# Facilities and Station Safety Program

> Fire Service Safety Management System, version 0.3.3 (2026-10-25). The Human Factor. Document FSSMS-PRG-10.
>
> Canonical: https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program
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> Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 with the Adopting Agency Grant (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
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> General information only, not legal, medical or other professional advice. Verify every requirement against the current official text of the law, standards and manufacturer instructions that apply to you. Obtain your own legal review and consult your joint health and safety committee before adopting anything. You adopt, adapt, implement and rely on this material entirely at your own risk and on your own responsibility. Full terms: Terms of Use, thehumanfactor.ca.

> **Warning: Adoption without implementation increases legal exposure**
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> Adopting this program without the training, equipment, supervision, verification and resources to carry it out as written increases municipal and command liability in a regulatory investigation or a fatality inquiry. See [00a Copyright, Licence and Legal Notices](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/copyright-licence-and-legal-notices).

## 1. Purpose and outcome statement

This program is the written, auditable system that treats every fire station, shop, training ground and office as a workplace, with the hazards a workplace carries and a few that only fire stations do. When it is working, no diesel exhaust reaches a bay without being captured at the tailpipe, and nobody sleeps, eats or works in a room that shares air with the bay; contaminated gear never crosses into the living zone; the shop’s machines are guarded, its lifts and pits are inspected, and nobody works on an energized or pressurized system without lockout; electrical work is done only by qualified people under the workplace electrical safety standard; stairs, floors, ladders and pole holes do not cause falls; the kitchen does not start a fire when the tones drop; sleep areas are quiet and dark and the alerting system does not jolt the heart; the air in the station is clean, the radon is measured, the asbestos is known and managed, and the hot water does not grow legionella; the generator starts and does not fill the station with carbon monoxide; the station has a fire safety plan and drills it; and every hazard a member or an inspection finds is logged, fixed and reported back. The program is owned by a line officer through the Facilities and Stations Program Improvement Team with facilities staff on it, verified by the health and safety officer, and consulted on by the JOHSC.

## 2. Applicability

This module is switched on for every department. It answers Program Profile Worksheet Part C question 12 ([01 Program Profile Worksheet](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/program-profile-worksheet)): any station or shop. The shop sub-elements apply where the department maintains its own apparatus or tools; the SCBA fill station sub-element applies where the department compresses breathing air; the sleep sub-element applies where members sleep in quarters; the older-building sub-elements (asbestos, lead, radon) apply by construction date and location. Record each switch and the reason.

## Definitions

Consistent with [06 Glossary and Acronyms](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/glossary-and-acronyms).

- **Arc flash**: the release of energy from an electrical arc, capable of burns and blast injury; the workplace electrical safety standard sets boundaries and PPE by risk assessment (CSA Z462:24).
- **Cold zone (green)**: the clean areas of a station: living, kitchen, dormitory, offices [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550).
- **Competent person**: a person who, by training, experience and knowledge, can identify the hazard and the control for a given task.
- **Hot zone (red)**: the areas of a station likely to be contaminated: apparatus bays, decon, PPE storage [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550).
- **Lockout**: isolating every energy source of a machine or system, locking the isolation, tagging it, and verifying zero energy before work (CSA Z460:20); the applicable lockout rules set the minimum ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)).
- **Qualified electrical person**: a person trained and authorized to work on electrical systems, who understands the hazards and the controls (CSA Z462:24).
- **Source capture**: an exhaust extraction system that connects to the apparatus tailpipe and removes exhaust before it enters the bay.
- **Station fire safety plan**: the written plan the fire code requires for a building: alarm response, evacuation, roles, equipment, drills.
- **Station zoning**: the marked division of a station into hot, warm and cold zones to control contamination ([NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); [NFPA 1585, 2025](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1585)).
- **Warm zone (yellow)**: the transition areas where contamination control takes place: PPE storage, laundry, showers, decon room [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550).
- **Workplace inspection**: the planned walk-through of a workplace to find hazards, by officers monthly and the JOHSC on its statutory schedule; see [Workplace Inspections Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-inspections-program).

## 3. Standards and legal basis

| Requirement | Source | Stage |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Facilities comply with the applicable building, fire and health codes; annual facility safety inspection; vehicle exhaust prevented from contaminating living and sleeping areas; designated decon and PPE storage separate from living areas; smoking and vaping prohibited; fitness equipment; hazard communication; emergency lighting and alarms; kitchen hoods | [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550) | S1 |
| Station areas designated by likelihood of contamination: red (hot), yellow (warm, where contamination control takes place), green (clean: living, kitchen, dormitory) | [(NFPA 1550, 2024, s. 12.5)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); [(NFPA 1585, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1585) | S1 |
| Diesel exhaust is a Group 1 carcinogen; source capture is the control of choice; installation alone is not compliance, the system must be verified | [(IARC, 2014)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-iarc-2014); [(NIOSH, 2026b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-niosh-2026b); the applicable ventilation duty and exposure limits ([J22 Exposure Limits, Heat and Cold Stress](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j22-exposure-limits-heat-and-cold-stress)) | S1 |
| Machine guarding, start and stop controls, automotive pits, split-rim tire cages, abrasive wheels, compressed air for cleaning, temporary heaters | The applicable machine guarding rules ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)); (CSA Z432:23) | S1 |
| Lockout: written procedure, zero energy state, lock and tag, verification by a competent person, restricted lock removal, alternative procedure | The applicable lockout rules ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)); (CSA Z460:20) | S1 |
| Electrical installations to the electrical code the jurisdiction adopts; competent persons only; PPE; the jurisdiction’s rules for higher-voltage work and approach distances; electrical rooms kept clear; arc flash risk assessment, boundaries and PPE categories for facility electrical work | The applicable electrical safety rules and code ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)); (CSA Z462:24) | S1 |
| Portable and fixed ladders in stations: load rating, inspection before use and annually, three-point contact, grade, non-conductive near conductors; fire service ground ladders governed separately | The applicable ladder rules ([J15 Equipment Inspection, Ladders and Aerial Devices](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j15-equipment-inspection-ladders-and-aerial-devices)) | S1 |
| Fall protection on hose towers, roofs, mezzanines and apparatus tops above the trigger height | The applicable fall protection rules ([J16 Fall Protection and Rope Access](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j16-fall-protection-and-rope-access)); [Working at Heights and Fall Protection Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/working-at-heights-and-fall-protection-program) | S1 |
| Premises: floors and stairs maintained, slippery surfaces controlled, snow and ice cleared, stairs and guardrails to the building code | The applicable premises rules ([J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)) | S1 |
| Pole holes enclosed or guarded with landing cushioning; treated as a fall hazard | [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); the applicable fall protection rules ([J16 Fall Protection and Rope Access](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j16-fall-protection-and-rope-access)) | S1 |
| Building and fire code compliance; fire safety plan; extinguishers; alarms and sprinklers in sleeping areas; kitchen suppression where the occupancy classification requires it | The applicable building and fire codes, which adopt the National Building Code and National Fire Code with provincial or territorial changes ([J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)); [(NFPA 10, 2022)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-10); [(NFPA 96, 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-96) | S1 |
| Breathing air compressor and fill station: air quality to the breathing air standard; fill enclosure; cylinder requalification; pressure vessels registered | [Respiratory Protection Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/respiratory-protection-program); (CSA Z180.1:19); the applicable breathing air and pressure equipment rules ([J14 Respiratory Protection, Fit Testing and Breathing Air](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j14-respiratory-protection-fit-testing-and-breathing-air); [J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)) | S1 |
| Infection control facilities: cleaning and disinfecting area with a sink separate from kitchen and bathrooms; sharps and biohazard disposal; laundry for contaminated clothing separate from living areas | [(NFPA 1580, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1580); [Infection Control and Medical Response Safety Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/infection-control-and-medical-response-safety-program) | S1 |
| Indoor air quality; carbon monoxide alarms in sleeping areas adjacent to garages | (ANSI/ASHRAE 62.1-2025); the applicable building code ([J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)) | S2 |
| Radon: long-term test; mitigate above the national guideline of 200 Bq/m³ | [(Health Canada, 2007)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-health-canada-2007) | S2 |
| Asbestos inventory and management plan in older buildings; abatement by licensed contractors | The applicable asbestos rules ([J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos)) | S1 where present |
| Legionella: hot water storage temperature, flushing of low-use fixtures, cooling tower management | (ANSI/ASHRAE 188-2021) | S2 |
| Standby generator: exhaust away from intakes, fuel storage, monthly test, transfer switch lockout, carbon monoxide | ([NFPA 110, 2025](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-110); CSA C282:24) | S2 |
| Vehicle lifts inspected annually; capacity against axle weights | (ANSI/ALI ALOIM, n.d.) | S1 where present |
| Fuel storage and dispensing | The applicable petroleum storage rules ([J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos)); (CSA B139 Series:24; CSA B149.2:25) | S1 where present |
| Dormitory design, alerting and fatigue | [(NFPA 1550, 2024, chs. 12 and 14)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); [Policy - Fatigue and Hours of Work](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-fatigue-and-hours-of-work) | S2 |
| Workplace violence and visitor control in public areas | [Workplace Violence and Harassment Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-violence-and-harassment-program); the applicable violence and harassment rules ([J26 Workplace Violence](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j26-workplace-violence); [J27 Workplace Harassment](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j27-workplace-harassment)) | S1 |
| Accreditation criteria: facilities adequate for each function; clean and in good repair with planned maintenance; code compliance at construction and safety upgrades identified and addressed; maintenance facility adequate; hazard reporting; documented risk reduction; safety training | [(CPSE, 2019, criteria 6B.1, 6B.2, 6B.3, 6D.2, 11A.2, 11A.3, 11A.5)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-cpse-2019) | S2 |
| Written work procedures; general duty | The applicable general duty and written-procedure duty ([J02 Duties of Employers, Supervisors, Workers and Contractors](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j02-duties-of-employers-supervisors-workers-and-contractors); [J06 Written Procedures and Committee Consultation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j06-written-procedures-and-committee-consultation)) | S1 |

