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Fire Safety |
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Standards |
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Fire safety is addressed in specific standards
for recordkeeping, the general industry, shipyard employment, marine
terminals, longshoring, gear certification, and the construction industry.
This page highlights OSHA standards, the Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions
being taken with regard to OSHA standards), directives (instructions for
compliance officers), national consensus standards related to fire safety.
OSHA
Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty
Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees
employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards
that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his
employees". Section
5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and
health standards promulgated under this Act".
Note:
Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved
State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement
policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are
identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted
different standards applicable to this topic or may have different
enforcement policies. |
Highlighted Standards
General Industry (29
CFR 1910)
- 1910
Subpart E, Exit routes, emergency action plans, and fire prevention
plans [related topic
page]
- 1910.35, Compliance with NFPA 101-2000, Life Safety Code
- 1910.36,
Design and construction requirements for exit routes
- 1910.37, Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit
routes
- 1910.38,
Emergency action plans
- 1910.39,
Fire prevention plans
- 1910
Subpart G, Occupational health and environmental controls
- 1910 Subpart
H, Hazardous materials [related topic
page]
- 1910.101,
Compressed gases (general requirements)
- 1910.102, Acetylene
- 1910.103, Hydrogen
- 1910.104, Oxygen
- 1910.106, Flammable and combustible liquids
- 1910.107,
Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials
- 1910.108,
Dip tanks containing flammable or combustible liquids
- 1910.109,
Explosives and blasting agents
- 1910.110,
Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases
- 1910.111,
Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia [related topic
page]
- 1910.119,
Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals [related
topic page]
- 1910.120,
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response [related topic
page]
- 1910 Subpart
L, Fire protection
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1910.155, Scope, application and definitions applicable to this
subpart
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1910.156, Fire brigades
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1910.157, Portable fire extinguishers
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1910.158, Standpipe and hose systems
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1910.159, Automatic sprinkler systems
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1910.160, Fixed extinguishing systems, general
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1910.161, Fixed extinguishing systems, dry chemical
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1910.162, Fixed extinguishing systems, gaseous agent
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1910.163, Fixed extinguishing systems, water spray and foam
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1910.164, Fire detection systems
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1910.165, Employee alarm systems
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Appendix A, Fire Protection
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Appendix B, National Consensus Standards
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Appendix C, Fire Protection references for further information
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Appendix D, Availability of publications incorporated by reference in
section 1910.156 fire brigades
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Appendix E, Test methods for protective clothing
- 1910 Subpart
N, Materials handling and storage
- 1910 Subpart
Q, Welding, cutting, and brazing [related topic
page]
- 1910 Subpart
R, Special industries
- 1910.261,
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills [related topic
page]
- 1910.263, Bakery equipment
- 1910.265, Sawmills [related topic
page]
- 1910.266,
Logging operations [related topic
page]
- 1910.269,
Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution [related
topic page]
- 1910.272,
Grain handling facilities [related topic
page]
- 1910 Subpart
Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic
page]
Shipyard Employment (29 CFR
1915)
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1915 Subpart P, Fire protection
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1915.501, General provisions
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1915.502, Fire safety plan
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1915.503, Precautions for hot work
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1915.504, Fire watches
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1915.505, Fire response
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1915.506, Hazards of fixed extinguishing systems on board vessels
and vessel sections
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1915.507, Land-side fire protection systems
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1915.508, Training
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1915.509, Definitions applicable to this subpart
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Appendix A, Model fire safety plan (Non-Mandatory)
Marine Terminals (29 CFR
1917)
Longshoring
(29 CFR 1918)
Gear Certification (29 CFR 1919)For additional information on OSHA standards for
Shipyard Employment,
Marine Terminals, and
Longshoring, see the OSHA Assistance for the Maritime Industry Page.
Construction Industry (29
CFR 1926)
- 1926 Subpart
D, Occupational health and environmental controls
- 1926.57,
Ventilation
- 1926.64,
Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals
- 1926.65,
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
- 1926.66,Criteria
for design and construction of spray booths
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1926 Subpart F, Fire protection and prevention
- 1926 Subpart
H, Materials handling, storage, use, and disposal.
