Any time you work with equipment that produces a spark or an open flame, or a process that generates excessive heat, there is a risk of fire. Work involving electric or gas welding, cutting, brazing or similar flame producing operations is known as hot work.
Scope
Under the welding, cutting, and brazing regulation, management is responsible for safe cutting and welding on its property and shall:
- Establish areas for cutting and welding, and procedures for cutting and welding, in other areas.
- Designate an individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations in areas not specifically designed for such processes.
- Ensure that supervisors and employees are suitably trained in the safe operation of their equipment and the safe use of the process.
- Advise all contractors about flammable materials or hazardous conditions of which they may not be aware.
While a written hot work permit is not specifically required, OSHA prefers that they be used, and many companies choose to use them to demonstrate that their hot work program is in compliance.
Key definitions
- Hot work: Hot work is any work that involves burning, welding, using fire- or spark-producing tools, or that produces a source of ignition. Welding and cutting operations are common to drilling and servicing operations.
- Welder and welding operator: Any operator of electric or gas welding and cutting equipment.
Summary of requirements
- Designate an individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations in areas not specifically designed for such processes.
- Before cutting or welding is permitted, the individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations must inspect the area.
- Designate precautions to proceed, preferably in the form of a written permit.
- If the object to be welded or cut cannot readily be moved, take all movable fire hazards in the vicinity to a safe place.
- Guard the object to be welded or cut if it cannot be moved and if all the fire hazards cannot be removed.
- Maintain suitable fire extinguishing equipment in a state of readiness for instant use.
- Ensure fire watchers are in place whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop.
- Maintain a fire watch for at least a half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations to detect and extinguish possible smoldering fires.
- Use precautions to avoid or minimize risks involved in hot work (fire prevention measures, personal protective equipment, and preventative maintenance of specialized tools, warning labels, and ventilation).
- Take precautions wherever there are floor openings or cracks in the flooring that cannot be closed, so that no readily combustible materials on the floor below will be exposed to sparks which might drop through the floor. Observe the same precautions with regard to cracks or holes in walls, open doorways and open or broken windows.
- Ensure proper personal protective equipment is used by welders and cutters.
- Train cutters or welders and their supervisors in the safe operation of their equipment and the safe use of the process.