## 4. Roles

R = responsible, A = accountable, C = consulted, I = informed.

| Element | Fire chief | Deputy chief | Program manager (line district chief) | Facilities (corporate) | Station officer | HSO | Fleet/shop supervisor | Member | JOHSC | Contractor |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Station as a workplace; monthly inspection |  | I | A | C | R | C |  | R | R |  |
| Diesel exhaust capture |  | I | A | R | R | C |  | R | C | R |
| Zoning, PPE storage, decon room, laundry |  | I | A | R | R | C |  | R | C |  |
| SCBA fill station enclosure |  | I | A | C | R | C |  | R | I |  |
| Shop safety, guarding, lifts, pits |  | I | A | C |  | C | R | R | C |  |
| Lockout program |  | I | A | C | R | C | R | R | C | R |
| Electrical and arc flash |  | I | A | R | I | C | C |  | C | R |
| Building and fire code; fire safety plan; drills |  | I | A | R | R | C |  | R | C |  |
| Environmental (radon, asbestos, legionella, IAQ) |  | I | A | R | I | C |  |  | C | R |
| Generator and fuel |  | I | A | R | R | C |  |  | I | R |
| Station emergency plan |  | A | R | C | R | C |  | R | C |  |
| Hazard reports and closure |  | I | A | R | R | R | R | R | C |  |

## 5. Program elements

### 5.1 The station as a workplace

**Requirement.** Every station, shop, training ground and office is a workplace under the OHS statute ([J01 OHS Legislation, Regulator and Enforcement](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j01-ohs-legislation-regulator-and-enforcement)) and is inspected monthly by the station officer and on the statutory schedule by the JOHSC ([J04 Hazard Assessment and Workplace Inspections](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j04-hazard-assessment-and-workplace-inspections); [J05 Joint Committee and Health and Safety Representative](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j05-joint-committee-and-health-and-safety-representative)), with every hazard reported and tracked to closure [(CPSE, 2019, criterion 11A.2)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-cpse-2019). (S1)

**Minimum method.** [Workplace Inspections Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-inspections-program) sets the schedule, the forms and the follow-up. This program supplies the station-specific content: the monthly walk-through on [Form - Workplace Inspection Checklist (Station)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-workplace-inspection-checklist-station), the complete by-area checklist for the annual full inspection on [Form - Station Safety Inspection Checklist (Full)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-station-safety-inspection-checklist-full) (which also marks the monthly subset), the hazard report ([Form - Hazard Report](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-hazard-report)), and the annual full inspection by the HSO with facilities. Findings from any source go to the [Corrective Action Register](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/corrective-action-register). What a walk-through finds is usually ordinary, and it builds up between visits, most of all during and after renovations: door hardware that no longer latches or closes, including closers on fire separations; rotating shafts with no guard; pit, sump and cistern covers that are damaged, propped open or unmarked; fuel cylinders left connected to appliances stored indoors; a gear extractor with no posted instructions, no training record and no cleaning log; exposed or energized wiring; storage that narrows an exit route. A monthly walk-through finds each of these in minutes.

**Evidence.** Monthly checklists; annual full inspection report; register entries.

### 5.2 Diesel exhaust capture and vehicle exhaust

**Requirement.** Diesel exhaust is a Group 1 carcinogen [(IARC, 2014)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-iarc-2014). Every apparatus bay position has source capture connected before start and released after the apparatus leaves, or a vehicle-mounted filtration system where source capture is impracticable; living, sleeping and office areas are isolated from the bay and held at positive pressure relative to it; idling in bays is prohibited; the system is maintained and its capture verified annually [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550). (S1)

**Minimum method.** [SWP - Diesel Exhaust and Station Zoning](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-diesel-exhaust-and-station-zoning). The hose is on the tailpipe before the engine starts, including for the morning check: without capture, even the start-of-shift operational check contributes strongly to bay diesel particulate [(FSRI, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-fsri-2025). Bay doors are open for any start without capture. The apparatus is shut down before the hose is released. The nozzle matches the tailpipe; health hazard evaluations of fire stations found source capture systems failing through nozzle-to-tailpipe incompatibility, uneven airflow, hose disconnections and particle peaks in dormitories when apparatus idled in bays [(NIOSH, 2026b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-niosh-2026b). Verification: annual smoke test or particulate sampling at the bay and in the nearest living area; monthly visual of hoses, nozzles and the fan; a maintenance contract; the inspection log (toolkit T2). Where the department replaces apparatus, electric or hybrid drive is a substitution control [(FSRI, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-fsri-2025).

