The Definition of Line of Fire

Definition of Line of Fire

Line of fire is the path that a moving object, a release of stored energy or falling material could take, putting any person in that path at risk of being struck, caught, pinched or crushed. Working in the line of fire means placing your body, or part of it, where it could be hit if something moves, breaks, releases or falls unexpectedly.

Line of fire incidents are a leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in construction, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, utilities and logistics. Many of them fall into OSHA's struck-by and caught-in or caught-between categories, two of the construction "Focus Four" hazards. Line of fire is also one of the IOGP Life-Saving Rules used widely across the energy industry.

The key idea is simple: if energy is released or something moves, where will it go, and is anyone in that path? Staying out of the line of fire protects workers even when other controls fail.

Common Line of Fire Hazards

• Moving equipment and vehicles: forklifts, trucks, mobile plant and backing vehicles. Being between a vehicle and a fixed object is especially dangerous.
• Suspended and lifted loads: standing under or near a load being lifted by a crane, hoist or forklift. See dropped object hazard.
• Stored energy: pressurized lines and hoses, springs, compressed gases, tensioned cables, chains and slings that can snap or whip. See kinetic energy.
• Rotating and moving machinery: pinch points, rollers and conveyors that can pull in hands, clothing or hair.
• Falling objects: tools and materials dropped from height or loose items falling from racks.
• Tools and processes: kickback from saws and grinders, flying debris, and hammers or wrenches that slip.
• Unsecured loads: materials that can roll, shift or collapse when straps or supports are removed.

Preventing Line of Fire Incidents

Recognize and plan

Identify line of fire hazards during planning, job hazard analysis and pre-job briefings. Ask what could move, release or fall during each step and where people will be standing.

Control the energy

• Isolate, depressurize and verify zero energy before work, using lockout/tagout.
• Install machine guards and barriers around pinch points.
• Secure loads, materials and cylinders so they cannot roll, fall or shift.
• Use whip checks on pressurized hoses and tag lines to guide suspended loads.

Position people safely

• Never stand under a suspended load or between a load and a fixed object.
• Set up exclusion zones and barricades around lifting, testing and vehicle movement areas.
• Stand to the side when opening valves, cutting straps or releasing tension.
• Keep hands clear of pinch points, using push sticks or hand tools where needed.
• Make eye contact with equipment operators before entering their work area.

Empower workers

Workers should feel free to use stop work authority whenever they see someone in the line of fire. Supervisors can reinforce line of fire awareness through field observations and toolbox talks.

Example of Line of Fire

On a pipeline construction site, a crew was pressure testing a newly welded section of pipe. A worker walked toward the end cap to check for leaks while the line was still under test pressure. A spotter noticed and called a stop before he reached the end of the pipe.

During the follow-up review, the team recognized that a failure of the end cap would have sent it and the pressurized water directly along the worker's path. The project updated its pressure testing procedure to set a marked exclusion zone around end caps and fittings, required the line to be depressurized before anyone approached, and added line of fire awareness to the pre-job briefing for all testing work.

Frequently Asked Questions: Line of Fire

What does line of fire mean in safety?

It refers to the path of a moving object or released energy. Being in the line of fire means you could be hit, caught or crushed if something moves or fails.

What are examples of line of fire hazards?

Examples include standing under suspended loads, working near backing vehicles, opening pressurized lines, cutting tensioned straps and placing hands near pinch points on machinery.

How can workers stay out of the line of fire?

Plan the task, isolate energy, secure loads, use barriers and exclusion zones, and always position your body where it would not be struck if something moved or failed.