- 1926 Subpart
S, Underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, and
compressed air
- 1926.800,
Underground construction
- 1926.803,
Compressed air. Includes a section on fire protection and prevention.
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1926 Subpart T, Demolition
For information on OSHA standards relating to
electrical safety, see OSHA's Electrical
Safety and Health Topics Page.
Regulatory Agenda
Directives
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Compliance Policy for Emergency Action Plans and Fire Prevention Plans.
CPL 02-01-037 [CPL 2-1.037], (2002, July 9). Provides a consolidated compliance
policy for the application of emergency action plans (EAPs) and fire
prevention plans (FPPs), General Industry Standard for
29 CFR 1910.38.
- 1910.156(e)(3)(ii)
Fire - Resistive Coat Requirements for Fire Brigades. STD 01-09-003 [STD 1-9.3], (1981, December 12). Recognizes a variation to the washing cycle requirements
referenced in 29 CFR 1910.156 (e)(3)(ii).
- Fireworks
Manufacturer: Compliance Policy. CPL 02-00-073 [CPL 2.73], (1986, February 3). Implements guidelines for the safety inspection of Fireworks Manufacturers
under the National Emphasis Program (NEP).
- 29 CFR
1910.157(f)(2),(f)(2)(i) and (f)(4) Hydrostatic Testing of Dry Chemical Cartridge Portable Fire Extinguishers. STD 01-09-002 [STD 1-9.2], (1981, August 5).
Provides exceptions for hydrostatic testing and repairs.
- Search all available directives.
National Consensus
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do
provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker
protection.
International Code Council (ICC)
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About ICC: Introduction to the ICC. International Code Council (ICC).
Includes information about the ICC which initiated a request for recognition
of its codes by OSHA in May of 2004, with submission of a document in November
of 2005 that details a section by section comparison and analysis of the IBC
with OSHA’s rules in Subpart E. After review of that document OSHA made a
preliminary finding, as noted in an ANPRM,
recognizing the IBC and IFC as compliant
with the OSHA requirements.
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Code Development. Includes information about the code
development cycle, the National Institute of Standard's (NIST)
World Trade Center Recommendations, disaster response,
comparison of the International Building Code (IBC) with NFPA
5000, the Building Construction and Safety Code, as well as ICC
policies and procedures.
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ICC Statements and Comments. Includes Comments on Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, OSHA Docket S-778B,
demonstrating that the International Building Code (IBC) and International
Fire Code (IFC) meet or exceed the OSHA
requirements, and can be relied
upon to record compliance with the federal requirements at
Subpart E.
National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA)
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Codes and Standards. National Fire Prevention Association
(NFPA). develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300
consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility
and effects of fire and other risks. Virtually every building,
process, service, design, and installation in society today is
affected by NFPA documents. Free online access is available:
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1, Uniform Fire Code
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101, Life Safety Code
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241, Standard for Safeguarding
Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations
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5000, Building Construction and
Safety Code
Consensus Standards and the General Duty Clause
Using Consensus standards to support a 5(a)(1) Citation:
A consensus standard can be used to show "industry recognition" of a
hazard. However, the hazard must be recognized in the employers' industry, not
an industry other than the employers' industry.
Section 5(a)(1):
- is not used to enforce "should" standards.
- is not used to required abatement methods not required by a specific
standard.
- is not normally used to cover categories of hazards exempted by an OSHA
standard.
Background
Section 5(a)(1):
- Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely
to cause death or serious physical harm to his employee;
- The general duty provisions can only be used where there is no standard that
applies to the particular hazard involved.
Evaluation of Potential 5(a)(1) situations:
- Employer failed to keep workplace free of hazards to which employees of that
employer were exposed.
- Must involve a serious hazard and employee exposure
- Does not specify a particular abatement method - only that the employer
keeps the workplace free of serious hazards by any feasible and effective means.
- The hazard must be reasonably foreseeable.
- The hazard was recognized.
- Industry recognition
- Employer recognition
- Common-sense recognition
- The hazard caused or was likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
- Feasible means to correct the hazard were available.
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