**Evidence.** Inspection log; annual verification report; maintenance contract; idle prohibition posted.

### 5.3 PPE storage and station zoning

**Requirement.** The station is zoned red, yellow and green and marked; PPE is stored in the hot or warm zone in a ventilated space shielded from sunlight, never in living areas, offices, dormitories or personal vehicles; the apparatus cab is kept clean [(NFPA 1550, 2024, s. 12.5)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); [(NFPA 1585, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1585). (S1)

**Minimum method.** Link: [Decontamination and Contamination Control Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/decontamination-and-contamination-control-program) owns the hierarchy and the post-call sequence; this program owns the building. The zoning plan (toolkit T4) is posted at every station: red (bays, decon room, PPE storage), yellow (laundry, showers, boot wash, the transition corridor), green (everything else). Dispatch rooms, offices, common rooms and bedrooms are not placed next to bays or changing rooms unless effectively isolated, and living quarters are held at positive pressure relative to the bay [(FSRI, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-fsri-2025). Doors between zones are self-closing. Boots and gear do not cross the line; a member who must enter green from red changes footwear. New stations are designed to the zoning; existing stations retrofit by door, pressure and storage changes recorded in the capital plan.

**Evidence.** Posted plan; storage room ventilation and UV shielding; pressure check in the annual inspection.

### 5.4 Decon room and laundry

**Requirement.** A decon room with a sink, hose-down area, gear extractor and drying, separate from the kitchen and bathrooms; a laundry for contaminated clothing separate from living areas; sharps and biohazard disposal; documented extractor operation and logbook [(NFPA 1580, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1580); [(NFPA 1585, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1585). (S1)

**Minimum method.** The extractor has posted instructions, a training record for every user and a logbook of cycles and maintenance ([Protective Clothing and Equipment Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/protective-clothing-and-equipment-program)). The room is ventilated to outside. The laundry for station wear and towels is separate from the extractor. The shower-within-the-hour rule needs showers in the warm zone with the capacity for a crew.

**Evidence.** Extractor log; training record; room ventilation on the annual inspection.

### 5.5 SCBA fill station enclosure

**Requirement.** Cylinders are filled only inside a fragmentation enclosure; the compressor intake is located away from exhaust and other contaminants; breathing air is tested on schedule; the compressor has a continuous carbon monoxide monitor where oil-lubricated; air receivers are registered and inspected under the applicable pressure equipment rules ([J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)); [Respiratory Protection Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/respiratory-protection-program) section 5.13; (CSA Z180.1:19); the breathing air standard the jurisdiction names ([J14 Respiratory Protection, Fit Testing and Breathing Air](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j14-respiratory-protection-fit-testing-and-breathing-air)). (S1 where present)

**Minimum method.** The fill station is in the red zone with the enclosure fixed and interlocked where the design allows; the intake location is checked at every annual inspection against the generator exhaust, apparatus bay doors and vehicle parking; the operator list is posted; the log is kept at the station.

**Evidence.** Air certificates; pressure vessel registration; operator list; log.

### 5.6 Shop and maintenance safety

**Requirement.** Machines are guarded and have start and stop controls within reach; bench grinders have tool rests and guards set to the regulation gap; chainsaws meet the saw standard; compressed air is not used to clean clothing or skin; temporary heaters meet the regulation; split-rim tires are inflated only in a cage; automotive pits are ventilated, guarded when not in use and compliant with the fire and electrical codes; vehicle lifts are inspected annually and rated against the apparatus axle weights; compressed gas cylinders are secured and segregated; welding and hot work use a permit; chemicals are under WHMIS (CSA Z432:23); (ANSI/ALI ALOIM, n.d.); [Policy - Hazardous Materials and WHMIS](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-hazardous-materials-and-whmis). The applicable machine guarding, shop and WHMIS rules set the minimum, including any regulated grinder gap ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety); [J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos)). (S1 where the department has a shop)

**Minimum method.** [SWP - Lockout and Shop Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-lockout-and-shop-safety) and the shop safety checklist (toolkit T3). Monthly by the shop supervisor; annual lift inspection certificate on the wall; the hot work permit book in the shop; eye and hearing protection zones marked; a tire cage where any split-rim or large truck tire is serviced; the pit cover in place and signed when the pit is not in use. Technicians who service electric or hybrid apparatus follow the high-voltage lockout the apparatus manufacturer specifies [(NFPA 1900, 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1900).

**Evidence.** Monthly checklist; lift certificate; hot work permits; cage present; WHMIS inventory.

### 5.7 Lockout

**Requirement.** A written lockout program with equipment-specific procedures for every machine and system that can release energy: apparatus air, hydraulic, PTO and high-voltage systems; bay doors; compressors; SCBA fill systems; generators and transfer switches; exhaust fans; lifts; shop machines; HVAC. Zero energy state, lock and tag by the person doing the work, verification by a competent person, lock removal only under the written rule, and an alternative procedure where lockout is impracticable (CSA Z460:20); the applicable lockout rules set the minimum ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)). (S1)

**Minimum method.** [SWP - Lockout and Shop Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-lockout-and-shop-safety) and the procedure template (toolkit T5). Locks and tags issued to every person who works on equipment; a lock register; contractors bring their own locks and follow the department’s procedure ([Contractor and Mutual Aid Safety Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/contractor-and-mutual-aid-safety-program)); an annual audit of five procedures by observation; emergency-scene machinery lockout is in the operations SWPs, not here.

**Evidence.** Procedures on file; lock register; annual audit record.

### 5.8 Electrical safety and arc flash

**Requirement.** No electrical work by unqualified members; installations and repairs by licensed electricians under the applicable electrical licensing and installation rules ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)); the department’s own qualified persons, where it has any, work under an electrical safety program to the workplace electrical safety standard with arc flash risk assessment, labels on equipment above the threshold the assessment sets, boundaries, PPE categories and an energized work permit (CSA Z462:24). No daisy-chained cords; extension cords are temporary; damaged cords are tagged out. (S1)

**Minimum method.** The electrical program (toolkit T6 outline) names the qualified person list (usually none in a fire department, in which case the program is a prohibition and a contractor rule), the arc flash study where panels and equipment warrant it, the labels, the infrared scan of panels every three years as a best practice, and the cord rule in the monthly inspection. Electrical rooms are kept clear with the clearance the code requires.

**Evidence.** Contractor licence on file; arc flash study and labels where applicable; infrared scan report; monthly cord check.

### 5.9 Ladders in stations

**Requirement.** Portable and fixed ladders used for station work meet the load and grade rules, are inspected before use and annually, and are non-conductive near conductors; fire service ground ladders are under the apparatus program and any firefighter equipment rules, not this element; the applicable ladder rules set the minimum for station ladders ([J15 Equipment Inspection, Ladders and Aerial Devices](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j15-equipment-inspection-ladders-and-aerial-devices)). (S1)

**Minimum method.** Station ladders are tagged with the annual inspection date; three-point contact; no standing on the top two rungs; no ground ladder used as a station ladder for building maintenance.

**Evidence.** Ladder tags; annual inspection in the full checklist.

### 5.10 Slips, trips, falls and pole holes

**Requirement.** Floors and stairs maintained; wet bay floors controlled; snow and ice cleared with a log; stairs and guardrails to the building code; pole holes enclosed or guarded with self-closing gates and landing cushioning, or poles removed; fall protection on hose towers, roofs, mezzanines and apparatus tops above the trigger height [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); the applicable premises and fall protection rules set the minimum, including the trigger height ([J16 Fall Protection and Rope Access](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j16-fall-protection-and-rope-access); [J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)). (S1)

**Minimum method.** Winter walkway log at every station; squeegees and floor drains in bays; anti-slip treads on stairs; guardrail heights checked once; the pole hole decision recorded (enclose, guard or remove); apparatus top work under [SWP - Fall Protection on Apparatus and at Heights](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-fall-protection-on-apparatus-and-at-heights).

