Fire safety plan template (fire prevention plan)
Updated · Reviewed by Israel Margulies, founder and CEO of High Point GPS
A fire safety plan template built on the fire prevention plan elements in OSHA's rule (29 CFR 1910.39): the major fire hazards, how hazardous materials are handled and stored, ignition sources and their controls, the fire protection equipment, how flammable waste is kept down, upkeep of heat-producing equipment, and who is responsible for each.
Shops and yards carry plenty of fuel for a fire: oily rags, solvents, fuel, batteries, tires, dust. A fire prevention plan lists those hazards and says who keeps each one under control. It must be written, kept at the workplace and available to employees, though an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally.
Review the plan with each employee when they start, so they know the fire hazards of their own work. Pair it with an emergency action plan for what to do if a fire starts anyway. This page summarizes the federal rule and isn't legal advice.
Fire prevention plan
Fields: Site / building · Plan owner (name or title) · Date · Revision
Log columns: Major fire hazard · Safe handling and storage · Ignition sources and controls · Fire protection equipment · Responsible (name or title)
Minimum elements (29 CFR 1910.39(c))
- List of major fire hazards, their handling and storage, ignition sources and controls, and the fire protection equipment for each
- Procedures to control flammable and combustible waste
- Upkeep of safeguards on heat-producing equipment
- Name or title of employees who maintain equipment that prevents or controls ignition
- Name or title of employees who control fuel source hazards
Shop checks
- Oily rags in closed metal cans
- Flammables in approved cabinets
- Battery charging area ventilated and clear
- Hot work only with a permit
- Extinguishers inspected monthly
Fill it in the right way
- Walk the site and list every major fire hazard.
- For each, write how it's stored and handled, what could ignite it and what controls the ignition.
- Name the fire protection equipment for each hazard and who keeps it working.
- Write how flammable waste is collected and removed.
- Review the plan with every employee and keep it where people can read it.
Tips
- Battery charging, fuel transfer and parts washing are common shop fire starters; give each a line.
- Housekeeping is fire prevention: set a daily cleanup for oily waste.
- Keep heaters, compressors and dryers maintained on a schedule.
- Check the plan after any fire or near miss.
Do it in FleetZap
- FleetZap PM schedules keep heat-producing equipment such as compressors and heaters on their service intervals.
- Extinguisher inspections can run as a recurring check with a reminder.
- FleetZap records checks and repairs; it doesn't certify compliance.
Sources
FleetZap Maintenance
Work orders, PM, parts, compliance, assets and KPIs. Explore FleetZap Maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
What must a fire prevention plan include?
Under 29 CFR 1910.39(c): a list of major fire hazards with their handling, storage, ignition controls and protection equipment, waste control procedures, upkeep of heat-producing equipment, and who is responsible for ignition and fuel source controls.
Does it have to be written?
Yes, kept in the workplace and available to employees, except that an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally.
What's the difference from an emergency action plan?
The fire prevention plan is about stopping fires; the emergency action plan is about what people do when one happens.
Who reviews it with employees?
The employer informs each employee, when they're assigned, of the fire hazards they're exposed to and reviews the parts of the plan they need.