Operational Procedures

Combustibles and flammables shall not be located within a 35 feet radius of the hot work area.
If relocation is impractical, combustibles shall be protected with fire retardant covers or otherwise shielded with metal or fire retardant guards, curtains, or barriers to help prevent ignition of materials. Edges of covers at the floor shall be tight to prevent sparks from going under them, including where several covers overlap when protecting a large pile.
Combustible floors shall be kept wet, be covered with damp sand, or be protected by noncombustible or fire retardant shields. Where floors have been wet down, personnel operating arc welding or cutting equipment shall be protected from possible shock.
If hot work is done near walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs of combustible construction, fire retardant shields or guards shall be provided to prevent ignition.
If hot work is to be done on a wall, partition, ceiling, or roof precautions shall be taken to prevent ignition of combustibles on the other side by relocating combustibles. If this is impractical, then a fire watch shall be provided on the opposite side from the work.
Hot work shall not be attempted on a partition, wall, ceiling, or roof that has a combustible covering or insulation, or on walls or partitions of combustible sandwich-type panel construction.
Hot work on pipes or other metal that is in contact with combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, roofs or other combustibles shall not be undertaken if the work is close enough to cause ignition by conduction.
Openings or cracks in walls, floors, or ducts within 35 feet of the site shall be tightly covered with fire retardant or noncombustible material to prevent the passage of sparks to adjacent areas.
The atmosphere shall not contain flammable or combustible vapor.
Floors shall be free of oils, grease, and solvent residue.
Work being conducted in public areas shall require shields, welding curtains, or barriers to protect the public from exposure to flames, heat, slag, sparks, and welding light.
Equipment used for conducting hot work shall be inspected and evaluated for good working condition (e.g. cylinders, torches, lines, hoses, valves, and wires).
Employees shall have an approved hot work permit on site in non-designated areas where work operations are conducted.
Appropriate personal protective equipment shall be worn during hot work including but not limited to goggles, safety glasses with side shields, face shield, welding helmet with tint protection, ear plugs, gloves, fire resistive leather aprons, and work boots.
A first aid kit shall be available.
Gas cutting and welding equipment shall be secured to avoid damage and disturbance.
Gas cylinders shall be secured.
Gas cylinders shall be labeled and pressure gauges shall be checked for leaks.
Gas cylinder valves shall be closed when the equipment is not in use.
A fully charged and operable fire extinguisher shall be present at all hot work operations and shall be located within 10 feet of the work.
During hot work, special precautions shall be taken to avoid accidental operation of automatic fire detection or suppression systems.
If hot work is done in close proximity to a sprinkler head, a wet rag shall be laid over the head and then removed at the conclusion of the welding or cutting operation.
If the alarm is activated all work shall be discontinued, all electrical equipment disconnected, and gas cylinders secured. Work shall not be resumed until safe conditions are restored.
All hot work operations in a confined space shall have a hot work permit.
All persons working with hot work processes shall be trained. Training shall include the applicable contents of this written program, for example appropriate personal protective equipment, hazards associated with hot work, hazardous materials and hazard communications, fire extinguisher use, fire and life safety, and hot work in confined spaces.
Hot tapping or other cutting and welding on a flammable gas or liquid transmission or distribution utility pipeline shall be performed by a crew that is qualified to make hot taps.
Hot work is not permitted in sprinklered buildings while such protection is impaired, in the presence of explosive atmospheres (that is where mixtures of flammable gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts with air exist), or on drums, tanks, vessels, or other containers and equipment that contain combustible or flammable material.

A fire watch shall be required by the PAI when hot work is performed in non-designated areas where the following conditions exist.
- Combustible materials in building construction or contents are closer than 35 feet to the point of operation and are not protected with fire retardant covers or otherwise shielded with metal or fire retardant guards, curtains, or barriers to help prevent ignition of materials.
- Combustible materials are more than 35 feet away but are easily ignited by sparks.
- Wall or floor openings within a 35 feet radius expose combustible materials in adjacent areas.
- Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited.
- Hot work is done in close proximity to a sprinkler head and a wet rag is laid over the head until the welding or cutting operation is complete.
When a fire watch is implemented the following requirements shall apply.
- Fire watch personnel shall be trained in their duties.
- A fire watch shall be maintained for at least ½ hour after completion of hot work operations in order to detect and extinguish smoldering fires.
- More than one fire watch shall be required if combustible materials that could be ignited by the hot work operation cannot be directly observed by the initial fire watch.
- Fire watch personnel shall be permitted to have additional duties, however, these additional duties shall not distract them from their fire watch responsibilities.


