13 Aug Fire Response – JSA

Fire Response Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

Job / Task

Emergency response to fire, smoke, explosion, ignition, or rapidly developing heat conditions occurring in or affecting a confined space or permit-required confined space.

Purpose

This Job Safety Analysis (JSA), also known as a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), identifies hazards associated with confined space fire emergencies and establishes controls for immediate evacuation, alarm activation, rescue-service notification, hazardous-energy isolation, access control, atmospheric monitoring, and coordination with fire and emergency responders.

Personnel Qualifications and Responsibilities

Employees shall be trained in the confined-space emergency procedures applicable to their assigned roles. Entry firefighting or rescue in a fire-affected confined space shall be performed only by personnel specifically trained, equipped, and authorized for those duties.

Authorized Entrants

• Recognize smoke, flame, abnormal heat, burning odors, atmospheric alarms, and other indications of fire.
• Stop work and immediately evacuate when fire, smoke, explosion, or an evacuation order occurs.
• Maintain communication with the attendant during evacuation when possible.
• Do not remain in the space to fight a fire unless specifically trained, equipped, and authorized under an applicable emergency-response program.

Attendant

• Immediately order evacuation when fire, smoke, explosion, or another fire-related prohibited condition develops.
• Activate the emergency response system and summon the designated fire/rescue service.
• Maintain entrant accountability.
• Prevent unauthorized rescue or firefighting entry.
• Initiate non-entry retrieval only when feasible, safe, and consistent with the rescue plan.

Entry Supervisor / Emergency Coordinator

• Coordinate evacuation, fire/rescue notification, isolation, scene control, and accountability.
• Provide responders with entry permits, atmospheric readings, chemicals, hot-work information, space configuration, isolation status, and entrant information.
• Prevent reentry until the space has been evaluated and formally released for subsequent entry.

Required PPE and Emergency Equipment

PPE and emergency equipment shall be selected for the space and emergency and may include:

• Hard hat.
• Safety glasses, goggles, or face protection.
• Safety footwear.
• Work gloves or task-specific protective gloves.
• Flame-resistant or other protective clothing where required by the hazard assessment.
• Full-body harness and retrieval equipment.
• Atmospheric monitoring equipment suitable for identified hazards.
• Emergency communication equipment.
• Portable fire extinguishers for trained personnel when incipient-stage firefighting is permitted.
• Respiratory protection only for personnel trained, medically qualified, fit-tested, equipped, and authorized under the respiratory-protection program.
• Rescue equipment and first-aid supplies appropriate to the emergency plan.
• Additional specialized PPE used by qualified fire/rescue personnel.

JSA – Job Steps, Hazards, and Controls

Step 1 – Establish Fire Emergency Procedures Before Entry

Potential Hazards

• Delayed evacuation.
• Uncoordinated response.
• Unauthorized firefighting.

Required Controls

• Identify potential fire and explosion hazards during pre-entry planning.
• Establish alarm, evacuation, rescue activation, fire-service notification, and accountability procedures.
• Identify ignition sources, combustible materials, flammable atmospheres, oxygen-enriched conditions, and hot-work hazards.
• Confirm emergency communications and rescue capability before entry begins.
• Review fire-related evacuation criteria during the pre-entry briefing.

Step 2 – Control Fire Hazards Before Entry

Potential Hazards

• Ignition.
• Rapid fire growth.
• Explosion.

Required Controls

• Remove or control unnecessary combustible and flammable materials.
• Control ignition sources and follow applicable hot-work procedures.
• Maintain required ventilation and atmospheric monitoring.
• Keep fire extinguishers and other required fire-protection equipment accessible.
• Maintain hazardous-energy and process isolation.

Step 3 – Recognize Fire or Explosion Indicators

Potential Hazards

• Delayed evacuation.
• Entrant exposure to smoke or heat.

Required Controls

• Treat flame, smoke, sparks, abnormal heat, burning odors, sudden pressure changes, explosion, or relevant atmospheric alarms as emergency conditions.
• Stop work immediately.
• Warn entrants and affected personnel.
• Do not delay evacuation to determine the exact source of the fire.
• The attendant shall initiate emergency procedures.

