Lesson 5 of 5 · 3 min read
On the job as a fire watch officer
Get your post orders, patrol on schedule, document every round, and close out the right way.
Before the shift
Get your post orders and the details of the job: the permit or the impairment notice, exactly what is covered, the patrol route and how often to walk it, who to call, and where the extinguishers, exits and pull stations are. If anything is unclear, ask before the watch starts.
Staying effective
- Patrol on schedule. A watch is only as good as the rounds you actually walk.
- Stay off distractions. This is a watch, so keep your phone for calling help and the log, not for scrolling.
- Document every round in the log as you go, not from memory at the end.
- Never leave the post unattended while the watch is on.
When you find something
- A small, just-starting fire: use the extinguisher if it is safe.
- Anything more: pull the alarm, get everyone out, call 911, and meet the fire department to tell them what and where.
- Any smoke or sign of fire you can't quickly resolve: treat it as real and alert.
Ending the watch
A watch ends when the hot work's post-work period is over, or when the system is back in service, as your post orders define it. Note it in the log, make sure the fire department and monitoring company are notified if that is required, and hand off or close out the way your post orders say.
The final word
Codes and this course are the background. On any given site, your employer's post orders and your local fire marshal set what you actually do. When they differ from a general rule you learned here, follow them.
Key points
- Before the shift, get the post orders: what's covered, the route and frequency, who to call, where the gear is.
- Patrol on schedule, stay off distractions, log every round as you go, never leave the post unattended.
- Small safe fire: extinguisher. Anything more: alarm, evacuate, call 911, meet the fire department.
- Close out in the log and by notifying the right people; post orders and the fire marshal are the final word.
Picture it
Your post orders say to patrol every 15 minutes, but the night is quiet and it is tempting to stretch it to 30.
Stick to the schedule. The 15-minute round is there so a fire is caught early, and the log has to show you walked it. Keep to the route, note each round, and if you ever have to step away, get a relief first and record the handoff.
Resources
- U.S. Fire Administration: Fire extinguishers
Plain guidance on when to use an extinguisher, the PASS method, and when to get out and call 911 instead.
- OSHA: Welding, Cutting, and Brazing (Hot Work)
The federal safety topic page for hot work, with the fire prevention and fire watch requirements for welding and cutting.