**Evidence.** Winter log; annual inspection; pole hole record.

### 5.11 Kitchen fire safety

**Requirement.** Cooking equipment matched to its hood and suppression as the occupancy classification requires [(NFPA 96, 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-96); residential ranges with automatic stove-top suppression where no hood suppression exists; a rule that the stove is turned off on every turnout; a range interlock to the alerting system where the department adopts it; hood cleaning on schedule; a kitchen extinguisher. (S1)

**Minimum method.** “Stove off” is the first item in the turnout order; the interlock is a capital item; semi-annual suppression inspection tags; the self-closing kitchen door is checked monthly.

**Evidence.** Suppression tags; hood cleaning record; turnout order posted.

### 5.12 Sleep facilities, alerting and noise

**Requirement.** Dormitories designed for sleep: individual rooms where the building allows, light and noise control, an alerting system with ramped tones and selective alerting, no bay air, carbon monoxide alarms, and a fatigue rule for 24-hour shifts [(NFPA 1550, 2024, chs. 12 and 14)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); [Policy - Fatigue and Hours of Work](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-fatigue-and-hours-of-work). (S2)

**Minimum method.** The dorm is in the green zone with a closed door to any corridor from the bay; the alerting system ramps volume and lights rather than starting at full; night calls go only to the units needed; noise from compressors, generators and HVAC is measured once and controlled; the fatigue policy’s nap and rest rules are posted.

**Evidence.** Alerting system settings; noise measurement; dorm pressure check.

### 5.13 Gym equipment

**Requirement.** Fitness equipment installed to the manufacturer’s clearances and specifications, inspected monthly, with flooring, a rule for spotters on free weights, and an AED nearby [(NFPA 1580, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1580); [Medical, Fitness and Wellness Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/medical-fitness-and-wellness-program). (S1)

**Minimum method.** Monthly checklist by the station officer; defective equipment tagged out; the AED check on the same sheet.

**Evidence.** Monthly checklist; AED log.

### 5.14 Indoor air quality, radon, asbestos, lead and legionella

**Requirement.** Carbon monoxide alarms in sleeping areas adjacent to bays; HVAC filters on schedule; an indoor air quality complaint log; radon tested in every station by a long-term test and mitigated above the national guideline, retested after mitigation and every five years or after renovation [(Health Canada, 2007)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-health-canada-2007); an asbestos inventory and management plan for every station built before 1990 (a common screening date; the applicable asbestos rules govern) with labelling and licensed abatement ([J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos)); lead paint assessed in the same buildings; hot water stored at 60 °C or above, low-use fixtures flushed on a log, and cooling towers managed (ANSI/ASHRAE 188-2021). (S1 asbestos; S2 the rest)

**Minimum method.** Facilities holds the environmental register (toolkit T7): radon results, asbestos survey and plan, lead, legionella log, CO alarm tests, IAQ complaints and responses. Members are told what is in their building; the register is available at the station. Every station is tested whatever its region, because only a test shows the level.

**Evidence.** Register; test certificates; abatement records; flushing log.

### 5.15 Generators and fuel storage

**Requirement.** Standby generator exhaust discharges away from air intakes and bay doors; monthly test under load and annual load bank; transfer switch lockout procedure; carbon monoxide alarm nearby; fuel tanks and dispensing under the applicable petroleum storage rules with grounding and spill kits ([J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos)); propane under the gas code the jurisdiction adopts ([J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety)) [(NFPA 110, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-110); (CSA B139 Series:24; CSA B149.2:25; CSA C282:24). (S2)

**Minimum method.** Monthly test log; annual load bank certificate; tank registration; spill kit check on the monthly inspection; portable generators secured against theft and never run indoors.

**Evidence.** Test log; certificates; tank registration.

### 5.16 Building fire code compliance, fire safety plan and evacuation drills

**Requirement.** Each station has a fire safety plan under the fire code, alarms and sprinklers inspected on schedule, extinguishers inspected monthly and annually [(NFPA 10, 2022)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-10), emergency lighting tested, exits clear, and an evacuation drill at least annually with the record kept; the fire code the jurisdiction adopts sets the plan and drill rules ([J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes)). (S1)

**Minimum method.** The plan names the roles by position, the assembly point, the alarm response order (stove off, doors closed, apparatus out where safe), and the drill schedule. The station officer runs the drill; the HSO samples the records.

**Evidence.** Fire safety plan; drill records; inspection tags.

### 5.17 Station emergency plan

**Requirement.** Each station has an emergency plan beyond fire: medical emergency in quarters, utility failure, severe weather, hazardous materials release in the bay, bomb threat or intruder, loss of water, loss of alerting, and working alone at single-staffed stations with a check-in rule [(NFPA 1550, 2024, ch. 12)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-1550); [Workplace Violence and Harassment Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-violence-and-harassment-program). (S1)

**Minimum method.** The template (toolkit T8) is completed per station, posted, and exercised with the evacuation drill. The working-alone check-in applies where one member is on duty.

**Evidence.** Posted plan; exercise record.

### 5.18 Accessibility, violence and visitor control

**Requirement.** Public areas meet the accessibility requirements of the building code and the provincial accessibility statute where it applies; visitor control (sign-in, escorted access beyond the public area, secure doors to quarters) and the violence risk assessment for public-facing areas follow [Workplace Violence and Harassment Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-violence-and-harassment-program). (S1)

**Minimum method.** Doors to quarters latch and lock; the public area is defined; members know how to call for help from the station; the violence assessment for the station is on file.

**Evidence.** Violence assessment; door check in the monthly inspection.

### 5.19 Records and program evaluation

**Requirement.** Records kept at least the minimum the applicable OHS regulation sets ([J09 Records Retention](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j09-records-retention)), environmental records for the life of the building; annual appraisal. (S1)

**Minimum method.** Records in section 9; appraisal per [06 Program Improvement Teams](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/program-improvement-teams) section 10.

**Evidence.** Appraisal; quarterly updates.

## Safety Differently in this program

**(a) Work-as-done.** Before any procedure in this program is written or changed, the Facilities and Stations team runs a learning-team session with station officers, members from a volunteer station, facilities staff and the shop ([Conklin, 2012](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-conklin-2012); [Hollnagel, 2014](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-hollnagel-2014)). The session describes: what really happens to the exhaust hose during a morning check and a night call; where gear actually gets stored at each station and why (space, drying, distance to the truck); how a member crosses from the bay to the kitchen at 0300; how a shop job on apparatus air or hydraulics really starts, and whether the lock goes on first; who changes a light fixture when the contractor is a week away; where the winter sand is; how the monthly inspection gets done in a station with calls all day; and what members have stopped reporting because nothing happened last time. The procedures in section 8 are written from that description.

**(b) Capacity and margins.** This work goes right most of the time because station officers walk their buildings every day, because members notice and fix small things, because facilities staff know the buildings, and because the JOHSC visits. What erodes that capacity: an exhaust system with the wrong nozzles that “mostly works”; a renovation that leaves a hole in the wall and a live wire over the exit; a work order queue months long; a single extractor with no log; a shop with no lock register; a volunteer station nobody inspects; a hazard report that never comes back. The program protects the margin by annual exhaust verification, a defined turnaround for safety-critical work orders in the facilities service level agreement, the lock register and annual lockout audit, the inspection schedule that includes every station, and the five-day reply rule for hazard reports.

**(c) Just culture.** A member who left the exhaust hose off, carried gear into the kitchen, worked on a system without lockout or ran a cord across a doorway is treated as a source of information about why the building made that the easy path [(Dekker, 2016)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-dekker-2016). The learning firewall applies: what members say in learning teams, inspections, hazard reports and after-action reviews is used for learning and never as the basis for discipline. Conduct concerns (deliberate defeat of an interlock, impairment, removing another person’s lock) go to a separate process run by different people, and the department tells members in writing where that line is.

