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29 CFR 1926.352 · NFPA 51B

Hot Work Safety & Fire Watch

Welding, cutting, and grinding start fires long after the torch goes out. This course covers what OSHA and NFPA 51B expect from the person doing the work, the person who signs the permit, and the fire watch who stays behind.

Who this course is for

  • Workers assigned as fire watch on construction or maintenance projects
  • Welders, cutters, and anyone performing spark-producing work
  • Supervisors who issue or sign hot work permits
  • Facility and security staff covering hot work in occupied buildings

What you will be able to do

  • Explain what counts as hot work and where a permit is required
  • Carry out the duties of a fire watch before, during, and after the work
  • Apply the 35-foot rule for combustibles and protect what cannot be moved
  • Choose and use the right fire extinguisher class for the hazard
  • Know when to stop the work and how to raise the alarm

Course outline

  1. How hot work fires startSparks, slag, conducted heat, and why fires break out hours after the job ends.
  2. The rules that apply29 CFR 1926.352, 29 CFR 1910.252, and NFPA 51B, and how site permit programs build on them.
  3. The hot work permitWho authorizes the work, what gets inspected first, and what the permit commits you to.
  4. Preparing the areaClearing or shielding combustibles within 35 feet, floor and wall openings, ducts, and atmospheres.
  5. Fire watch dutiesPositioning, equipment, staying on post, the post-work watch period, and handing over.
  6. Extinguishers and emergenciesFire classes, extinguisher limits, when to fight and when to leave, and reporting.
Know before you enroll

Massachusetts requires hot work training from a state-approved program, and New York City requires an FDNY Certificate of Fitness. This course does not replace either one.

Hands-on fire extinguisher practice, where your employer requires it, is arranged by your employer.

Questions about this course

Is this a fire watch certification?

It is training with a Certificate of Completion. Federal OSHA does not issue or require a specific fire watch card; it requires that fire watch personnel be trained. Your employer or the site owner decides who is assigned as fire watch.

Is this course valid in Massachusetts or New York City?

No. Massachusetts requires a state-approved hot work safety program and New York City requires an FDNY Certificate of Fitness. You need those specific credentials to work there.

How does the final exam work?

The course ends with a timed, multiple-choice exam drawn from a question bank. The passing score is 70 percent and retakes are included. Your certificate is issued the moment you pass.

Will my employer or general contractor accept the certificate?

Every certificate shows the course, contact hours, completion date, the standard covered, and a unique ID with a QR code, so anyone can confirm it in seconds. Acceptance is always the employer's or site owner's decision. If a site requires a specific provider or a hands-on evaluation, check with them before you enroll.

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