Fire safety: 8 checks to review before dispatch

Before sending technicians out, verify these eight specific safety controls. The table below lists source-specific checks and recommendations, their publishers, and the relevant conditions. Use this list to confirm your shop and vehicles are ready for the day.

Review the first two rows to confirm your shop’s welding equipment is secure and isolated, as CCOHS requires. For the remaining six items, review the regulations reproduced by Legal Information Institute, including the welding-screen guidance in § 1910.252. Pay close attention to the five-year CO2 test interval and the Halon requirement for testing at factory test pressure without exceeding two times service pressure. Where your employer provides portable extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, provide education on extinguisher use and incipient stage fire fighting hazards. Finally, check that any welding screens in your shop are mounted at the recommended height to protect nearby workers from glare. Use these eight items as prompts when reviewing equipment, testing records, training, and welding screens.

• Verify that all equipment is in good operating order before work starts, as required by CCOHS: Welding - Hot Work CCOHS.
• Secure, isolate, and vent pressurized vessels, piping, and equipment as needed before beginning hot work, according to CCOHS.
• Employers must maintain and provide evidence that required hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers has been performed at the time intervals shown in Table L-1, according to Legal Information Institute.
• Where employers provide portable fire extinguishers for employee use in the workplace, they must provide education on general principles of extinguisher use and incipient stage fire fighting hazards, according to Legal Information Institute.
• Ensure carbon dioxide extinguishers and nitrogen or carbon dioxide cylinders used with wheeled extinguishers are tested every 5 years at 5/3 of the service pressure as stamped into the cylinder, according to Legal Information Institute.

Check the hydrostatic test date on your shop's CO2 extinguisher against the 5-year interval in § 1910.157 reproduced by Legal Information Institute.

Before your technicians begin welding or cutting, confirm that the equipment meets the standards set by CCOHS. The first step is verifying that all machinery is functioning correctly. CCOHS advises making sure that all equipment is in good operating order before work starts, as stated in CCOHS. This check prevents unexpected failures during high-heat tasks. You should inspect torches, regulators, and power units to ensure they are ready for use.

Next, address the safety of connected systems. Pressurized components pose significant risks if not handled properly. CCOHS requires that you secure, isolate, and vent pressurized vessels, piping and equipment as needed before beginning hot work, according to CCOHS. Isolation stops fuel or gas from flowing into the work area. Venting removes residual pressure that could cause a rupture. Secure, isolate, and vent pressurized vessels, piping, and equipment as needed before beginning hot work.

Finally, ensure your business has a formal process for managing these risks. CCOHS notes that hot work management programs are put in place to control or eliminate hot work hazards and their risks, according to CCOHS. A written program outlines who can approve hot work and what safety measures must be in place. It defines the controls needed to protect workers and property. Without this program, your team lacks a consistent method for handling hazardous tasks.

Review your current hot work procedures against these three preparation steps. Check that your equipment is maintained, your isolation steps are documented, and your management program is accessible to all staff. If any part of this process is missing, update your shop protocols immediately. This preparation is essential for safe field operations.

Carbon dioxide extinguishers operate by covering the fuel with a blanket of gas. When used for Class B and C fires, the CO2 covers the fuel by blanketing it, and stops the reaction at the surface by displacing oxygen, according to CCOHS. For dispatchers, understanding oxygen displacement helps explain how CO2 extinguishers act on Class B and C fires.

Hydrostatic testing is a separate requirement for maintaining extinguisher integrity. The employer shall maintain and provide upon request to the Assistant Secretary evidence that the required hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers has been performed at the time intervals shown in Table L-1, according to Legal Information Institute. This rule specifically applies to the testing intervals defined in the referenced table.

For CO2 extinguishers, the hydrostatic test interval is five years. Always check the specific table for your jurisdiction. The evidence must show that required testing occurred at the specified intervals. Keep the provider’s name and contact information on file. This documentation protects your business during an inspection. It also ensures that your team is not relying on equipment that may have failed silently.