**(d) Psychological safety.** Any member can report a station hazard or refuse a shop task and says so in plain words: “I’m not going under that lift until it’s inspected.” “The exhaust fan is off again, I’m opening the doors before we start.” “That pit cover is propped; nobody goes near it until it’s fixed.” The officer’s expected reply is to acknowledge, act (tag out, open the doors, barricade), log the hazard, and tell the member what happened to it within five working days through the route in section 11. Leaders show it is safe by walking the building with the crew, by reporting hazards in their own offices, and by thanking the member who found the live wire [(Edmondson, 1999)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-edmondson-1999). Station meeting norms include a standing item: “station hazards reported this month, and what happened to the last ones”.

**(e) Learning link.** This program feeds the After the Call tiers through [Incident Investigation and Learning Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/incident-investigation-and-learning-program) [(The Human Factor, 2026a)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-the-human-factor-2026a). Tier 1 After-Action Review: any station evacuation or drill; any exhaust system failure; any bay door, lift or pit near miss. Tier 2 Post-Incident Analysis: a lockout failure with energy release; an electrical shock or arc; a fill station incident; a station fire; carbon monoxide in quarters; a fall from a tower, roof, apparatus top or pole hole. Tier 3 Independent Learning Review: a death or critical injury in a station or shop. The AAR questions a crew asks after a station event: “What in the station made this possible?” “Who knew about it, and where did the report go?” “What would make the right thing the easy thing here?” For the full method see Manual 02 - The Three Tiers and Event Triage.

## 6. Training and competency

| Who | What | How often | How verified |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| All members | Station zoning and contamination control; exhaust system use; evacuation and the fire safety plan; hazard reporting; extinguisher use; radon and asbestos awareness for their station | On joining; annual | Training record |
| Station officers | Monthly inspection; hazard report follow-up; lockout awareness; hot work permit; lift and pit rules; the station emergency plan; working-alone rule | On appointment; refresher every three years | Program manager sign-off |
| Shop technicians and anyone who services equipment | Lockout (authorized person); machine guarding; lift operation; tire cage; hot work; WHMIS; electrical awareness; high-voltage apparatus procedures where applicable | Before assignment; annual lockout refresher | Register |
| Fill station operators | [Respiratory Protection Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/respiratory-protection-program) fill station training | Before assignment | That program’s record |
| Extractor users | Operation, loading, cycles, log | Before use | Record on the extractor log |
| Facilities staff and contractors | Site orientation; lockout; hot work; asbestos awareness; contractor rules ([Contractor and Mutual Aid Safety Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/contractor-and-mutual-aid-safety-program)) | Before work | Orientation checklist |
| Qualified electrical persons (if any) | Workplace electrical safety standard; arc flash PPE; energized work permit (CSA Z462:24) | Before work; refresher every three years | Certificate |

## 7. Equipment, inspection, maintenance and testing

| Item | Interval | Who is qualified | Record |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Monthly station inspection | Monthly | Station officer | Checklist |
| Annual full inspection | Annual | HSO with facilities | Report |
| JOHSC inspection | Per [Workplace Inspections Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-inspections-program) | JOHSC members | Report |
| Exhaust system: hoses, nozzles, fan | Monthly visual; annual capture verification; maintenance contract | Station officer; contractor | Log; report |
| Extinguishers | Monthly visual; annual service [(NFPA 10, 2022)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-nfpa-10) | Station officer; contractor | Tags |
| Fire alarm and sprinklers | Annual | Licensed contractor | Certificates |
| Kitchen suppression and hood | Semi-annual suppression; hood cleaning per use | Licensed contractor | Tags |
| Emergency lighting | Monthly; annual | Station officer; contractor | Log |
| Bay door safety reverses and photo eyes | Quarterly | Station officer; contractor | Log |
| Vehicle lifts | Annual (ANSI/ALI ALOIM, n.d.) | Qualified inspector | Certificate |
| Automotive pit cover and ventilation | Monthly | Shop supervisor | Checklist |
| Compressor and fill station | Per [Respiratory Protection Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/respiratory-protection-program) | Per that program | Those records |
| Generator | Monthly test; annual load bank | Facilities; contractor | Log; certificate |
| Backflow preventers | Annual | Licensed tester | Certificate |
| Radon | Long-term test once; retest after mitigation and every five years or after renovation | Certified tester | Certificate |
| Asbestos | Annual reinspection of known materials | Qualified consultant | Register |
| Legionella | Hot water temperature monthly; flushing log weekly for low-use fixtures | Facilities; station officer | Log |
| CO and IAQ monitors | Per manufacturer; calibration annually | Facilities | Log |
| Gym equipment | Monthly | Station officer | Checklist |
| Station ladders | Before use; annual | User; station officer | Tag |
| Fall arrest anchors on towers and roofs | Annual | Competent person | Certificate |
| Electrical panels infrared scan | Every three years (best practice) | Licensed electrician | Report |
| Lockout procedures | Annual audit of five by observation | HSO with shop supervisor | Audit record |
| Winter walkways | Daily in season | Station duty | Log |

## 8. Safe work procedures this program owns

- [SWP - Diesel Exhaust and Station Zoning](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-diesel-exhaust-and-station-zoning)
- [SWP - Lockout and Shop Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-lockout-and-shop-safety)
- [SWP - Workplace Inspection](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-workplace-inspection) (owned by [Workplace Inspections Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-inspections-program))
- Shared: [SWP - Post-Call Station Decontamination](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-post-call-station-decontamination), [SWP - Breathing Air Fill Station and Cylinder Handling](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-breathing-air-fill-station-and-cylinder-handling), [SWP - Fall Protection on Apparatus and at Heights](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-fall-protection-on-apparatus-and-at-heights)

## 9. Records and forms

- [Form - Station Safety Inspection Checklist (Full)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-station-safety-inspection-checklist-full) (annual full inspection; monthly subset marked)
- [Form - Workplace Inspection Checklist (Station)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-workplace-inspection-checklist-station) (monthly walk-through)
- [Form - Hazard Report](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-hazard-report)
- Diesel exhaust inspection log (toolkit T2); shop safety checklist (T3); zoning plan (T4); lockout procedure template (T5); electrical program outline (T6); hazardous building materials register (T7); station emergency plan template (T8); quarterly indicator worksheet (T9)
- Facilities service level agreement ([Contractor and Mutual Aid Safety Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/contractor-and-mutual-aid-safety-program) section 5.10)
- Retention: environmental and building records for the life of the building; inspections and logs per [05 Document Control and Records](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/document-control-and-records).