	Business and Financial Affairs > Environmental Health and Safety > Industrial Safety > Hot Work >
	Environmental Health and Safety Hot Work V. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES A. Hot Work General Safety Precautions The following general safety precautions shall be complied with prior to performing hot work activities in designated and permit required areas. Combustibles and flammables shall not be located within a 35 feet radius of the hot work area. If relocation is impractical, combustibles shall be protected with fire retardant covers or otherwise shielded with metal or fire retardant guards, curtains, or barriers to help prevent ignition of materials. Edges of covers at the floor shall be tight to prevent sparks from going under them, including where several covers overlap when protecting a large pile. Combustible floors shall be kept wet, be covered with damp sand, or be protected by noncombustible or fire retardant shields. Where floors have been wet down, personnel operating arc welding or cutting equipment shall be protected from possible shock. If hot work is done near walls, partitions, ceilings, or roofs of combustible construction, fire retardant shields or guards shall be provided to prevent ignition. If hot work is to be done on a wall, partition, ceiling, or roof precautions shall be taken to prevent ignition of combustibles on the other side by relocating combustibles. If this is impractical, then a fire watch shall be provided on the opposite side from the work. Hot work shall not be attempted on a partition, wall, ceiling, or roof that has a combustible covering or insulation, or on walls or partitions of combustible sandwich-type panel construction. Hot work on pipes or other metal that is in contact with combustible walls, partitions, ceilings, roofs or other combustibles shall not be undertaken if the work is close enough to cause ignition by conduction. Openings or cracks in walls, floors, or ducts within 35 feet of the site shall be tightly covered with fire retardant or noncombustible material to prevent the passage of sparks to adjacent areas. The atmosphere shall not contain flammable or combustible vapor. Floors shall be free of oils, grease, and solvent residue. Work being conducted in public areas shall require shields, welding curtains, or barriers to protect the public from exposure to flames, heat, slag, sparks, and welding light. Equipment used for conducting hot work shall be inspected and evaluated for good working condition (e.g. cylinders, torches, lines, hoses, valves, and wires). Employees shall have an approved hot work permit on site in non-designated areas where work operations are conducted. Appropriate personal protective equipment shall be worn during hot work including but not limited to goggles, safety glasses with side shields, face shield, welding helmet with tint protection, ear plugs, gloves, fire resistive leather aprons, and work boots. A first aid kit shall be available. Gas cutting and welding equipment shall be secured to avoid damage and disturbance. Gas cylinders shall be secured. Gas cylinders shall be labeled and pressure gauges shall be checked for leaks. Gas cylinder valves shall be closed when the equipment is not in use. A fully charged and operable fire extinguisher shall be present at all hot work operations and shall be located within 10 feet of the work. During hot work, special precautions shall be taken to avoid accidental operation of automatic fire detection or suppression systems. If hot work is done in close proximity to a sprinkler head, a wet rag shall be laid over the head and then removed at the conclusion of the welding or cutting operation. If the alarm is activated all work shall be discontinued, all electrical equipment disconnected, and gas cylinders secured. Work shall not be resumed until safe conditions are restored. All hot work operations in a confined space shall have a hot work permit. All persons working with hot work processes shall be trained. Training shall include the applicable contents of this written program, for example appropriate personal protective equipment, hazards associated with hot work, hazardous materials and hazard communications, fire extinguisher use, fire and life safety, and hot work in confined spaces. Hot tapping or other cutting and welding on a flammable gas or liquid transmission or distribution utility pipeline shall be performed by a crew that is qualified to make hot taps. Hot work is not permitted in sprinklered buildings while such protection is impaired, in the presence of explosive atmospheres (that is where mixtures of flammable gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts with air exist), or on drums, tanks, vessels, or other containers and equipment that contain combustible or flammable material. B. Hot Work in Non-designated Areas The following hot work permit procedures shall be complied with prior to performing hot work activities in non-designated areas. A written hot work permit by the permit authorizing individual shall be required. The PAI shall inspect the location where the work will be performed, verify that all requirements stated in the checklist are in place, and document this on the hot work permit. The permit shall be issued to one person responsible for the work to be accomplished. The permit applies only to the job, in the area specified, during the time and date listed on the permit. The hot work permit shall be displayed at the job site. C. Fire Watch A fire watch shall be required by the PAI when hot work is performed in non-designated areas where the following conditions exist. Combustible materials in building construction or contents are closer than 35 feet to the point of operation and are not protected with fire retardant covers or otherwise shielded with metal or fire retardant guards, curtains, or barriers to help prevent ignition of materials. Combustible materials are more than 35 feet away but are easily ignited by sparks. Wall or floor openings within a 35 feet radius expose combustible materials in adjacent areas. Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited. Hot work is done in close proximity to a sprinkler head and a wet rag is laid over the head until the welding or cutting operation is complete. When a fire watch is implemented the following requirements shall apply. Fire watch personnel shall be trained in their duties. A fire watch shall be maintained for at least ½ hour after completion of hot work operations in order to detect and extinguish smoldering fires. More than one fire watch shall be required if combustible materials that could be ignited by the hot work operation cannot be directly observed by the initial fire watch. Fire watch personnel shall be permitted to have additional duties, however, these additional duties shall not distract them from their fire watch responsibilities.
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Environmental Health and Safety

Hot Work