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WeldingHotWork
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Whatishotwork?
Workingwithignitionsourcesnearflammablematerialsisreferredtoas"hotwork."Welding,solderingandcuttingareexamplesofhotwork.
Firesareoftentheresultofthe"quickfiveminute"jobinareasnotintendedforweldingorcutting.Gettingahotworkpermitbeforeperforming
hotworkisjustoneofstepsinvolvedinahotworkmanagementprogramthathelpstoreducetheriskofstartingafirebyhotworkinareas
wherethereareflammableorcombustiblematerials.
TheNationalFireProtectionAssociation(NFPA)Standard51B"FirePreventionintheUseofCuttingandWeldingProcesses"servesasthe
basisforthefirecodesandmanyfirepreventionpracticesadoptedbyindustry.
Whatisahotworkmanagementprogram?
Hotworkmanagementprogramsareputinplacetocontroloreliminatehotworkhazardsandtheirrisks.Programsincludethedevelopment
ofpolicies,procedures,andtheassignmentofresponsibilitiesandaccountabilitiesforallaspectsofhotwork.Aprogramincludes:
1.Policies
a.Wherehotworkispermitted
b.Whenhotworkispermitted
c.Whoauthorizeshotwork
2.Procedures
a.Whatmustbeassessedbeforepermitting/performinghotworkinanareaoronaprocesspieceofequipmentorarea
b.Whattodotoprepareanareaforhotwork
c.Whattodoifhotworkcannotbeavoidedinaparticularlyhazardousarea
d.Whathotworktoolsarerequired
e.Howtoobtainahotworkpermit,whentheyarerequired,andwhocanadministerthem
3.Training
a.Employees,supervisors,maintenanceindividuals,firewardens,trainedfirewatchindividuals,andcontractorsallhavedifferent
roles,andmustbetrainedaccordingly
4.Communications
a.Postingprocedures
b.Postingpolicies
c.Postingsignsinareasthatareprohibitedfromhavinghotworkperformedinthem
Canhotworkbeavoided?
Youmaybeabletosubstitutehotworkwithothermethods.Belowaresomeexamples:
Insteadof: Use:
Sawortorchcutting Manualhydraulicshears
Welding Mechanicalbolting
Sweatsoldering Screwedorflangedpipe
TorchofradialsawcuttingMechanicalpipecutter
Butremember,alwaysassessthesubstitutesoralternatemethodforanyrisksorhazards.Donotintroduceanynewrisksorhazards.
Beforeperforminghotwork,whataresomegeneralgoodpractices?
Makesureyouarefollowingyourhotworkprocedure.Alsoconsiderthefollowingitems:
Makesurethatallequipmentisingoodoperatingorderbeforeworkstarts.
Makesurethatallappropriatepersonalprotectivedevices(https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/welding/ppe.html)areavailable
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/welding/hotwork.html 1/2
14/2/2017 WeldingHotWork:OSHAnswers
Makesurethatallappropriatepersonalprotectivedevices(https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/welding/ppe.html)areavailable
atthesiteandeachworkerhasbeentrainedonhowtouse,clean,andstorethemproperly.
Inspecttheworkareathoroughlybeforestarting.Lookforcombustiblematerialsinstructures(partitions,walls,ceilings).
Sweepcleananycombustiblematerialsonfloorsaroundtheworkzone.Combustiblefloorsmustbekeptwetwithwaterorcoveredwith
fireresistantblanketsordampsand.
UsewaterONLYifelectricalcircuitshavebeendeenergizedtopreventelectricalshock.
Removeanyspilledgrease,oil,orothercombustibleliquid.
Moveallflammableandcombustiblematerialsawayfromtheworkarea.
Ifcombustiblescannotbemoved,coverthemwithfireresistantblanketsorshields.Protectgaslinesandequipmentfromfallingsparks,
hotmaterials,andobjects.
Makesurethatappropriatefireextinguishers(e.g.,ABCfireextinguishers)areavailableandeasilyaccessible.
Makesurethatthefirstaidboxesareavailableandeasilyaccessible.
Blockoffcracksbetweenfloorboards,alongbaseboardsandwalls,andunderdooropenings,withafireresistantmaterial.Closedoors
andwindows.
Coverwallorceilingsurfaceswithafireresistantandheatinsulatingmaterialtopreventignitionandaccumulationofheat.
Secure,isolate,andventpressurizedvessels,pipingandequipmentasneededbeforebeginninghotwork.
Inspecttheareafollowingworktoensurethatwallsurfaces,studs,wiresordirthavenotheatedup.
Vacuumawaycombustibledebrisfrominsideventilationorotherserviceductopeningstopreventignition.Sealanycracksinducts.
Preventsparksfromenteringintotheductwork.Coverductopeningswithafireresistantbarrierandinspecttheductsafterworkhas
concluded.
Postatrainedfirewatcherwithintheworkareaduringwelding,includingduringbreaks,andforatleast3060minutesafterworkhas
stopped.Dependingontheworkdone,theareamayneedtobemonitoredforlonger(upto3hours)aftertheendofthehotwork.
Eliminateexplosiveatmospheres(e.g.,vapoursorcombustibledust)ordonotallowhotwork.Shutdownanyprocessthatproduces
combustibleatmospheres,andcontinuouslymonitortheareaforaccumulationofcombustiblegasesbefore,during,andafterhotwork.
Ifpossible,schedulehotworkduringshutdownperiods.
Complywiththerequiredlegislationandstandardsapplicabletoyourworkplace.
DocumentlastupdatedonOctober3,2016
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