Temporary fire workplace requires responsible roles

The use of a temporary fire workplace is occasionally necessary for industrial and construction projects, but only if the fire work cannot be carried out in a permanent fire workplace. Koccasional repairs and maintenance of plant, machinery and equipment may create the need for a temporary fire station. However, its safe and successful use requires careful planning, compliance with safety requirements and close supervision. This blog post discusses the definition of a temporary fire workplace, safety requirements and best practices.

Fire work at a temporary fire site is only permitted if it cannot be carried out at a permanent fire site. The high temperatures generated by fire-fighting equipment and methods always pose a significant fire risk. Before starting work, it is therefore advisable to consider whether the work can be carried out by an alternative, safer method. If this is not possible, the establishment of a temporary fire workplace and its use in accordance with the instructions is key to maintaining safety at work in order to minimise the risks and ensure that the work is carried out in a fire-safe manner.

When a place of work does not meet the requirements of a permanent place of work, it is defined as a temporary place of work. This may be a construction site, industrial building or other site where a permanent fire workplace is not available. The aim of a temporary fire workplace is to create a safe environment in which fires can be easily prevented from starting and potentially spreading.

A person carrying out fire work at a temporary fire workplace must always have a valid fire work card issued on completion of a safety examination approved by the Finnish Rescue Association and a written, fixed-term fire work permit. Both large and small companies must have a fire work plan that defines instructions for safe fire work in both permanent and temporary fire workplaces.

The main roles when working in a temporary workplace are the fire permit holder, the fire warden and the firefighter. These roles are identified in the company's fire plan and can also be combined as necessary. However, a firefighter cannot act as a fire permit issuer, nor usually as a fire warden. When fire work is carried out at a temporary fire site, a firefighter and a fire warden must always be present. There are only a few exceptional cases in the roofing and waterproofing sector.

The role of the fire permit holder is very important and responsible in the work of a temporary fire station, but equally, the worker and the guard must recognise the dangers of the work and follow the instructions given in carrying out the work.

• must have a firefighter's licence
• must be trained and experienced in recognising the risks of fire work
• be able to define safety measures for the safe execution of fire work
• ensure that the person carrying out the fire work has a valid firefighter's licence
• check that the safety measures specified in the firearms permit have been implemented before starting work.
• order a fire watch
• a sufficient number of initial fire-fighting equipment must be specified for the scope of the work and the site
• ensure compliance with the fire plan during the work and also during breaks in the work

• must hold a firefighter's licence (Temporary certificate of successful completion of fire safety training.
• must be trained and experienced in recognising the hazards of fire work and carrying out fire work safely
• be aware of the contents of the fire plan and be able to follow it
• must ensure a fire watch
• must know how to use basic fire-fighting equipment

• no need to have a firefighter's licence
• understand the risks of fire work and its environment
• know the contents of the fire plan and be able to follow it
• be able to stop the fire if necessary and make an emergency declaration
• must know how to use basic fire-fighting equipment
• prevent the spread of sparks during the work
• provide for the guarding of the site during the work and for the important after-guarding of the site

  Guarding can be done by an employee of the contractor or client, a guard working for a guarding company, or an employee of a factory fire department. You can also get fire protection for your project from Protect. We have trained fire and rescue professionals to provide safety and after-sales services. Contact us and let's take stock of the situation together.

1. Cleaning, protecting and isolating the area: the fire site must be cleared of all non-working, flammable material, protected from any flammable material and any gaps in structures sealed or, ideally, isolated from the surrounding area with non-combustible protective materials. This may include welding curtains, metal shields or other fire retardant materials.
2. Fire detectors and fire extinguishing systems: to prevent false alarms, the fire detector and fire extinguishing system can be switched off during the work.
3. Fire risk assessment: a thorough risk assessment should be carried out before starting fire work to identify potential fire risks and define the necessary safety measures.
4. Initial fire-fighting equipment: a sufficient number of functional and compliant initial fire-fighting equipment, such as hand-held extinguishers and fire blankets, must be available at the fire workplace. In particular, the fire watchman must know how to use the fire extinguishers properly when the situation so requires.
5. Staff skills: people carrying out fire work must be properly trained and hold a valid firefighter's licence and understand the risks of fire work.
6. Guarding: there must be constant supervision during the fire work, including during breaks in the work. After the work has been completed, post-work surveillance shall continue for at least one hour to check for possible backfires.

When preparing for fire work, it is also a good idea to read the safety instructions of your company's own insurance company to ensure that everything necessary to avoid risks has been taken into account..

A fire permit is always issued in writing, either electronically or on paper. If the permit is issued on paper, it must be written in at least four copies and given to everyone involved in the firework. For repair projects, one copy must also be addressed to the contractor of the construction project.

A fire permit is always temporary and assigned to a specific place of work. The permit indicates the duration of the fire work and the types of fire work to be carried out, and only these may be carried out under the permit. The permit shall also identify all persons involved in the fire work: the permit holder, the firefighter and the fire warden, as well as any person who may be responsible for the after-sales safety of the fire work.

The first step is for the fire permit holder to identify and assess the risks and hazards posed by the fire work and to determine the necessary safety measures. The safety measures must be recorded in the firework permit and made known to all those involved in the firework before the start of the work. No fire work may commence until the fireman and the fire warden have verified that the safety measures specified in the permit have been considered and implemented.

If any factor changes during the period of validity of the firearms licence, the firearms licence issuer must update the firearms licence to reflect the changes made. The fire permit must therefore always be up to date.

Contact us, and together we will identify the needs of your business.

Read also on the guidelines and regulations for a permanent fire workplace