1910.156(c)(3): Fire Brigade Training Quality
Fire brigade training and education programs must be of a quality similar to those run by recognized fire training schools such as the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute or the Georgia Fire Academy. For industries with unique hazards, such as oil refineries, training must be similar to schools such as Texas A and M University or the Delaware State Fire School.
Key takeaways
- 1910.156(c)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 7 times in the last 3 years, in 7 inspections, with $10,000 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.156(c) Training and education (153 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.156(c)(3) 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
(3) The quality of the training and education program for fire brigade members shall be similar to those conducted by such fire training schools as the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute; Iowa Fire Service Extension; West Virginia Fire Service Extension; Georgia Fire Academy, New York State Department, Fire Prevention and Control; Louisiana State University Firemen Training Program, or Washington State's Fire Service Training Commission for Vocational Education. (For example, for the oil refinery industry, with its unique hazards, the training and education program for those fire brigade members shall be similar to those conducted by Texas A & M University, Lamar University, Reno Fire School, or the Delaware State Fire School.) 7 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.156.
Export the list: 7 inspections cited 1910.156(c)(3) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.156(c)(3).
At 6:00 a.m. on November 13, 2023, a firefighting crew responded to a building fire. Engine 55 performed suppression operations, while Truck 44 (T44) performedforcible entry and ventilation operations. A crew of two from T44, including Firefighter 1, went to the flat roof of the…
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.156(c)(3).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.156(c) Training and education 153 citations
- 1910.156(c)(2) 77 citations
- 1910.156(c)(1) 64 citations
- 1910.156(c)(4) 5 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How good must fire brigade training be?
Similar in quality to programs at fire training schools named in the rule, such as the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute or the Iowa Fire Service Extension.
What about oil refinery fire brigades?
Their training must be similar to programs like those at Texas A and M University, Lamar University, Reno Fire School or the Delaware State Fire School.
Who does this apply to?
Fire brigade 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.