## 10. Indicators

| Indicator | Type | Definition | Baseline measure | Target |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Monthly inspection completion | Leading | Percentage of stations with a completed monthly checklist, each month | First quarter | 100 percent |
| Exhaust capture verification | Leading | Percentage of bay positions with source capture in service and an annual verification inside 12 months | Inventory | 100 percent |
| Zoning compliance | Leading | Percentage of stations with the plan posted and no PPE observed in green zones on inspection | First quarter | 100 percent |
| Lockout program currency | Leading | Percentage of listed equipment with a written procedure; annual audit done | Equipment list | 100 percent |
| Safety-critical work order turnaround | Leading | Mean days from hazard report to repair for items rated P1 (Imminent) or P2 (Serious) | First two quarters | Within the service level agreement |
| Environmental register completeness | Leading | Percentage of stations with radon result, asbestos status and legionella log current | Register | 100 percent |
| Fire safety drill completion | Leading | Percentage of stations with an annual drill record | Records | 100 percent |
| Hazard reports answered | Psychological safety | Count of station hazard reports per quarter and percentage with a reply to the member within five working days | First two quarters | Trend up in year one; 100 percent answered |
| Station and shop injuries | Lagging | Injuries in stations and shops per 100 members per year; percentage reviewed within 30 days | First year | Trend down; 100 percent reviewed |
| Lockout and electrical events | Lagging | Energy release, shock or arc events per year | First year | Zero |
| Carbon monoxide or exhaust events in quarters | Lagging | Alarm activations or measured exceedances per year | First year | Zero |
| Overdue corrective actions | Lagging | Count overdue at quarter end, by priority (P1 to P4) | Register | Zero P1 or P2 overdue; no P3 more than 60 days overdue |

## 11. Accountability and closed feedback loop

| Element | Who (default) | How |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Owner | Program manager, Facilities and Stations team (a line district chief), accountable to the deputy chief | Owns the outcome in section 1, the indicators, and every open corrective action until verified closed |
| Doer | Station officers (monthly inspection, logs, drills, emergency plan); members (exhaust hose, zoning, reporting); shop supervisor and technicians (guarding, lockout, lifts, hot work); facilities (maintenance, contracts, environmental register, electrical contractors); fill station operators; team lead (SWPs, zoning plans, trends); HSO (annual full inspection, lockout audit, investigation) | The SWPs and toolkit of this program |
| Verifier | Station officer: daily walk; monthly checklist. HSO: annual full inspection of every station; quarterly sample of monthly checklists and exhaust logs; annual lockout audit. JOHSC: inspections per its schedule; review of hazard reports. Internal audit: annually with [Checklist - Facilities and Station Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-facilities-and-station-safety). Independent review: every three years | Checklists; HSO reports; JOHSC reports; audit report |
| Feedback | Quarterly progress update (toolkit T9) to the program manager, senior leadership team and JOHSC within 15 days of quarter end; work order status visible to the station that raised it; change notices with every adopted change; a reply to whoever reported a hazard within five working days; environmental results told to the station’s members | Cycle time measured from report to reply |
| Closure | Every deficiency (inspection finding, hazard report, failed verification, overdue certificate, lockout audit finding) logged in the [Corrective Action Register](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/corrective-action-register) within five working days (a P1 the same day) with an owner, and rated on the one priority scale: P1 (Imminent), stopped, isolated or taken out of service the same shift with the fire chief and JOHSC co-chairs told within 24 hours, plan in 2 working days, closed in 7 days; P2 (Serious), interim control within 24 hours where practicable, plan in 7 days, closed in 30; P3 (Moderate), plan in 30 days, closed in 90; P4 (Improvement), planned at the next quarterly update, closed within 365 days or by a dated budget cycle. One extension only: a P1 to 30 days by the fire chief with the interim control kept in place, a P2 to 90 days or a P3 to 180 days by the deputy chief. Closure needs evidence and the verifier’s sign-off, and the person who raised the item is told the outcome. Overdue items escalate from the program manager: a P1 to the fire chief at once; a P2 to the deputy chief at its due date and the fire chief at 30 days overdue; a P3 to the deputy chief at 30 days overdue and the fire chief at 60 days; a P4 is cancelled only with a written reason. Reported to the JOHSC monthly and to the fire chief at management review | Register; escalation record |

**Loop test.** A member at a volunteer station reports on Monday that the exhaust fan does not start when the hose is connected. By end of day the station is on “doors open before start” as the interim control and the contractor has the call. By Friday the item is in the register as a P2 with facilities as owner, the member has had a reply, and the team has asked whether the same controller is at other stations. Within 30 days the fan is repaired and the capture verified, the monthly checklist has a fan-start item, a change notice has gone to every station, and the item is closed with evidence and reported in the quarterly update and to the JOHSC.

## 12. Audit

Audit category: [Checklist - Facilities and Station Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-facilities-and-station-safety). The five questions an auditor asks first:

1.  Show me the last 12 monthly inspections for this station and what happened to each finding.
2.  Show me the exhaust system’s annual verification and the last three months of the log. Then watch a start.
3.  Walk me through the zones. Where is PPE right now that should not be?
4.  Show me the lockout procedure for the compressor and the lift, the lock register, and the last audit. Then watch a technician start a job.
5.  Show me the environmental register for this station: radon, asbestos, legionella. Do the members know what is in it?

**Accreditation crosswalk.** A department preparing for peer assessment uses this program’s records as its evidence for the fixed facilities criteria on adequacy, condition and planned maintenance, code compliance and safety upgrades, and the maintenance facility [(CPSE, 2019, criteria 6B.1, 6B.2, 6B.3, 6D.2)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-cpse-2019), and for the hazard reporting, risk reduction and safety training indicators [(CPSE, 2019, criteria 11A.2, 11A.3, 11A.5)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-cpse-2019).

## 13. Lessons learned built in

Occupational exposure as a firefighter is carcinogenic to humans [(IARC, 2023)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-iarc-2023), and two station exposures contribute to it: diesel exhaust, itself a Group 1 carcinogen, in bays that share air with quarters [(IARC, 2014)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-iarc-2014), and contaminated gear stored and worn where members live. Health hazard evaluations of fire stations found installed source capture systems that did not capture, because the nozzle did not fit the tailpipe, the airflow was uneven, hoses had been disconnected, and apparatus idled in bays with particle peaks measured in the dormitory [(NIOSH, 2026b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/facilities-and-station-safety-program#ref-niosh-2026b). Installation is not compliance.

Station injuries follow the ordinary workplace pattern with fire service additions: falls down pole holes, stairs, hose towers, apparatus tops and ice; crush and strike injuries from bay doors, apparatus moving in bays, lifts and pits; kitchen fires on turnout; shocks from unqualified electrical work; lockout failures on apparatus hydraulics, PTO and high-voltage systems; fill station ruptures outside an enclosure; carbon monoxide from generators and bay exhaust in dorms; radon and asbestos in older stations; legionella in dormant hot water lines (NIOSH, n.d.-b). This program answers that evidence with annual exhaust verification, zoning with positive pressure, the lockout program and audit, the electrical prohibition and contractor rule, the pole hole decision, the kitchen interlock, the fill enclosure, the environmental register, and the monthly inspection that is actually done and actually answered.

## 14. Stage 1 minimum and cost note

**Stage 1 (Foundation) minimum.** This program adopted and signed; every station inspected once with the full checklist and the findings in the register; source capture on every bay position, or the interim “doors open before start” rule in force and re-verified monthly while the capture system stays on the register at its priority, flagged Capital, with a dated plan approved by the fire chief and reviewed quarterly by the JOHSC ([Corrective Action Register](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/corrective-action-register) section 4); the zoning plan posted and PPE out of living areas; the lockout program written for every listed machine with locks issued; no electrical work by members, contractor licence on file; the fire safety plan and one drill per station; the extractor log and training; the asbestos survey for pre-1990 stations; the station emergency plan posted; hazard reporting live with the five-day reply.

**Cost (people).** Program manager and team lead about four hours a month each; station officer monthly inspection about two hours; HSO annual full inspection about half a day per station plus the lockout audit; shop supervisor monthly checklist about an hour; facilities time for the environmental register.

**Cost (money, order of magnitude; confirm locally).** Source capture installation or retrofit per bay position where absent (the largest Stage 1 item, usually grant-eligible); nozzle replacements where incompatible; annual capture verification; door and pressure retrofits for zoning; locks, tags and the lock register; lift inspection certificates; asbestos survey per older station; radon test kits per station; range interlock; dorm alerting changes. Put the capture system, zoning retrofit and station replacement on the team’s five-year budget worksheet ([06 Program Improvement Teams](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/program-improvement-teams) section 11) in year one.