Step 4 – Order Immediate Evacuation

Potential Hazards

• Burns.
• Smoke inhalation.
• Entrapment.
• Asphyxiation.

Required Controls

• The attendant shall order all entrants to evacuate immediately.
• Entrants shall leave by the designated route without stopping to collect tools or materials.
• Maintain communication during evacuation when possible.
• Keep access and egress routes clear.
• Account for entrants as they exit.

Step 5 – Activate the Fire / Emergency Alarm

Potential Hazards

• Delayed emergency response.
• Other personnel exposed.

Required Controls

• Activate the site alarm or emergency notification system immediately.
• State that the incident involves a confined space.
• Identify the location, space, known fire conditions, and whether entrants remain inside.
• Notify site supervision and emergency coordination personnel.
• Do not assume someone else has made the notification.

Step 6 – Contact Fire and Rescue Services

Potential Hazards

• Delayed firefighting or rescue.
• Responders unaware of confined-space hazards.

Required Controls

• Call 911 or the designated fire/rescue service as required.
• Provide the exact site and space location, access point, number of entrants, known hazards, fire conditions, and callback information.
• Advise responders that confined-space rescue may be required.
• Assign a person to meet and direct responders when practical.
• Update responders if conditions change.

Step 7 – Account for Entrants

Potential Hazards

• Missing entrant.
• Unnecessary rescue entry.

Required Controls

• The attendant shall verify the status of every authorized entrant.
• Report missing or unresponsive entrants immediately to rescue personnel.
• Provide the last known location and condition of missing entrants.
• Do not enter the space to search unless part of the designated trained rescue team.
• Maintain accountability throughout the emergency.

Step 8 – Control the Entry Area

Potential Hazards

• Unauthorized entry.
• Secondary casualties.
• Responder interference.

Required Controls

• Barricade or control access around the confined-space opening.
• Prevent coworkers or bystanders from attempting rescue.
• Keep fire/rescue access routes clear.
• Control traffic, mobile equipment, and other external hazards.
• Maintain adequate room for rescue and firefighting equipment.

Step 9 – Maintain / Increase Isolation

Potential Hazards

• Fuel feeding the fire.
• Unexpected equipment startup.
• Release of flammable material.

Required Controls

• Maintain existing lockout/tagout, blanking, blocking, and process isolation.
• Isolate additional fuel, gas, electrical, chemical, or process sources when this can be done safely from outside the space.
• Do not restore ventilation or process systems if doing so could worsen the fire unless directed by qualified emergency personnel.
• Communicate isolation status to responders.
• Do not compromise existing energy controls during emergency actions.

Step 10 – Evaluate Ventilation

Potential Hazards

• Fire intensification.
• Smoke migration.
• Flammable atmosphere.

Required Controls

• Do not automatically alter ventilation during a confined-space fire.
• Recognize that changing airflow may supply oxygen to the fire or redirect smoke and heat.
• Maintain, stop, or modify ventilation only under the established emergency procedure or direction of qualified fire/rescue personnel.
• Keep ventilation intakes and exhaust locations clear of personnel.
• Continue atmospheric evaluation from a safe location where appropriate.

Step 11 – Continue Atmospheric Monitoring from a Safe Location

Potential Hazards

• Explosion.
• Toxic combustion products.
• Oxygen deficiency.

Required Controls

• Monitor the atmosphere from outside the space when feasible and safe.
• Evaluate oxygen, combustible gases or vapors, and relevant toxic gases.
• Treat rapidly changing readings as evidence of escalating conditions.
• Provide readings to fire/rescue personnel.
• Do not use atmospheric readings as justification for unprotected entry into a fire-affected space.

Step 12 – Attempt Non-Entry Retrieval, If Appropriate

Potential Hazards

• Entrant exposure.
• Retrieval-line damage.
• Patient injury.

Required Controls

• Use non-entry retrieval only when the entrant is attached to an appropriate retrieval system and retrieval can be performed without exposing the attendant or others to fire conditions.
• Operate the retrieval system from outside the space.
• Keep personnel clear of tensioned lines and pinch points.
• Stop if fire, heat, damaged equipment, or internal obstructions make retrieval unsafe.
• Transition to the designated rescue service when non-entry retrieval is not feasible.

