Lumbermen’s
Underwriting Alliance
Hot Work Program
Employee Presentation
Loss Prevention Services - Rev April 14, 2011
This presentation is intended to
provide employees with a general
overview of safety measures in
connection with hot work operations.
It covers the safe work techniques to
be followed by employees and
contractors in order to prevent
hazards associated with hot works.
References used
Fire Protection Association (FPA)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
National Fire Code Of Canada 2005
Objectives
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Definition of hot work.
Hot work safety requirements.
Company Hot Work Program.
The hot work permit.
Hot work permit decision process.
Spark watcher decision making.
Employee training requirements.
Contractor safety requirements.
Hot work losses.
Questions.
Definition of hot work
 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:
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welding
burning
brazing
propane soldering
oxyacetylene cutting
grinding ferrous metals
Definition
 Hot Work “designated area”:
A permanent location designed or approved for
hot work operations. This location shall be a
specific area approved for the performance of
hot work, such as a maintenance shop or a
detached outside location of incombustible or
fire-resistive construction and essentially free of
combustible and flammable contents.
Hot Work Safety Concerns
 Workers exposed by hot work hazards.
 Numerous workers are critically injured each
year from hot work accidents.
 Dangerous fires occur annually from hot work
causing millions of dollars in loss.
 Proper training can significantly improve hot
work safety awareness.
Company Hot Work Program
A company Hot Work Program shall
include the following:
A documented company policy
The use of hot work permits
Training of all employees
A contractor policy
Ongoing review of the hot work
program
Hot Work Permit
Hot Work Permits are required for
any temporary operation involving
open flames or producing heat
and/or sparks.
This includes, but is not limited to:
Brazing, Cutting, Grinding,
Soldering, Thawing of pipes,
Torch Applied Roofing and
Welding.
Hot Work Permit
The Hot Work Permit is
divided into two parts:
 Part 1 is the white
cover sheet
 Part 2 is the orange
copy.
Hot Work Permit - Part 1
On the left side of the permit, you find the
following:
Fire Safety Supervisor Instructions
Employee performing Hot Work
Location/building
Authorization to perform hot work
Hot Work Permit - Part 1
On the right side of the permit, you find the
following:
Actions to be taken:
BEFORE HOT WORK
DURING HOT WORK
AFTER HOT WORK
OTHER PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
Hot Work Permit - Part 1
BEFORE HOT WORK
 Sprinklers, hose streams and extinguishers in service.
 Hot work equipment in good condition.
 Floors swept and work area clear of all combustibles within a radius of 35 feet (11m).
 Combustibles that cannot be moved are covered with fire retardant tarpaulins or
shielded by non-combustible materials.
 Combustibles on other side of walls, ceiling or roofs are cleared away.
 Conveyors and suction systems in the area are shut down.
 All wall floor openings shielded.
 Fire resistive tarpaulins suspended beneath overhead work.
 Area wet down except when arc welding.
 Containers purged of flammable liquids/vapors.
 Pressurized vessels, piping and equipment removed from service, isolated and
vented.
Anything that can burn must be removed from the immediate
work area.
Hot Work Permit - Part 1
DURING HOT WORK
 Post Permit.
 Trained spark watcher(s) stationed on site, in adjacent
areas and on lower levels with fire fighting equipment
during hot work.
Hot Work Permit - Part 1
AFTER HOT WORK
 Area thoroughly wet down.
 Exposed lower level(s) thoroughly wet down.
 Post guard to patrol hot work area for a minimum of 60 minutes on a
continual
basis after job is completed.
 If applicable, notify watchman of location where hot work was done as well
as
exposed lower level(s).
 Keep permit posted where work was performed.
 Equipment stored properly.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
Monitor hot work area for a minimum of 5 hours
Hot Work Permit - Part 2
In addition to Part 1, you
have the following:
Spark Watcher Signature,
and
Final Check-up
Hot Work Permit Decision Process
NFPA 51B Figure A.5.4
Spark Watcher Decision-Making
PAI= Person Authorizing Hot work.
AHJ= Management
NFPA 51B Figure A.5.5.1
Multiple Spark Watchers Needed
NFPA 51B Figure A.5.5.1(1)(b)
Employee Training Requirements
 All supervisors and employees are to be trained
before being involved in, or conducting Hot
Work.
 They are to be trained on their Company Hot
Work program which includes the following:
Understand the Company policy
Understand the use of the Hot Work Permit
Understand the contractor policy
Contractor Safety Requirements
 Before starting any hot work, contractors and their clients shall
discuss the planned project entirely, including the type of hot work to
be conducted and the hazards in the area.
 Management should ensure that the contractor has evidence of
financial responsibility, which can take the form of an insurance
certificate or other document attesting to coverage or responsibility.
 A contractor may have the technical expertise to perform hot work
but is not likely to have a full understanding of fire prevention or of
the specific combustible hazards within a client property. Additional
safeguards to be considered include, but are not be limited to: how
the hot work should be isolated to prevent fire hazards; who will be
assigned as the spark watcher for the hot work operations; the
facility emergency notification procedures; available manual fire
fighting tools (like portable fire extinguishers and small hose
stations); identification of all areas where hot work is not allowed;
connecting hot work equipment to existing utility systems (gas or
electricity); and review of any requirements for completion of hot
work by a certain time each day.
Contractor Safety Requirements
 Hot work loss incidents involving contractors occur with
regular frequency.
 For many of these incidents, facility management did not
implement a process for managing the fire hazards
associated with the proposed contract work activity.
 Some view the contractor's personnel as recognized
subject matter experts, and are either ignorant of
potential fire hazards with the planned activity.
 Do not make assumptions about contractor’s knowledge
of or practice of safe hot work procedures. Always
confirm.
Hot Work Fire January 13, 2005 ($1,385,000)
Hot Work Fire March 27, 2006 ($3,730,000)
Hot Work Fire March 28, 2006 ($3,730,000)
Hot Work Fire August 8, 2006
Hot Work Fire May 21, 2008 ($ 6,500,000)
Hot Work Fire January 26, 2007 ($200,000)
Hot Work Fire March 8, 2007 ($7,000,000)
Hot Work Fire November 9, 2008 ($3,500,000)
Hot Work Fire January 1, 2009 ($9,000,000)
Hot Work material available
QUESTIONS
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