1910.156(c)(1): Fire Brigade Training
Employers must train and educate all fire brigade members to match the duties they are expected to perform, before they do fire brigade emergency work. Fire brigade leaders and training instructors must get more comprehensive training than general members.
Key takeaways
- 1910.156(c)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 64 times in the last 3 years, in 62 inspections, with $139,094 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (31), NY (26), MN (2).
- Related part: 1910.156(c) Training and education (153 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.156(c)(1) is one requirement inside 1910.156 Fire brigades, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart L). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) The employer shall provide training and education for all fire brigade members commensurate with those duties and functions that fire brigade members are expected to perform. Such training and education shall be provided to fire brigade members before they perform fire brigade emergency activities. Fire brigade leaders and training instructors shall be provided with training and education which is more comprehensive than that provided to the general membership of the fire brigade. 64 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.156.
Export the list: 62 inspections cited 1910.156(c)(1) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 26 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: IL (31), NY (26), MN (2), CT (2), TX (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| GEORGIA PACIFIC WOOD PRODUCTS | CAMDEN, TX | $107,584 |
| GEORGIA PACIFIC WOOD PRODUCTS | CAMDEN, TX | $13,000 |
| CITY OF BEARDSTOWN - FIRE DEPT. | BEARDSTOWN, IL | $6,000 |
| VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD - FIRE DEPARTMENT | MAYWOOD, IL | $4,000 |
| LANARK FPD | LANARK, IL | $3,960 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.156(c)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.156(c)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.156(c) Training and education 153 citations
- 1910.156(c)(2) 77 citations
- 1910.156(c)(3) 7 citations
- 1910.156(c)(4) 5 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When must fire brigade members be trained?
Before they perform fire brigade emergency activities.
How much training is required?
Training and education commensurate with the duties and functions members are expected to perform.
Do leaders need more training?
Yes. Leaders and training instructors must receive more comprehensive training than general members.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.156 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.