Hot Works

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Hot Works

• Southern Methodist University
• Office of Risk Management and
• Environmental Health Safety

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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.
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Safety Minded University

• Goals and Objectives
• Recognize work that requires the use of Hot Work
  Permits
• Be familiar with the Hot Work Permit Process.

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

• Examples of hot work
• welding
• burning
• brazing
• propane soldering
• oxyacetylene cutting
• grinding ferrous materials

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Why do we have a Hot Work Permit Program?

• To keep you from being injured.
• To prevent fires.
• To protect SMUs assets.

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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

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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?

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HOT WORK PERMIT
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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.

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Required Precautions Checklist

• Available sprinklers, hose streams and
  extinguishers are in service/operable.
• Hot work equipment in good repair.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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NOTE

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

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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.

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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.

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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.
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The fire watch person cannot be the person
performing the Hot Works
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The SMU Hot Works Programapplies to all SMU
vendors and contractors. Be sure they know what
is expected of them.
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• 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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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

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ALWAYS Use Personal Protective Equipment
Make sure vendors know that they are required to
use Personal Protective Equipment
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Fire Prevention Control Measures
Keep welding equipment in good operating condition
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Fire Prevention Control Measures - Contractor
If you are using a contractor, make sure their
equipment is in good operating condition.
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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

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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.

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• Thank you!