal and outside fire response organizations that the employer will use. [1915.505(a)(2)(i)]
    • Defines what evacuation procedures employees must follow if the employer chooses to require a total or partial evacuation of the worksite at the time of a fire. [1915.505(a)(2)(ii)]
• 
  Internal fire response. If an internal fire response is to be used, the written policy must include: [1915.505(b)(1)]
  • Basic structure of the fire response organization. [1915.505(b)(1)(i)]
  • Number of trained fire response employees. [1915.505(b)(1)(ii)]
  • Fire response functions that may need to be carried out. [1915.505(b)(1)(iii)]
  • Minimum number of fire response employees necessary,  number and types of apparatuses, and a description of the fire suppression operations established by written standard operating procedures for each type of fire response at the employer's facility; [1915.505(b)(1)(iv)]
  • Type, amount, and frequency of training that must be given to fire response employees; and [1915.505(b)(1)(v)]
  • Procedures for using protective clothing and equipment. [1915.505(b)(1)(vi)]
• 
  Outside fire response. If an outside fire response organization is used, the written policy must include: [1915.505(b)(2)]
  • Types of fire suppression incidents to which the fire response organization is expected to respond at the employer's facility or worksite. [1915.505(b)(2)(i)]
  • Liaisons between the employer and the outside fire response organizations. [1915.505(b)(2)(ii)]
  • A plan for fire response functions that: [1915.505(b)(2)(iii)]
    • Addresses procedures for obtaining assistance from the outside fire response organization. [1915.505(b)(2)(iii)(A)]
    • Familiarizes the outside fire response organization with the layout of the employer's facility or worksite, including access routes to controlled areas, and site-specific operations, occupancies, vessels or vessel sections, and hazards. [1915.505(b)(2)(iii)(B)]
    • Explain how hose and coupling connection threads are to be made compatible and includes where the adapter couplings are kept. [1915.505(b)(2)(iii)(C)]
    • Includes a statement that the employer will not allow the use of incompatible hose connections. [1915.505(b)(2)(iii)(D)]
• 
  If a combination of internal and outside fire response is to be used, the written policy must include the following requirements in addition to those outlined for the internal fire response requirements: [1915.505(b)(3)]
  • Basic organizational structure of the combined fire response. [1915.505(b)(3)(i)]
  • Number of combined trained fire responders. [1915.505(b)(3)(ii)]
  • Fire response functions that may need to be carried out. [1915.505(b)(3)(iii)]
  • Minimum number of fire response employees necessary, number and types of apparatuses, and a description of the fire suppression operations established by written standard operating procedures for each particular type of fire response at the worksite. [1915.505(b)(3)(iv)]
  • Type, amount, and frequency of joint training with outside fire response organizations if given to fire response employees. [1915.505(b)(3)(v)]
• Employee evacuation. The employer's written policy must include: [1915.505(b)(4)]
  • Emergency escape procedures. [1915.505(b)(4)(i)]
  • Procedures to be followed by employees who may remain longer at the worksite to perform critical operations during the evacuation. [1915.505(b)(4)(ii)]
  • Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation is completed. [1915.505(b)(4)(iii)]
  • The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies. [1915.505(b)(4)(iv)]
  • Names or job titles of the employees or departments to be contacted for further information or explanation of duties. [1915.505(b)(4)(v)]
• Rescue and emergency response. The employer's written policy must include: [1915.505(b)(5)]
  • A description of the emergency rescue procedures. [1915.505(b)(5)(i)]
  • Names or job titles of the employees who are assigned to perform procedures. [1915.505(b)(5)(ii)]

• Conduct joint drills with shipyard personnel and local fire department (Figure 7).
• Invite local fire department to tour vessels.
• Compile an emergency call list for quick contact in a fire event.
• Discuss fire response plan with personnel living on board vessels. 
• Designate subcontractor supervisors to be accountable for workers during evacuations.
• Designate workers to visually verify that areas have been evacuated when alarm sounds for quick accountability.
• Use visual alarms for high noise areas.

 

Shipyard internal fire departments will encounter the same hazards as any outside fire department. These hazards include:

• extreme heat
• burns
• smoke
• falls

Requirements and Example Solutions

• Medical requirements for shipyard fire response workers must include: [1915.505(c)]
  • All fire response workers receive medical examinations to assure that they are physically and medically fit for the duties they are expected to perform. [1915.505(c)(1)]
  • Fire response workers, who are required to wear respirators in performing their duties, meet the medical requirements of  1915.154. [1915.505(c)(2)]
  • Each fire response employee has an annual medical examination. [1915.505(c)(3)]
  • The medical records of fire response employees are kept in accordance with 1915.1020. [1915.505(c)(4)]