The following is the first post in a three-part series on hot work. The series will give an overview of hot work, safety hazards, team members, permit programs, and a precautionary checklist.
As a business owner or employee, workplace safety is one of your top concerns. Depending on the nature of your operations, your workers and property structures may be exposed to a variety risks.
One example of a technical expertise that results in increased risk is hot work. Incidents surrounding daily operations in hot work result in a number of worker injuries and structural fires each year in the United States. That’s why it’s important for businesses to implement hot work safety through a permit program.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Analysis and Research released in October 2009, 29 percent of reported industrial and manufacturing property structure fires from 2003-2006 involved shop tools and industrial equipment. This statistic relates directly to activities classified as hot work.
What is “hot work”?
Hot Work Safety Hazards
Because it is often performed in a confined or enclosed space, such as maritime vessels or industrial workshops, hot work presents a high risk for causing unintended industrial fires or explosive hazards. To help minimize worker injuries or structural fires, hot work is only performed in designated or permit-required areas, and protected by a variety of safeguards.
While fixed or permanent installations or work areas should have their own safeguards, a greater danger is posed by portable hot work equipment.
Portable hot work equipment, such as portable welders, torches, cutting, and brazing equipment, are used for maintenance or construction and is performed by employees or contractors. These tools present increased risk due to the lack of permanent non-combustible barriers such as weld curtains or walls. The tools do not have to create a flame though. Processes such as grinding and drilling become hot work when flammable materials are present.
Hot Work Permit Programs
According to the NFPA, any hot work performed outside a fixed facility should comply with NFPA 51B, Standard for Fire Prevention in Use of Cutting and Welding Processes. Compliance with these standards requires what is called a hot work permit program.
An effective permit program is fundamental to any strategy intended to control the fire hazards of hot work operations, and should include the following:
- A management policy that states clearly when, where, and under what conditions hot work may be performed.
- Detail who is responsible for management of the program.
- Establish the permit system.
- Provide the necessary safety equipment.
- Provide the personnel necessary to implement the program.
Does your business deal with hot work activities and the associated safety hazards? What have your experiences on the job site been? We’d like to hear your input and feedback to help offer the most helpful tips on properly protecting the workplace.
Stayed tuned!
In the next post we will discuss different members of a hot work team, their responsibilities and safety concerns that should be address.
Jeff Hendershot is a Property Specialist with Westfield Group. You can connect with him at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhendershot.
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