1926 Subpart F
Overview
OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH 1926
Subpart F
Overview for Subpart F
Fire Protection and Prevention
F-1 What are the serious most frequently cited fire hazard violations
in descending order?
- Transporting or handling flammable liquids in non-approved containers
[1926.152(a)(1)].
- Failure to have a class 2-A rated fire extinguisher within a 100 feet
(30.4 m) of an area where class A fire hazards exist within a building
[1926.150(c)(1)(I)]. Another frequent violation related to this one
is not having at least one class 2-A rated fire extinguisher on each
floor of a multistory building located near the stairway [1926.150(c)(1)(iv)].
- Failure of the employer to develop and implement a fire protection
program for all phases of work involving employees on the job site [1926.150(a)(1)].
- Failure to inspect and maintain portable fire extinguishers to keep
them in serviceable condition [1926.150(c)(1)(iii)].
- Lack of posting of "no smoking" signs where refueling operations are
conducted [1926.152(g)(9)], and where operations which constitute a
fire hazard, which commonly will include flammable liquids and flammable
gases [1926.151(a)(3)].
F-2 What are some effective control measures that can be used for the
serious hazards discussed in F-1?
- The importance of developing and implementing a fire protection program,
which will be apart of the employer's safety and health program, will
help to avoid being unprepared for fire emergencies. This is most important
to those contractors that work with easily ignitable materials such
as flammable liquids and gases and those that use equipment that depend
on liquid or gaseous fuels. Material safety data sheets (MSDS) from
your supplier can be used to determine what materials are flammable,
and which ones are only combustible or will not burn. Also, the MSDS
will tell you which fire extinguishing agent is effective on the specific
material if it were to catch on fire.
- As part of the program, preplanning for trash and rubbish removal
is an important part of preventing fire hazards. Removing accumulations
of class A waste materials such as paper, cardboard, wood pallets and
packing materials and trash from the work area will help minimize unwanted
fires. Also, minimize the spilling of flammable liquids by using approved
safety cans or the DOT shipping containers. Approved containers will
have a laboratory listing or label recognized by OSHA.
- Where fire hazards cannot be removed from the work area, the types
of fire extinguishing equipment to be used must match the type of materials
being used and the job activities. For class A hazards, OSHA would accept
any approved 2-A rated fire extinguisher; a 55-gallon (208 l) open drum
of water with 2 fire pails; 100 feet (30.4 m) of 1/2 (1.27cm) inch rubber
or plastic garden type hose that can supply at least 5 gallons per minute
(0.31 l/s) with a hose stream range of 30 feet (9.1 m) horizontally;
or 100 feet (30.4 m) of an approved fire hose system that will deliver
25 gallons or more per minute (1.57 l/s).
- Control of ignition sources is also an important component of the
program. Bonding and grounding metal containers when transferring flammable
liquids; posting "no smoking" signs near fire hazards areas; and using
approved lighting for hazardous locations, such as in a confined space
where flammable materials are being used, are some examples of good
control of ignition sources.
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