Hot Work Permits
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Ron Chiodi, Peter
Zavon
Xerox Corporation
Why are we here?
Every year fires occur, which could have been prevented had employees
used appropriate fire prevention measures.
This company requires the use of the Hot Work Permit system as a primary
means of preventing fires due to non-routine open flame and high temperature
processes.
Goals and Objectives:
At the end of this session you will:
- Recognize work
that requires the use of Hot Work Permits.
- Be familiar with
the Hot Work Permit System.
- Pass a quiz with
a score of 100%.
Definitions:
Hot Work is any work using open flames or sources of heat that could
ignite materials in the work area.
Examples of hot work are:
- welding
- burning
- brazing
- propane soldering
- oxyacetylene cutting
- grinding ferrous
metals
Procedures:
Before beginning hot work, contact the Fire Marshal, Safety Engineer, or
Maintenance Manager to have a Hot Work Permit issued.
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Permits
are issued for the specific job being done, and for a specific time
period. The time period is usually for the working shift, but may
never exceed twenty-four hours. |
The Fire Marshal, Safety Engineer, or Maintenance Manager has the responsibility
to verify that all necessary precautions have been taken at the worksite.
Necessary
Precautions
- Sprinklers
are in service.
- Cutting
and welding equipment in good repair.
Precautions
within 35 ft. (10 m.) of work.
- Floors
swept clean of combustibles.
- Combustible
floors wet down, covered with damp sand or fire-resistive sheets.
- Flammable
liquids removed; other combustibles, if not removed protected
with fire-resistive tarpaulins or metal shields.
- Explosive
atmosphere in area eliminated.
- All wall
and floor openings covered.
- Fire-resistive
tarpaulins suspended beneath work.
Work on
Walls or Ceilings
- Construction
is noncombustible and without combustible covering or isolation.
- Combustibles
moved away from other side of wall.
Work on
Enclosed Equipment
- Enclosed
equipment cleaned of all combustibles.
- Containers
purged of flammable liquids.
Fire Watch
- Fire watch
will be provided during and for at least 30 minutes after work,
and during any coffee or lunch breaks.
- Fire watch
is supplied with suitable extinguishers, or charged small hose.
- Fire watch
is trained in use of this equipment and in sounding alarm.
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Necessary
Precautions
- Sprinklers
are in service
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Welding and other hot work have been found to be high ranking causes of
industrial fires. Sprinkler systems must remain in service in the hot work
area, unless specifically approved by the Fire Marshal, Safety Engineer,
or Maintenance Manager.
Necessary
Precautions
- Cutting
and welding equipment in good repair.
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Gas hoses, backflow preventers, fire resistive tarpaulins, curtains and
other cutting and welding equipment must be in good repair before the permit
is issued.
Necessary
Precautions
Precautions
within 35 ft. (10 m.) of work.
- Floors
swept clean of combustibles.
- Combustible
floors wet down, covered with damp sand or fire-resistive sheets.
- Flammable
liquids removed; other combustibles, if not removed protected
with fire-resistive tarpaulins or metal shields.
- Explosive
atmosphere in area eliminated.
- All wall
and floor openings covered.
- Fire-resistive
tarpaulins suspended beneath work.
Work on
Walls or Ceilings
- Construction
is noncombustible and without combustible covering or isolation.
- Combustibles
moved away from other side of wall.
Work on
Enclosed Equipment
- Enclosed
equipment cleaned of all combustibles.
- Containers
purged of flammable liquids.
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Anything that can burn
must be removed from the immediate work area.
Necessary
Precautions
Fire Watch
- Fire watch
will be provided during and for at least 30 minutes after work,
and during any coffee or lunch breaks.
- Fire watch
is supplied with suitable extinguishers, or charged small hose.
- Fire watch
is trained in use of this equipment and in sounding alarm.
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Should other precautions fail, trained personnel will be needed with fire
fighting equipment to extinguish any fires which start. Personnel and equipment
must be readily available before the permit is issued.
Necessary
Precautions
Fire Watch
- Fire watch
will be provided during and for at least 30 minutes after work,
and during any coffee or lunch breaks.
- Fire watch
is supplied with suitable extinguishers, or charged small hose.
- Fire watch
is trained in use of this equipment and in sounding alarm.
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Fire Watch Personnel may not do other jobs which detract from their
primary responsibility.
Fire Watch Personnel must be trained to use fire extinguishment media provided.
Fire Watch Personnel
must be aware of how to report emergencies, and in emergency evacuation
procedures.
Fire Watch Personnel
must be identified and their qualifications verified, before permits
are issued.
Necessary
Precautions
CAN THE
JOB BE AVOIDED?
IS THERE
A SAFER WAY?
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Before beginning any hot work, ask yourself if the work can be done a safer
way. Hot work is very hazardous and should be avoided if not absolutely
necessary.
Final Checkup
By Welder
Work area and all adjacent areas to which sparks and heat might have
spread (such as floors above and below and on opposite side of walls)
were inspected after the work was completed and were found firesafe.
Signed: ___________________________
After signing, return to person who issued it. |
Before leaving the area for the day, verify that no smoldering fires
have developed within walls, cracks in floors, or in ceiling areas where
you have been working. Return the work permit to the person who issued it
within 30 minutes of job completion, so that they may complete any
necessary job follow-up.
Summary:
- Jobs like electric
arc welding, brazing, gas soldering, and oxygen-acetylene cutting and
welding require hot work permits be issued by the Fire Marshal, Safety
Engineer, or Maintenance Manager before work begins.
- Permits are issued
for a specific job, for a specific time frame, to a specific person.
- All necessary
equipment must be on site and in good working order before work begins.
- A fire watch
must be present for the duration of hot work and for at least 30 minutes
after work is done.
- A fire inspection
must be conducted by the person doing the hot work before leaving the
job site.
- Permits are to
be returned to the person who issued them.
Where to Get Help
Your supervisor is responsible for all necessary equipment and for contacting
the Fire Marshal, Safety Engineer, or Maintenance Manager.
The Fire Marshal,
Safety Engineer, or Maintenance Manager will issue all permits and answer
any specific questions about fire protection systems, fire prevention
measures, and precautions.
The Safety Representative
can answer any questions regarding other hazards, such as welding light
or fumes.
This paper
appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author and/or
copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent. eLCOSH
is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not responsible
for the accuracy of information provided on this web site, nor for its
use or misuse.
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