Fire Watch

Fire and hole watch personnel are mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Section 1910.252 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Part of a welding team, workers on fire watch ensure no smoldering fires result from cutting or welding metal. Workers on the hole watch ensure the safety of the person working in a confined space, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Section 1910.146. Both are an essential part of construction and industrial maintenance safety programs.

The primary duty for personnel on both fire watch or hole watch is to sound the alarm in case of an emergency. Although the fire watch is watching for sparks after a welder or burner finishes cutting or welding metal, their primary duty is to give the alarm, so firefighters can be brought into play. Hole watchers aren’t supposed to try and enter the confined space to perform a rescue; they sound the alarm so rescue professionals can attend to the matter

You will learn the hazards, PPE, Communication, equipment and Conditions for evacuations