Southeast Fisheries Science Center

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Southeast Fisheries Science Center

• Hot Work Permits

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Hot Work

• Goals and Objectives
• At the end of this program you will
• - Recognize work that requires the use of
• Hot Work Permits.
• - Be familiar with and able to implement the
  SEFSC Hot
• Work Permit Process.

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What is Hot Work?

• 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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Hot Work

• Examples of hot work are
• - welding
• - burning
• - brazing
• - propane soldering
• - oxyacetylene cutting
• - grinding ferrous metals
• - torch applied roofing

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Hot Work

• Why Hot Work Permits?
• Every year fires related to hot work activities
  occur causing significant property damage and
  business interruption. Many of these fires could
  have been prevented if employees and contractors
  had used appropriate fire prevention measures
  while conducting hot work.
• During a recent 5 year period FM Global reported
  that after Arson and Housekeeping, Hot Work was
  the third leading cause of fires in FM insured
  properties with an average fire loss totaling
  1.4 million dollars per incident.
• SEFSC requires the use of the Hot Work Permit
  system as a primary tool for preventing the
  outbreak of fire due hot work operations.

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Fire Potential

• Heat Source Temp
• Electric Arc Welder 10,900ºF
• O2 / Acetylene Torch 6,330ºF
• Propane Torch 3,595F
• Welding Torch Slag gt2,000ºF
• Electric Heat Gun 600 1,350ºF
• Radial Metal Cut Saw gt1,000ºF
• Wheel Grinder 1,000ºF

• Ignition Temp
• Styrene 914ºF
• Typical Asphalt 905ºF
• Polyurethane Foam 824ºF
• Lubricating Oil 500 - 700ºF
• Mineral Spirits 473ºF
• Wood Products 380 - 800ºF
• Corrugated Paper 380 - 500ºF
• Information provided by FM Global

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Is Hot Work Necessary??

• Question to Ask
• Can the job be avoided or is there a safer way?

• Before beginning any hot work, ask yourself if
  the work can be done a safer way. Hot work is
  potentially very hazardous and should be avoided
  if not absolutely necessary.

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Work that may not require the use of a hot work
permit includes

• Areas that are maintained and identified as
• - Welding Shops
• - Maintenance shops with designated
  areas for hot work activities
• - Work on equipment (ex. Farm Implements)
  occurring in areas outside of buildings
  where the potential for fire development is
  minimal.

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Starting the Process
Procedures Before beginning hot work a hot work
permit must be completed. Permits can be
obtained from your supervisor or the SEFSC
Environmental, Safety Health Web Page.
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Hot Work Permit

• Hot Work Permit
• Permit Valid Only for Day Issued
• Date October 16, 2004
• Bldg. Main bldg.
• Floor First floor, west side of bldg.
• Description of Job Welding bldg. stand pipe
• The above location has been examined. The
  precautions
• checked on the reverse of this card have been
  taken to prevent
• fire. Permission is granted for this work.
• Signed I. Lovemyjob
• Permit Expires Date 10/16/04
  Time 500 pm
• Time Started 900 am Time Finished
  1130 am
• Final Checkup
• Work area and all adjacent areas to which sparks
  and heat

• Permits are issued for the specific job being
  done, and for a specific time period. The time
  period is usually for the working shift, but may
  never exceed twenty-four hours.
• Completed Permits need to be displayed in the
  hot work area.

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Hot Work Safety Precautions

• REQUIRED PRECAUTIONS
• Before signing this card the individual
  responsible for Hot Work Safety
• should inspect the work area and check below the
  precautions taken.
• ? Fire suppression system/extinguishers
  available and operable.
• ? Hot work equipment is operable and in good
  repair.
• ? Smoke / fire detectors in the immediate area
  of the hot work have been temporarily disabled
  until work is complete.
• Precautions within 35 of Hot Work
• ? Floor swept clean of combustibles.
• ? Flammable liquids removed, combustibles
  protected with weld-
• ing drop cloths or shields.
• ? Combustible flooring wet down or covered with
  damp sand,
• welding drop cloths or shields.
• ? All wall and floor openings covered.
• ? Fire resistant tarpaulins suspended beneath
  work.
• Precautions within 50 of Hot Work
• ? Compressed gas cylinders moved from area or
  protected.
• Work on Walls or Ceilings

• The employee performing the Hot Work has the
  responsibility to verify that all necessary
  precautions have been taken at the worksite.

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Safety Precautions (contd)

• Are Fire Suppression Sprinklers in service ?

• Welding and other hot work have been found to
  be a leading cause of fires in industry.
  Sprinkler systems should remain in service in the
  hot work area, unless specifically approved by
  the facility manager. If a sprinkler system needs
  to be taken out of service specific procedures
  must be followed.

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Safety Precautions (contd)

• Is cutting and welding equipment in
• good repair ?

• Gas hoses, backflow preventers, fire resistive
  tarpaulins, curtains and other cutting and
  welding equipment must be maintained in good
  repair.

