F-03 Emergency Procedures on Construction Sites 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first action an F-03 fire guard must take upon discovering a fire on a construction site?
- Attempt to extinguish the fire before calling 911
- Activate the fire alarm (if available) and call 911 immediately (Correct answer)
- Notify the site foreman and wait for instructions
- Evacuate the building before calling 911
Correct answer: Activate the fire alarm (if available) and call 911 immediately
Activating the alarm and calling 911 must occur immediately — these actions must not be delayed for any other reason including attempted extinguishment.
The correct sequence upon discovering fire: (1) Activate the nearest fire alarm pull station (if available on the construction site); (2) Call 911 immediately — provide the address, building type, floor of fire, size and nature of fire, and your name; (3) Begin evacuation of the fire area; (4) Only then attempt extinguishment with a portable extinguisher if the fire is very small (wastebasket size or smaller), you have the correct extinguisher type, there is a clear escape route, and the attempt will not delay evacuation. Attempting extinguishment before calling 911 is a critical error — fires spread geometrically and FDNY needs maximum response time.
Question 2: What information must the F-03 fire guard provide when calling 911 to report a construction site fire?
- Only the address — dispatchers ask all necessary follow-up questions
- The address, building type (construction site), floor or area of fire, nature of the fire, and number of persons on site (Correct answer)
- The contractor's name and project permit number
- Only the address and their Certificate of Fitness number
Correct answer: The address, building type (construction site), floor or area of fire, nature of the fire, and number of persons on site
911 dispatch requires complete information to deploy the correct FDNY resources: address, building type, fire location and nature, and occupant count.
When calling 911 for a construction site fire, provide: (1) Exact address including borough; (2) That it is a building under construction; (3) Floor and location within the building where fire is occurring; (4) Apparent size and type of fire (small wood fire, large structural fire, flammable liquid fire); (5) Whether the standpipe system is operational; (6) Approximate number of persons on site and whether everyone has evacuated; (7) The caller's name and that they are the F-03 fire guard; (8) Any specific hazards FDNY should know about (flammable materials, compressed gas cylinders). Do not hang up — the dispatcher may ask follow-up questions and may keep you on the line for updates.
Question 3: What is the designated assembly area on a construction site for emergency evacuations?
- The nearest subway entrance
- A pre-designated area that is remote from the building, away from emergency vehicle access lanes, and known to all workers (Correct answer)
- Any street corner near the construction site
- The site office trailer
Correct answer: A pre-designated area that is remote from the building, away from emergency vehicle access lanes, and known to all workers
Assembly areas must be pre-designated, away from the building and emergency access lanes, and all workers must know the location before starting work.
Emergency assembly areas must be: established before construction begins; located at a safe distance from the building (typically at least 300 feet from high-rise construction sites); outside of all fire apparatus access lanes so FDNY is not blocked; marked and communicated to all workers during site safety orientation; capable of accommodating all workers on site simultaneously; and maintained as designated areas throughout the project (not occupied by equipment or materials). The F-03 fire guard must know the assembly area location, direct evacuating workers to it, and account for all personnel at the assembly area after evacuation.
Question 4: What is the role of the F-03 fire guard during a construction site evacuation?
- Remain in the building to search for fire victims
- Direct workers to the assembly area, assist with evacuation, account for personnel, and brief FDNY upon arrival (Correct answer)
- Exit the building immediately and call 911 from outside
- Wait at the main entrance to count workers as they exit
Correct answer: Direct workers to the assembly area, assist with evacuation, account for personnel, and brief FDNY upon arrival
The F-03 fire guard coordinates the evacuation, directs workers to the assembly area, accounts for all personnel, and is the primary contact for FDNY upon arrival.
During construction site evacuation, the F-03 fire guard's role includes: directing workers via alarm activation and verbal commands to evacuate to the designated assembly area; assisting injured or impaired workers in evacuating; taking the site personnel roster (if available) to the assembly area for accountability; accounting for all workers and reporting to FDNY whether anyone may be missing (this is critical information for search and rescue decisions); meeting FDNY at the Siamese connection location or building entrance; providing FDNY with fire location, building layout, standpipe locations, hazardous materials, and number of potentially missing persons. The fire guard should not re-enter a burning building to search for missing workers — that is FDNY's role.
Question 5: What must be established at the start of a construction project as part of emergency planning?
- Emergency plans need not be established until the building reaches 10 stories
- An emergency action plan including evacuation routes, assembly areas, alarm procedures, and worker notification (Correct answer)
- Only the 911 emergency number needs to be posted — no formal plan required
- Emergency planning is DOB's responsibility, not the F-03 fire guard's
Correct answer: An emergency action plan including evacuation routes, assembly areas, alarm procedures, and worker notification
An emergency action plan with specific evacuation procedures, alarm methods, assembly areas, and worker notification protocols must be established before construction begins.
Before construction work begins, an emergency action plan must address: the method of notifying workers of emergencies (alarms, horns, radio, verbal); designated assembly areas and evacuation routes for each phase of construction; the role of the F-03 fire guard and other designated emergency responders; procedures for accounting for all workers after evacuation; how to communicate with FDNY upon arrival; special procedures for workers in elevated or confined locations; and emergency contact numbers including 911. The plan must be communicated to all workers during site safety orientation. As construction progresses and conditions change, the plan must be updated.
Question 6: What should the F-03 fire guard do if a worker is injured during a construction site fire emergency?
- Move the injured worker immediately to prevent exposure to smoke
- Call 911 immediately (if not already called), describe the injuries to dispatch, and provide first aid only if trained to do so (Correct answer)
- Wait for FDNY to arrive before providing any assistance
- Apply improvised bandages using construction materials
Correct answer: Call 911 immediately (if not already called), describe the injuries to dispatch, and provide first aid only if trained to do so
911 should be called immediately for injured workers, injury information provided to dispatch, and first aid provided only within the fire guard's training level.
For injured workers during a fire emergency: (1) Call 911 if not already done — provide injury information to dispatch so EMS can respond with appropriate resources; (2) Ensure the injured person is not in immediate danger (fire spreading toward them) — if safe to do so without endangering yourself, protect them from immediate threat; (3) Do not move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger — movement can worsen spinal injuries; (4) Provide first aid within your training level (basic first aid if trained); (5) Do not attempt advanced medical procedures without training. When FDNY/EMS arrives, direct them to the injured worker's location. Account for injured workers in your personnel count.
F-03 Emergency Procedures on Construction Sites 1
What is the first action an F-03 fire guard must take upon discovering a fire on a construction site?