## 15. Customize

> **Note: Customize**
>
> Decide and record: the program manager and team lead, with facilities on the team; which stations have source capture and which use filtration; the zoning plan per station; whether the department has a shop and what is in it; the lockout equipment list; whether any member is a qualified electrical person; the pole hole decision; the kitchen suppression and interlock; the station construction dates for the asbestos and lead elements; the facilities service level agreement terms including the safety-critical turnaround; the records system. Replace every placeholder in double curly braces. Check the guarding, lockout, electrical, ladder, fall protection, asbestos, building and fire code requirements for your province or territory on the topic pages listed under Jurisdiction requirements ([00 Jurisdiction Index](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/jurisdiction-index)).

> **Information: Delivery note**
>
> Start with one full inspection of one station using the checklist, with the station officer and a JOHSC member; it produces the program’s first 30 corrective actions and makes the case for the rest. Watch an apparatus start before reading the exhaust log. The lockout element is usually the least developed in a fire department shop; the procedure template and the lock register are a one-week job.

> **Tip: Volunteer and composite departments**
>
> A volunteer hall is still a workplace. Source capture is often the first grant a small department should chase; until then, doors open before start and no idling inside. The monthly inspection can be a 30-minute walk on a drill night by the officer and one member, and it still needs the five-day reply.

## 16. Jurisdiction requirements

This chapter relies on the following legal requirements, which differ by province and territory. Check your jurisdiction’s section on each topic page before adopting it.

| Topic | What to check in your jurisdiction | Page |
|:---|:---|:---|
| OHS Legislation, Regulator and Enforcement | The OHS statute that makes every station, shop, training ground and office a workplace, and the regulator that inspects it | [J01 OHS Legislation, Regulator and Enforcement](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j01-ohs-legislation-regulator-and-enforcement) |
| Duties of Employers, Supervisors, Workers and Contractors | The employer’s general duty, which carries station hazards such as diesel exhaust where no specific rule exists | [J02 Duties of Employers, Supervisors, Workers and Contractors](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j02-duties-of-employers-supervisors-workers-and-contractors) |
| Hazard Assessment and Workplace Inspections | The duty to assess station hazards, and whether the law fixes how often workplaces are inspected and by whom | [J04 Hazard Assessment and Workplace Inspections](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j04-hazard-assessment-and-workplace-inspections) |
| Joint Committee and Health and Safety Representative | The committee’s inspection schedule and functions, and its role in station hazard reports | [J05 Joint Committee and Health and Safety Representative](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j05-joint-committee-and-health-and-safety-representative) |
| Written Procedures and Committee Consultation | When written procedures are required for shop, lockout and facility work, and the duty to consult the committee on them | [J06 Written Procedures and Committee Consultation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j06-written-procedures-and-committee-consultation) |
| Records Retention | The minimum retention period for inspection, maintenance and test records | [J09 Records Retention](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j09-records-retention) |
| Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations | Any fire-service rules that place fire service ground ladders and firefighter equipment outside the general ladder and equipment rules | [J12 Fire Service OHS Rules and Fireground Operations](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j12-fire-service-ohs-rules-and-fireground-operations) |
| Firefighter PPE and Protective Equipment | The general PPE duty and the eye, face, head and foot protection standards that apply to shop and facility work | [J13 Firefighter PPE and Protective Equipment](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j13-firefighter-ppe-and-protective-equipment) |
| Respiratory Protection, Fit Testing and Breathing Air | The breathing air standard, the air test interval and cylinder requalification rules for the fill station | [J14 Respiratory Protection, Fit Testing and Breathing Air](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j14-respiratory-protection-fit-testing-and-breathing-air) |
| Equipment Inspection, Ladders and Aerial Devices | The general ladder rules for portable and fixed station ladders, and the inspection and record rules for tools and equipment | [J15 Equipment Inspection, Ladders and Aerial Devices](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j15-equipment-inspection-ladders-and-aerial-devices) |
| Fall Protection and Rope Access | The fall protection trigger height and plan rules for hose towers, roofs, mezzanines, apparatus tops and pole holes | [J16 Fall Protection and Rope Access](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j16-fall-protection-and-rope-access) |
| Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety | Lockout, machine guarding (including grinder gaps and tire cages), electrical approach and licensing rules, and the electrical and gas codes | [J19 Lockout, Machine Guarding and Electrical Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j19-lockout-machine-guarding-and-electrical-safety) |
| Stations, Premises and Building Codes | Premises rules for floors, stairs, guardrails and snow and ice; pressure vessel registration; and the building and fire codes the jurisdiction adopts, including fire safety plans and drills | [J20 Stations, Premises and Building Codes](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j20-stations-premises-and-building-codes) |
| WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos | Asbestos survey, management and licensed abatement rules, WHMIS for shop and cleaning products, and fuel storage and spill rules | [J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos) |
| Exposure Limits, Heat and Cold Stress | The ventilation duty and the basis of exposure limits, including any limit for diesel particulate in bays | [J22 Exposure Limits, Heat and Cold Stress](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j22-exposure-limits-heat-and-cold-stress) |
| Workplace Violence | Whether the workplace violence rules apply to the department, and the risk assessment they require for public-facing station areas | [J26 Workplace Violence](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j26-workplace-violence) |
| Workplace Harassment | Who must have a harassment policy, what it must contain, and its training and review interval | [J27 Workplace Harassment](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j27-workplace-harassment) |

## 17. Implementation toolkit

### T1. Station safety inspection checklist by area (summary; the complete checklist is [Form - Station Safety Inspection Checklist (Full)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-station-safety-inspection-checklist-full))

| Area | What is checked |
|:---|:---|
| Exterior and grounds | Walkways, snow and ice log, lighting, apron condition, fuel tank area, generator exhaust location, dumpsters, signage, accessibility |
| Apparatus bays | Exhaust hoses and nozzles, fan start, idle prohibition posted, floor condition and drains, bay door reverses, housekeeping, storage, hand lights, zoning marks, CO alarm, eye wash |
| Decon room and PPE storage | Extractor instructions, log and training, ventilation, UV shielding, sink, sharps and biohazard, no PPE in green zones, boot wash, laundry separation |
| Fill station | Enclosure used, intake location, log, operator list, cylinders secured, air certificate posted |
| Shop | Guards, tool rests, start and stop controls, lift certificate, pit cover and ventilation, tire cage, hot work permits, compressed gas secured, cords, WHMIS labels and SDS, eye and hearing zones, lockout station and register |
| Electrical | Panel clearance, no daisy chains, cords, labels, extension cord condition, electrical room locked and clear |
| Kitchen | Suppression tags, hood cleaning, self-closing door, stove-off rule posted, extinguisher, GFCI |
| Living and office (green) | No PPE, door closers, housekeeping, cords, CO alarm, heaters |
| Dormitory | Door to corridor, alerting, CO alarm, lighting, noise, egress |
| Gym | Equipment condition, clearances, flooring, AED check, spotter rule |
| Stairs, corridors, exits | Treads, handrails, guardrails, exit signs and lights, exits clear and width maintained, doors latch |
| Pole hole and towers | Enclosure or guard, gate closers, cushioning, tower guardrails, anchors tagged |
| Fire safety | Extinguisher tags, alarm and sprinkler certificates, fire safety plan posted, drill record, emergency lighting test |
| Environmental | Radon result posted, asbestos labels and register, legionella log, IAQ complaints |
| Emergency plan and security | Plan posted, doors to quarters lock, visitor control, working-alone check-in |

### T2. Diesel exhaust system inspection log

| Date | Bay position | Hose condition | Nozzle fits tailpipe (Y/N) | Fan starts on connect (Y/N) | Release on exit (Y/N) | Idle observed in bay (Y/N) | Living area pressure (positive Y/N) | Defect | Work order | Verified by (role) |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Annual verification: smoke test or particulate sampling at each bay position and in the nearest green room; contractor report attached; date and result.

