Difference between Fire watch/Safety watch

                                                       ( CONFINE SPACE)

Hii

Readers,

In India, hundreds of Institution  providing Industrial fire and safety diploma courses and most of students after completion of their fire and safety courses they are trying to search job as a safety officer in oil and gas and construction industries. But as a fresher whenever they are trying to apply resume, they are getting answer that for this post, international certificate like OSHA, IOSH and specially NEBOSH Certificate is mandatory in the countries like U.A.E., KUWAIT, OMAN MUSQAT, and BEHRIN etc. Especially NEBOSH must as per the companies rules.

Due to lack of knowledge and lack of awareness, candidates don’t know that after completed diploma in industrial safety course, they can start their career in Health safety Environment field as a fire watch/safety watch in “shut down” &” long term project” in Middle East countries.

After getting Gulf experience as a fire watch/safety watch, they can do NEBOSH and than they can apply for safety officer.

So guys it is best way to start career in Health safety field, as a “fire watch/safety watch” in oil & gas industries in Middle East countries after completion of industrial safety courses in India.

Today I will try to explain you, the difference between fire watch & safety Watch, duties and responsibilities as a fire watch/safety watch so candidates can start their career as a fresher by the designation of fire watch/safety watch in HSE Field in Middle East countries.

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        “FIRE WATCH/ SAFETY WATCH”

1. FIRE WATCH

INTRODUCTION:-

Most of the time, it is found that Unsafe hot work likes(welding, torch cutting, brazing, propane soldering) is one of the leading causes of fires in the workplace. A recent study analyzed several hundred hot-work initiated fires.

The average loss per fire was 1.4 million dollars. All these losses are preventable through the use of appropriate precautions and work practices. One precaution is the use of a “Fire Watch”.

The term fire watch is also used to describe a dedicated person or persons whose sole responsibility is to look for fires and other hazards within a building, specific area, or premises.

Workers assigned as fire watch are the first line of defense in protecting other workers and property from harm during hot work. Hot work includes any activity involving riveting, welding, burning, grinding or use of powder-actuated tools or similar fire- or spark producing operations. Hot work requires that a fire watch last throughout the duration of the operation and at least 30 minutes after the conclusion of work. The 30 minute time period may be extended by the fire code official depending on the nature of work or hazards present.

When a required fire alarm or fire extinguishing system is rendered inoperable for a period for 4 hours or more, the facility administrator is responsible to ensure a fire watch in place.

A fire watch is a person assigned to observe ongoing hot work to identify and react to hazards.

A fire watch is a temporary measure for the purposes of ensuring the fire-safety of a building or premises in the event of any act or situation which creates an increased risk to persons or property.  A Fire watch is necessary at any time where hot work is performed in locations where a fire greater than a minor one might develop, such as a construction site or oil rig. Before hot work begins, written permission, like a hot work permit, must be issued.

In general, a fire watch is to be used only as a temporary means to provide either an extra level of safety (in the case of a special event or hot work operation) or to supplant an out of service life safety system.

Inspect the work area for any sources of fuel, such as trash, rags and flammable materials and liquids. This applies to lower decks or levels where sparks or slag could fall. The purpose of a fire watch is provide temporary surveillance in a building or premises for the purposes of identifying and controlling fire hazards, detecting early signs of unwanted fire, initiating alarms or evacuation procedures, and notifying the fire department.

Some of the responsibilities of a Fire watch include:

ü Review the specific type work & precautions described on the “Hot Work Permit”

ü Having fire extinguishing equipment readily available.

ü Provide workplaces that are free of recognized hazards.

ü Keep flammable materials from ignition sources.

ü Monitor the welding/cutting work on both sides of walls/floors & be on the alert for signs of a fire.

ü Know how to sound an alarm in the event of a fire

ü Train fire watch workers about job hazards, including how to fight fires at their incipient (beginning) stage

ü Monitor for fires in all exposed areas, including lower decks or levels

ü Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers

ü Have the proper fire extinguisher or charged water hose ready for use.

ü Attempt to extinguish the fire only within the capacity of available equipment, if not sound the alarm

ü Monitor hot work area for at least half an hour after hot work operations stop.

ü Shut down any hot work activity deemed unsafe and take the appropriate corrective measures to restore and maintain safe conditions.

ü Correct or stop conditions which may lead to a fire & report any incipient fires.

ü Move cover or wet combustible materials.

