14/2/2017 WeldingHotWork:OSHAnswers

(http://www.ccohs.ca/)

Home / OSHAnswers / Welding

WeldingHotWork
CLOSEALL

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

What'sNew
CheckoutourWhatsNew(../../whats_new.html)listingtoseewhathasbeenaddedorrevised.

Needmorehelp?
ContactourSafetyInfoLine(http://www.ccohs.ca/safetyinfoline.html)
(http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/contacting.html)
Telluswhatyouthink
Howcanwemakeourservicesmoreusefulforyou?Contactus(http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/contacting.html)toletusknow.

Disclaimer

Copyright19972017CanadianCentreforOccupationalHealth&Safety

Sharethispage

TOPOFPAGE
Datemodified:
20170214

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/welding/hotwork.html 2/2