### T3. Shop safety checklist (monthly)

| \# | Item | OK | Defect | Action |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| 1 | Every machine guarded; guards in place during use |  |  |  |
| 2 | Start and stop controls within reach; emergency stops tested |  |  |  |
| 3 | Bench grinder tool rest gap within the regulation; wheel rated for speed |  |  |  |
| 4 | Chainsaws and cut-off saws: guards, chain brake, fuel storage |  |  |  |
| 5 | Vehicle lift certificate current; capacity posted; locks engage |  |  |  |
| 6 | Pit cover in place and signed; pit ventilation works; no ignition sources |  |  |  |
| 7 | Tire cage present; split-rim rule posted |  |  |  |
| 8 | Compressed gas cylinders secured, capped, segregated |  |  |  |
| 9 | Hot work permit book present; extinguisher; fire watch rule |  |  |  |
| 10 | Compressed air nozzles for cleaning restricted; no air on skin or clothing |  |  |  |
| 11 | WHMIS labels, SDS binder or access, storage cabinets |  |  |  |
| 12 | Electrical cords sound; no daisy chains; GFCI where required |  |  |  |
| 13 | Eye and hearing protection zones marked; equipment available |  |  |  |
| 14 | Lockout station stocked; register current; procedures posted |  |  |  |
| 15 | Temporary heaters compliant; clearances |  |  |  |
| 16 | Housekeeping; oily rags in closed container; spill kit |  |  |  |
| 17 | High-voltage apparatus procedures posted where applicable |  |  |  |

### T4. Station zoning plan template

| Zone | Rooms and areas at {{Station}} | Marking | Door type | Pressure relative to bay | Rules |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Red (hot) | Bays; decon room; PPE storage | Red line and sign | Self-closing to yellow | Negative | PPE and boots stay here; exhaust capture before start; no eating |
| Yellow (warm) | Laundry; showers; boot wash; transition corridor | Yellow | Self-closing to green | Neutral | Shower within the hour; station wear changed; no PPE beyond |
| Green (cold) | Living; kitchen; dormitory; offices; dispatch | Green | Closed | Positive | No PPE, boots or contaminated tools; CO alarm; clean air |

### T5. Lockout procedure template (one per machine or system)

    Equipment:                 {{Machine or system}}            Location: {{Station or shop}}
    Energy sources:            electrical (panel, breaker); pneumatic (apparatus air, shop air);
                               hydraulic (PTO, aerial, lift); mechanical (springs, raised loads);
                               high voltage (electric apparatus); thermal; gravity; stored (capacitors, accumulators)
    Isolation points:          list each, with its location and label
    Steps:
      1. Notify affected persons; obtain the lockout kit.
      2. Shut down by the normal stop.
      3. Isolate every energy source at its isolation point.
      4. Apply a lock and a tag at each point; the person doing the work holds the key.
      5. Release stored energy: bleed air, lower loads, block, discharge, relieve hydraulic pressure.
      6. Verify zero energy: try to start; test with a meter or gauge; a competent person confirms.
      7. Do the work.
      8. Restore: tools clear, guards on, persons clear, remove locks (own lock only), restart, notify.
    Lock removal by another person:  only under the written rule, with the supervisor's documented attempt to contact the lock owner.
    Alternative procedure (where lockout is impracticable): describe the control and the competent person's approval.
    Reviewed:                  {{Role}}, date; next review date.

### T6. Electrical safety program outline

1.  Policy: no electrical work by members who are not qualified persons; licensed contractors for installation and repair.
2.  Qualified person list (if any), training to the workplace electrical safety standard, authorization by the program manager.
3.  Arc flash risk assessment and labels on panels and equipment where the assessment sets a threshold; approach boundaries; PPE categories.
4.  Energized work permit: justification, approval, PPE, second person.
5.  Cord and portable equipment rule; monthly inspection.
6.  Electrical room clearance and access.
7.  Infrared scan of panels every three years.
8.  Contractor interface: licence on file, lockout coordination, permit.

### T7. Hazardous building materials register (per station)

| Station | Construction year | Asbestos survey date | Materials and locations | Condition | Labelled (Y/N) | Management plan date | Last reinspection | Lead paint assessed | Radon result (Bq/m³) and date | Mitigation and retest | Legionella: storage temperature and flushing log | Other (PCB ballasts, mercury, mould) |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

### T8. Station emergency plan template

    Station:                      {{Station}}             Plan date:            Review date:
    Emergency contacts:           dispatch; facilities on-call; utilities; HSO; deputy chief on duty (by role and number)
    Assembly point:               primary; alternate
    Fire in the station:          alarm; stove off; doors closed; apparatus out where safe; evacuate; count; call dispatch; nobody re-enters
    Medical emergency in quarters: AED location; first aid kit; call; who meets the ambulance
    Hazardous release in the bay: isolate; doors open; evacuate upwind; call; no re-entry without monitoring
    Utility failure:              generator start check; transfer switch lockout rule; CO alarm; alerting backup
    Loss of alerting or radio:    backup paging; phone tree; dispatch notified
    Severe weather:               shelter location; apparatus; generator; fuel
    Intruder, threat or violence: lock quarters; call police; safe room; do not confront
    Loss of water:                tanker; notify
    Working alone (single-staffed): check-in interval; who calls; what happens if missed
    Drill:                        annual, with the fire safety plan; record kept

### T9. Quarterly indicator worksheet

| Indicator | This quarter | Last quarter | Trend | Baseline | Target | Note |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Monthly inspection completion |  |  |  |  | 100% |  |
| Exhaust capture verification |  |  |  |  | 100% |  |
| Zoning compliance |  |  |  |  | 100% |  |
| Lockout program currency |  |  |  |  | 100% |  |
| Safety-critical work order turnaround (days) |  |  |  |  | Per SLA |  |
| Environmental register completeness |  |  |  |  | 100% |  |
| Fire safety drill completion |  |  |  |  | 100% |  |
| Hazard reports; percent answered in 5 days |  |  |  |  | Up; 100% |  |
| Station and shop injuries; percent reviewed |  |  |  |  | Down; 100% |  |
| Lockout and electrical events |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
| CO or exhaust events in quarters |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
| Corrective actions open, closed, overdue |  |  |  |  |  |  |

### T10. Training and competency sign-off table

| Member (role) | Zoning and exhaust | Evacuation and fire safety plan | Hazard reporting | Lockout (awareness / authorized) | Hot work | Lift and pit | Extractor | Fill station | Electrical (qualified person) | Date | Verified by (role) |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

### T11. Accountability and closed-loop table with default roles

Section 11 holds the filled table. For a department without standing teams, replace “program manager” with the named officer for facilities, keep facilities staff as doers, keep the verifier and closure rows unchanged, and record the substitution in the Profile Worksheet.

### T12. Stage 1 minimum and cost note

Section 14. For budgeting, transfer these lines to the team’s five-year worksheet: source capture installation or retrofit; nozzle replacements; annual verification; zoning retrofits; locks and tags; lift certificates; asbestos surveys; radon tests and mitigation; range interlocks; dorm alerting; station replacement.

## References

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