Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines hot work as “riveting, welding, flame cutting or other fire or spark-producing operation”. Whenever you perform hot work on premises, always pay special attention to the environment and fire hazards surrounding the work. After all, hot work is a high-risk activity, which may drastically increase your chances for a fire. This risk is even higher when there are flammable materials, gases, and dust or fine particles nearby. OSHA regulates the process of hot work because it can potentially endanger all employees in the building. As such, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards. If possible, project stakeholders should implement control measures to mitigate the risks of hot work as much as possible. For these reasons, being aware of the risks of hot work and what regulations govern it is extremely important.
Hot work is frequently a part of contractual work; however, some industries may require hot work as a routine activity. The use of CNC machines provide a comparable level of risk to hot work, especially if they operate daily. Sometimes, these cases may require application-specific fire suppression technologies, or the use of fire watch services. Generally, hot work is any activity that generates a source of ignition, a crucial pillar of the fire triangle. For instance, welding, cutting, brazing, and grinding may all produce sparks, heat, and hot materials. When these come into contact with combustible materials, a fire can easily ignite. OSHA maintains a checklist of rules and regulations surrounding hot work to keep workers and occupants safe. One such rule is that “How work shall not be performed in confined space until a designated person has tested the atmosphere and determined that it is not hazardous.”
The data on hot work demonstrates the dangers that it poses to people and property. In this study by the NFPA, fire departments responded to an estimated average of 3,396 structure fires involving hot work each year between 2017 and 2021. As a result, the fires caused an estimated average of 19 civilian deaths and 120 civilian injuries per year. Even more, the data on work-related injuries involving hot work paints an even grimmer picture. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that more than 500,000 workers are injured every year from welding accidents alone. Aside from the fire risk it poses, hot work remains one of the most deadly activities for workers today.
While the specifics vary depending on the type of work, location, and local regulations, a hot work permit is legally required to carry out hot work operations. Some states have specific fire codes that mandate a hot work permit for activities associated with an elevated fire risk. Similarly, OSHA requires hot work permits in areas where a fire hazard may exist. Since OSHA sets the national standard, people typically reference its regulations when discussing hot work permits. Thus, you should always obtain a hot work permit for hot work activities.
A fire prevention officer (FPO) at the department of environmental health & safety may issue a hot work permit. Alternatively, you can go to an authorized risk management service. For reference, you can check out the NFPA’s hot work permit template sheet. In addition, you will require a separate hot work permit for every building or area where you conduct hot work. For example, if one contractor is performing work at several different buildings for one project, a permit is necessary for each building. This is because each building is subject to unique fire hazards and conditions, which you should document and handle separately.
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The hot work permit system not only ensures legal compliance, but it reduces fire risk from several angles. First, it makes key stakeholders aware of the hazards associated with hot work, and the area where they perform it. This will encourage further risk-analysis, so you can take appropriate measures to enhance fire safety. If possible, stakeholders may consider alternative processes that eliminate hot work completely after taking their fire risk into account. Secondly, the hot work permit system encourages stakeholders to implement control measures to mitigate the risks of hot work. Essentially, the permit system serves as a checklist for what fire hazards to identify and address before starting hot work. This may include removing flammable materials from the work area, maintaining and inspecting fire extinguishers or other fire safety systems, or assigning fire watch services if necessary. Finally, it serves as a way to document and manage hot work activities in your facility. All of these measures prove to reduce the chances of a deadly fire from occurring.
You should always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing any hot work activities. PPE is important because it is a worker’s first line of defense against exposure to heat, flames, fumes, and more. Also, PPE for hot work includes welding gloves, fire-resistant garments, face masks, eye protection, protective footwear, hearing protection, and more. The PPE you need depends on the application and the hazards around your workplace. More specifically, the hazard assessment that is a part of obtaining the hot work permit will give you more information about the type of PPE required. For welding and cutting, standard 1910.252 outlines PPE requirements, including the need for fire-resistant or protective clothing, gloves, helmets, eye protection, and respiratory protection. Moreover, proper maintenance and training for all PPE is necessary to provide adequate protection. OSHA requires the use of PPE as a key component of workplace safety and preserving the health of your workers.
In conclusion, hot work can significantly increase the likelihood of fires, particularly when flammable materials are present. OSHA regulations require that employers obtain hot work permits and take appropriate precautions to mitigate these risks. The hot work permit system serves not only to ensure legal compliance but also to enhance safety by promoting risk analysis, documenting work activities, and encouraging fire prevention. By following these guidelines and using proper PPE, employers can reduce the dangers associated with hot work and protect both workers and property from fire hazards.
If you are wondering how you can secure your facility during hot work, we have professional engineers and technicians that are here to guide you every step of the way. We provide small space suppression solutions for high-risk spaces, and robotic fire watch services to remain in compliance even during high-risk hot work activities. FireAlarm.com is a one-stop-shop for everything fire alarms. If you want to learn more about hot work or need a professional consultation, contact us!
