Hot Works

Southern Methodist University

Office of Risk Management and Environmental Health & Safety

Safety Minded University

Every year fires occur, which could have been prevented had employees used appropriate fire prevention measures.

SMU requires the use of the Hot Work Permit process as a primary means of preventing fires due to non-routine open flame and high temperature operations.

Safety Minded University

Goals and Objectives:

• Recognize work that requires the use of Hot Work Permits

• Be familiar with the Hot Work Permit Process.

Safety Minded University

Definition:

Hot Work is any work using open flames or sources of heat that could ignite materials in the work area.

Safety Minded University

Examples of hot work:

• welding• burning• brazing• propane soldering• oxyacetylene cutting• grinding ferrous materials

Why do we have a Hot Work Permit Program?

To keep you from being injured. To prevent fires. To protect SMU’s assets.

Hot Work Procedures

PLAN AHEAD

Before beginning hot work:

• Check the area where the work is to be done

• Discuss it with the building manager

• Complete a Hot Work Permit form

August 1995 Fire

Business School

University of Georgia

$12 million

Before Starting the Hot Work Project

Ask yourself:

• Can the job be avoided?

• Could this be done another way?

• Can the hot work procedure be taken out of the building?

HOT WORK PERMIT

Distribution of the Form Top page (PART 1) – Kept by Fire

Safety personnel. Second page (PART 1A) – To be

used if extra copy is needed. Third page (PART 2) – Kept at work

site and turned in to Fire Safety at completion of work.

Required Precautions Checklist

Available sprinklers, hose streams and extinguishers are in service/operable.

Hot work equipment in good repair.

Requirements Within 35 ft of Work

Flammable liquids, dust, lint and oily deposits removed.

Explosive atmosphere in area eliminated.

Floors swept clean. Combustible floors wet down, covered

with damp sand or fire-resistive sheets.

Requirements Within 35 ft of Work (Continued) Remove other combustibles where

possible. Otherwise protect with fire-resistive tarpaulins or metal sheets.

All wall and floor openings covered. Fire-resistive tarpaulins suspended

beneath work. Protect or shut down ducts and

conveyors that might carry sparks to distant combustibles.

Work on Walls, Ceilings or Roofs

Construction is non combustible and without combustible covering or insulation.

Combustibles on other side of walls, ceilings or roofs are moved away

Work on Enclosed Equipment

Enclosed equipment cleaned of all combustibles.

Containers purged of flammable liquids/vapors.

Pressurized vessels, piping and equipment removed from service, isolated and vested.

NOTE:

When working in enclosed areas, be sure that there is an air source and adequate ventilation. Hot works uses up oxygen.

Fire Watch/Hot Work Area Monitoring Fire watch will be provided during

and for 60 minutes after work, including any coffee or lunch breaks.

Fire watch is supplied with suitable extinguishers, and where practical, a charged small hose.

Fire watch is trained in use of equipment and in sounding alarm.

Fire Watch/Hot Work Area Monitoring (Continued)

Fire watch may be required in adjoining areas, above and below.

Monitor Hot Work area for 4 hours after job is completed.

At least one working fire extinguisher must be on hand at every Hot Works job site and the fire watch person must be trained on how to use it.

The fire watch person cannot be the person performing the Hot Works

The SMU Hot Works Programapplies to all SMU vendors and contractors. Be sure they know what is expected of them.

Insure that anyone who is performing the fire watch knows what to do if an emergency arises.

•Where is the pull station?•Who to call?•Where is the telephone?

Fire Prevention Control Measures Fire sprinkler system in service? Cutting/welding/hot work equipment

in good repair and operable? Floors within 35 feet of work area

swept clean of combustibles? Are there combustibles or

flammable liquids stored within 35 feet of work area?

Fire Prevention Control Measures (Continued) If “Yes” - have liquids been protected

with fire-proof tarps or covers or moved?

Have wall and floor openings within 35 feet of work area been covered?

Will hot work be performed on combustible wall or ceiling surfaces?

Have combustibles been moved away from opposite side of wall or surface?

Fire Prevention Control Measures (Continued) Will hot work be performed inside a

“confined space” - tank, vessel, etc.? If “Yes” - has a confined space

permit been obtained? Is there a smoke/heat detector

located in the work area? If “Yes” - has the device been

disabled to prevent activation of the fire alarm?

Fire Prevention Control Measures (Continued) Fire watch to be provided during

and 30 minutes after end of hot work operation?

Fire extinguisher is readily available for fire watch?

Fire watch is trained in use of equipment and activating the fire alarm system?

What Is A Fire Watch Someone dedicated to watching the

entire area in which the hot work process is being used: Cannot be done by the person

performing the hot work Must have fire extinguisher at site Must be trained to use a fire

extinguisher Must know what to do in case of

emergency

ALWAYS Use Personal Protective Equipment

Make sure vendors know that they are required to use Personal Protective Equipment

Fire Prevention Control Measures

Keep weldingequipment in good operatingcondition

Fire Prevention Control Measures - Contractor

If you are using a contractor, make sure their equipment is in good operating condition.

After the Job Is Completed Check the work site to insure that the

work has been properly completed Check the area for signs of fire, smoke

or smoldering embers Tell facility manager that the work is

completed and ask him to check the area over the next few hours to insure that no fire has started

Insure the fire alarm is enabled

Summary Hot Work procedures are serious

work functions. Explore other options before

deciding on a hot work procedure. Be sure your vendors know what is

expected of them. Always work in a safe manner.

Thank you!