Step 13 – Control Incipient-Stage Fire Only When Authorized

Potential Hazards

• Burns.
• Smoke inhalation.
• Fire growth.
• Loss of escape route.

Required Controls

• Portable extinguisher use shall be limited to employees trained and authorized under the site’s fire-protection procedures.
• Attempt extinguishment only when the fire is small and in its incipient stage, conditions are safe, and a clear escape route is maintained.
• Do not enter or remain in a confined space to fight a fire merely because an extinguisher is available.
• Evacuate immediately if the fire grows, smoke increases, the extinguisher is ineffective, or escape is threatened.
• Structural firefighting or interior fire attack is restricted to properly trained and equipped emergency responders.

Step 14 – Respond to Flammable-Gas / Vapor Fire

Potential Hazards

• Flash fire.
• Explosion.
• Reignition.

Required Controls

• Evacuate and isolate the area.
• Shut off the fuel source only when this can be accomplished safely from outside the hazard area.
• Do not extinguish a gas flame if uncontrolled gas will continue to escape and accumulate unless directed by qualified responders.
• Eliminate ignition sources in surrounding areas when safe to do so.
• Maintain exclusion zones until the source is controlled and the atmosphere is verified safe.

Step 15 – Respond to Oxygen-Enriched Conditions

Potential Hazards

• Accelerated combustion.
• Rapid ignition of materials.

Required Controls

• Evacuate the space and eliminate the source of oxygen enrichment when safe from outside.
• Keep ignition sources away from the area.
• Do not reenter until oxygen concentration is within acceptable limits and the source has been controlled.
• Inform fire/rescue personnel of oxygen-enrichment hazards.

Step 16 – Respond to Hot-Work Fire

Potential Hazards

• Burns.
• Explosion.
• Hidden smoldering fire.

Required Controls

• Stop hot work and evacuate the space.
• Shut down fuel-gas and electrical welding sources from a safe location when feasible.
• Notify fire/rescue services as required.
• Consider fire spread into concealed spaces, insulation, residues, or connected equipment.
• Do not resume hot work until the incident is resolved and a new hazard assessment and authorization are completed.

Step 17 – Respond to Smoke and Combustion Products

Potential Hazards

• Carbon monoxide exposure.
• Toxic gases.
• Reduced visibility.
• Asphyxiation.

Required Controls

• Treat smoke as a hazardous atmosphere.
• Do not enter smoke-filled confined spaces without appropriate specialized training, respiratory protection, and rescue/firefighting authorization.
• Keep unprotected personnel upwind and away from exhaust or smoke discharge.
• Provide atmospheric information to emergency responders.
• Seek medical evaluation for employees with possible smoke exposure or symptoms.

Step 18 – Respond to Entrant Incapacitation

Potential Hazards

• Fatal exposure.
• Multiple casualties.
• Delayed rescue.

Required Controls

• Immediately summon the designated confined-space rescue service.
• Initiate safe non-entry retrieval when feasible.
• Do not allow spontaneous coworker rescue entry.
• Provide rescuers with fire conditions, atmospheric readings, entrant location, isolation status, and work information.
• Maintain access for emergency medical personnel.

Step 19 – Support Entry Rescue / Fire Service

Potential Hazards

• Responder exposure.
• Conflicting actions.

Required Controls

• Provide the entry permit, SDSs, atmospheric readings, space configuration, hot-work permit, utility information, and isolation status.
• Identify the number and last known locations of entrants.
• Assist only as directed by the rescue or incident commander.
• Maintain exclusion zones and responder access.
• Do not interfere with fire/rescue operations.

Step 20 – Provide Medical Response After Removal

Potential Hazards

• Burn injury.
• Smoke inhalation.
• Bloodborne-pathogen exposure.

Required Controls

• Move the entrant to a safe area when directed by rescue personnel.
• Provide first aid, CPR, or AED assistance only within the responder’s training.
• Use appropriate barrier PPE.
• Call or maintain contact with EMS.
• Provide medical responders with exposure, atmospheric, chemical, and incident information.

Step 21 – Prevent Reentry

Potential Hazards

• Reignition.
• Toxic atmosphere.
• Structural failure.
• Repeat exposure.