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Safety Precautions (contd) Anything that can
burn must be removed or protected from the
immediate work area.

• Requirements within 35 feet
• ? Floor swept clean of any combustible debris.
• ? Flammable and ignitable materials and debris
  have been moved at least 35 feet from the hot
  work area
• or covered and protected with fire resistant
  materials.
• ? Cracks or holes in floors, walls and ceilings
  (including ductwork) are covered or plugged.
• ? Combustible floors covered with fire-resistive
  material
• Requirements within 50 feet
• ? Explosives, compressed gas cylinders or stored
  fuel have been moved at least 50 feet from the
  hot work
• area or have been protected from the hot
  work.
• Work on walls or Ceilings
• ? Construction is noncombustible and has no
  combustible covering or insulation.
• ? Areas adjacent to walls being worked on are
  checked for combustibles and any combustibles are
  either
• removed or protected.

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Fire Watch

• Fire Watch
• Fire watch will be provided during and
• for at least 30 minutes after work, and
  during any coffee or lunch breaks.
• Fire watch is supplied with suitable
• extinguishers, or charged small hose.
• Fire watch is trained in use of this
• equipment and in sounding alarm.

• Fire Watch Personnel's main responsibility is to
  monitor the area for the possible development of
  fire from the hot work. Other job tasks can be
  performed as long as they are able to adequately
  monitor the area for potential fire.

• Fire Watch Personnel must be trained to use fire
  extinguishers or other fire extinguishing
  equipment that is present.
• Fire Watch Personnel must be aware of how to
  report emergencies and to activate building fire
  alarm systems.
• Fire Watch Personnel must be identified and their
  qualifications verified prior to commencing hot
  work.

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Hot Work Completion

• Final Checkup
• Work area and all adjacent areas to which sparks
  and heat have spread (such as floors above and
  below and on
• opposite sides of walls) were inspected for at
  least 30 minutes after the work was completed and
  found free of fire.
• Signed I. Lovemyjob
• After signing, return the permit to the facility
  individual responsible for Hot Work Safety.
  Maintain in facility files for a
• period of 3 years.
• This Permit is Valid Only for the Day Issued

• Before leaving the area, verify that no
  smoldering fires have
• developed within walls, cracks in floors, or in
  ceiling areas where
• you have been working. Return the Hot Work permit
  to your
• supervisor to sign and maintain for 3 years.

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Summary

• All employees expected to perform hot work must
  be familiar and trained in Hot Work Procedures.
• Jobs like electric arc welding, brazing, gas
  soldering, oxygen-acetylene cutting, welding and
  torch applied roofing work may require the use of
  a hot work permit.
• Permits are issued for a specific job and for a
  specific time frame.
• All necessary equipment must be on site and in
  good working order before work begins.

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Summary (contd)

• A fire watch must be present for the duration of
  hot work and for at least 30 minutes after work
  is completed.
• A fire inspection must be conducted by the person
  doing the hot work before leaving the job site.
• Completed Permits are to be returned to
  maintained in facility files for 3 years.
• By following safe hot work practices and
  procedures you will help maintain a fire safe
  environment for the SEFSC.

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Resources

• To view the entire SEFSC Hot Work Program click
  here INSERT LINK HERE
• If you have any questions concerning Hot Work
  procedures contact
• Facility Manager,
• Engineering/Maintenance Department,
• Area Safety Representative, or the
• Safety Environmental Compliance Officer listed
  below.
• Dan Poulos
• 850/234-6541 ext. 237
• Dan.Poulos_at_noaa.gov

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TEST True or False Print Your Name Here

• Examples of hot work include welding burning
  propane soldering oxyacetylene cutting grinding
  ferrous metals and torch applied roofing.
• Fires can be prevented if fire prevention
  measures are used during hot work activities.
• Certain work areas that may not require the use
  of a hot work permit include welding shops and
  designated areas within maintenance shops.
• Hot work permits may be issued for numerous jobs
  as long as they consist of the same type of hot
  work (e.g. welding at various locations
  throughout the facility).
• Supervisors are responsible for verifying that
  all necessary precautions have been taken at the
  worksite.

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TEST contd

• Anything that can burn must be removed or
  protected from the immediate (within 35) hot
  work area.
• It is permissible to leave compressed gas
  cylinders or fuel unprotected as long as they are
  not within 35 of the hot work area.
• The Fire Watch individuals main responsibility is
  to monitor the hot work area for possible
  development of fire and to respond accordingly in
  its event.
• Fire Watch personnel are not required to, but
  should, be trained in the proper use of a fire
  extinguisher.
• Thirty minutes after the completion of any hot
  work, and before leaving the hot work area, you
  must verify that no fires have developed within
  walls, cracks of floors, or the ceilings.

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TEST KEY Employees maintain completed test in
your files

• True
• True
• True
• False
• False
• True
• False
• True
• False
• True