ü In the event of fire, extinguish it immediately or turn a fire alarm on.

ü Isolate or cover combustible materials that cannot be removed with fire-resistant blankets and flame-retardant chemical gels or solutions. Wet down the area surrounding hot work.

ü The Fire watch cannot have any other duties while monitoring the hot work so they can concentrate on their task.

ü Continuous surveillance must be maintained throughout the course of the hot work, including a 30-minute cool down period after hot work concludes.

ü Stay alert and be responsible to actively prevent and fight any incipient stage fires.

ü Do not perform other duties in combination with fire watch activities while hot work is in progress.

ü Do not abandon the hot work area during breaks or interruptions, or at the end of work shifts, unless properly relieved.

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Fire watch Training:-

The Following are the duties that the Fire watch shall be trained as –

1)      Must understand the basic fire behavior and how fire begins.

2)    Define the classes of Fire A, B, C and D.

3)    The extinguishing Agent to put out the various classes of Fire.

4)    Recognize the Health Hazards of Fire and the need for protection from smoke, heat and toxins.

5)    Demonstrate the application of Fire Hoses, extinguisher and other associated equipment.

6)    Define Barriers and how they are useful in preventing Fire Spreading.

7)    Communicating with the workers by voice, radio and other means.

8)    Knowledge of the Fire and evacuation plans.

9)    Annual Training must be documented and employer retains records for one year after training is completed.

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2. “SAFETY WATCH/ATTENDANT/HOLE WATCH/STAND BY PERSON”

A person who remains outside the confined space and monitor the confined space and monitor the entrants he also safeguards the space against all un authorized entry he is responsible to protect the entrant if any incorrect condition arise attendant is also called “Hole Watcher”.

Responsibilities of attendant in confined space.

ü To keep records of confined space such as air results, personal entry and exit.

ü To arrange emergency assistance, if needed.

ü To control access to confined space.

ü To monitor entrance during the job and during entry and exit to bell and ensure their safety.

ü To monitor atmospheric condition.

ü Maintain continuous communication with entrant during the job in confined space.

ü To assist hazards in and outside the space.

ü Know about Recue procedure and know about the confined space personal protective equipment.

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                 “Difference between Fire watch / Hole Watch”

FIRE WATCH	HOLE WATCH
1)      Shall speak and read English well enough to communicate and comply with instructions. (For those employees that show some language problem before the training starts.)	1)      Shall speak and read English well enough to communicate and comply with instructions. (For those employees that show some language problem before the training starts.)
2)    JSA shall be made available along with PTW.	2)    Hole-watch will remain on the job site at all times during the confines space and will not assist in other tasks.
3)    Ensure Appropriate PTW secured and available on site.	3)    Barricade area and ensure non-essential personnel remain outside barricade at all times. Appropriate safety signboards provided & visibly posted at the entrance
4)    Ensure all hot work area is free of ignition sources before leaving the work area.	4)    Be properly trained on the requirements listed here. All equipment necessary for confined space and carry proof of training.
5)    Have fire extinguisher equipment fire hoses readily available and be trained in their use.	5)    Be in continuous contact with confined space entrants through visual audible, radio-walky talky or in some case mechanical (rope).
6)    Basic Fire Extinguishers Training is one of the requirements to be a fire-watch.	6)    Stop work and instruct workers to shutdown equipment if hazardous conditions occur.
7)    Watch for fires in all exposed areas and attempt to extinguish only those with in the capacity of equipment available, otherwise sound alarm.	7)    Track personnel-record   their entry & exit on the confined space entry permit and on the confined space access board if provided.
8)    Toolbox meeting shall be carried out by the worksite supervisor / Foreman before commencing the job.	8)    The employee must surrender his training card to the attendant . The attendant will place the training card on the confined space Board.
9)    Be familiar with the facilities for sounding an alarm in the event of fire.	9)    Card will remain on board the entire time at the employee is inside the confined space.
10) Have portable warning horn / whistle to alert personnel in case of fire or other hazards and changing conditions.	10) Know the hazards associated with the confined space entry and monitor conditions.
11)   Ensure all sewer openings in the area remain covered and wetted down	11)   Ensure entrants are wearing proper PPE lifeline and safety harness, unless documented otherwise in a JSA
12) Remain on-site for 30 minutes after the completion of hot work operations if a fire could result.	12) Ensure the least one member is warning a continuous multi gas monitoring device.

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