Required Controls

• Secure the space following evacuation or fire response.
• Do not permit reentry until authorized by the appropriate responsible person after fire/rescue operations are complete.
• Reevaluate atmospheric, structural, electrical, mechanical, and chemical hazards.
• Verify isolation and ventilation requirements.
• Cancel the affected entry permit and issue a new or reauthorized permit before subsequent entry as required.

Step 22 – Inspect Fire-Affected Space and Equipment

Potential Hazards

• Hidden fire.
• Damaged equipment.
• Residual hazardous atmosphere.

Required Controls

• Have qualified personnel evaluate the space and affected equipment before return to service.
• Inspect electrical systems, ventilation, retrieval equipment, structural components, piping, and fire-damaged materials as applicable.
• Continue atmospheric testing where residual contaminants may remain.
• Remove damaged equipment from service.
• Correct hazards before work resumes.

Step 23 – Restore Systems

Potential Hazards

• Unexpected startup.
• Reignition.
• Release of hazardous materials.

Required Controls

• Restore energy, process lines, ventilation, and other systems only under applicable procedures.
• Verify all personnel and emergency equipment are clear.
• Follow lockout/tagout removal and startup requirements.
• Notify affected personnel before restoration.
• Monitor for abnormal conditions during startup.

Step 24 – Report and Document the Fire Emergency

Potential Hazards

• Loss of critical information.
• Incomplete corrective action.

Required Controls

• Document the fire, evacuation, atmospheric readings, extinguisher use, rescue actions, injuries, exposures, and equipment damage.
• Retain the affected confined-space and hot-work permits as required.
• Complete incident reports and required notifications.
• Preserve relevant evidence and records.
• Document corrective actions.

Step 25 – Conduct Post-Incident Review

Potential Hazards

• Repeated fire hazards.
• Emergency-response deficiencies.

Required Controls

• Review ignition source, combustible loading, ventilation, atmospheric monitoring, alarm response, evacuation, rescue activation, firefighting actions, and responder coordination.
• Identify root and contributing causes under the incident-investigation process.
• Revise confined-space, hot-work, fire-response, rescue, or training procedures as necessary.
• Communicate lessons learned to affected employees.
• Verify corrective actions are completed before similar work resumes.

General Safe Work Requirements

• Fire, smoke, explosion, or rapidly increasing heat within or affecting a confined space requires immediate evaluation and, when applicable, evacuation.
• Employees shall not remain in or enter a confined space to fight a fire unless specifically trained, equipped, and authorized for that response.
• The attendant shall order evacuation, maintain entrant accountability, summon required rescue/fire services, and prevent unauthorized entry.
• Non-entry retrieval shall be used when feasible and safe; entry rescue shall be performed only by trained and equipped rescue personnel.
• Existing lockout/tagout and process isolation shall remain in effect during the emergency unless changes are directed under an authorized emergency procedure.
• Ventilation shall not be changed indiscriminately during a fire because airflow can intensify combustion or redirect smoke and heat.
• Smoke and combustion products shall be treated as hazardous atmospheres.
• Atmospheric monitoring shall be continued from safe locations as appropriate and readings provided to emergency responders.
• Fire and rescue access routes shall remain clear.
• The space shall remain secured after the incident until hazards are reevaluated and reentry is properly authorized.
• Fire-affected equipment and rescue systems shall be inspected before reuse.
• All confined-space fire emergencies shall be reported and reviewed according to applicable incident procedures.

Training and Drills

Employees involved in confined-space work shall receive training appropriate to their roles regarding fire and explosion hazards, alarm recognition, evacuation, attendant duties, emergency communications, extinguisher limitations, rescue-service activation, non-entry retrieval, atmospheric hazards, and prohibition of unauthorized rescue or firefighting entry. Designated rescue and fire-response personnel shall receive specialized training and drills appropriate to the hazards and spaces they may encounter.

References

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit-Required Confined Spaces, where applicable.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA – Confined Spaces in Construction.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1204 – Permit-Required Confined Space Program.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1209 – Duties of Attendants.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1211 – Rescue and Emergency Services.
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart F – Fire Protection and Prevention.
• Applicable hot-work, respiratory-protection, lockout/tagout, confined-space rescue, and emergency-response procedures.