Know who is legally responsible before you send a truck out. According to GOV.UK, you can read about your legal duties as the person responsible for fire safety. This applies specifically to the workplace fire safety responsibilities outlined in the source titled "Fire safety in the workplace: Who's responsible - GOV.UK." Your role is not just about having equipment; it is about understanding the specific legal obligations attached to your position as the responsible person.

Coordination is a key part of those duties. According to GOV.UK, you’ll need to co-ordinate your fire safety plans to make sure people on or around the premises are safe. For a small field-service business in England and Wales, consider people on or around the premises when coordinating dispatch with the person responsible for fire safety.

The legal framework in England and Wales is defined by specific legislation. According to Health and Safety Executive, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order covers general fire safety in England and Wales. This statement comes from the HSE page titled "Introduction to fire safety - HSE." If your business operates in this jurisdiction, this Order is the baseline for your general fire safety compliance.

Enforcement is handled by specific authorities. According to Health and Safety Executive, in the majority of premises, local fire and rescue authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation. This information is sourced from the HSE page titled "Introduction to fire safety - HSE." It is important to note that this enforcement responsibility lies with local fire and rescue authorities for the majority of premises, not exclusively with other bodies.

Welding operations present specific health hazards that require strict personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols for your technicians. Since 2019, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all welding fume, including from mild steel, as a substance that may cause cancer, according to WorkSafe New Zealand. This classification applies to various materials, not just specialized alloys. Furthermore, WorkSafe New Zealand states that there is currently no known safe level of exposure to any type of welding fume. This lack of a defined safe threshold means that minimizing exposure is the primary control strategy for shop safety.

Because there is no known safe level of exposure to welding fume, ensure employees exposed to welding, cutting, or brazing hazards have appropriate PPE. Employees exposed to the hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations shall be protected by personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of § 1910.132 of this part, according to Legal Information Institute. This regulatory requirement calls for PPE for employees exposed to hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations. The PPE must meet the requirements of § 1910.132.

Create a worksheet with Check Item, Status, and Notes columns to record daily equipment checks before your team leaves the shop. The Health and Safety Executive states that the welder is responsible for daily equipment checks and reporting defects, as noted in Safety risks from welding - HSE. Keep this form in each vehicle so technicians can log their findings immediately.

Fill in the "Check Item" column with the specific equipment you inspected, such as welding leads or fire extinguishers. Mark the "Status" as passed or failed. Use the "Notes" column to describe any defects found, as the welder must report these issues. This simple log helps you track recurring problems and ensures defects are addressed before the next job. Review the completed worksheet at the end of each day to identify any equipment that needs repair or replacement.

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How often must carbon dioxide extinguishers be tested?

Employers must ensure that carbon dioxide extinguishers and nitrogen or carbon dioxide cylinders used with wheeled extinguishers are tested every 5 years, according to Legal Information Institute. This testing must occur at 5/3 of the service pressure as stamped into the cylinder.

What is the required height for welding screens?

It is desirable to have screens mounted about 2 feet (0.61 m) above the floor, according to Legal Information Institute. An exception applies if work is performed at such a low level that the screen must be extended nearer to the floor to protect nearby workers from the glare of welding.

Who is responsible for daily equipment checks?

The welder is responsible for daily equipment checks and reporting defects, according to Health and Safety Executive. This duty applies specifically to the individual performing the welding tasks.

What evidence must be provided for hydrostatic testing?

Employers must maintain and provide upon request to the Assistant Secretary evidence that the required hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers has been performed at the time intervals shown in Table L-1, according to Legal Information Institute. This requirement ensures that testing records are available for verification.

What is the standard for safety in welding processes?

CSA standard W117.2-12 (R2017) - Safety in welding, cutting, and allied processes and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard Z49.1: 2021 Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes were created to protect persons and property from injury, illness, and damage from fire and explosions that may occur from these processes, according to CCOHS.