Sample Hot Work Permit For Cutting Or Welding

A hot work permit is required for any cutting or welding of structural steel. The hot work permit is to cover the employer in case an employee has a personal injury. This sample template hot work permit shows all the requirements that the employer will have to fill in before they can begin their hot work job. This includes site set-up, the fire watch requirements and the daily inspection form after completion of each day’s hot work leading up to the welding being completed.

In the construction industry, when we talk of hot work permits, they are documents we utilize in order to ensure that no fire accidents take place or get injured while carrying out the task. You probably may come across certain terms and their definitions such as “flame spraying iron”, “co2 laser”, etc. This document helps to gather all the safety measures and regulations needed in regards to oxygen cutting or electrical welding hot work.

Sample Hot Work Permit For Cutting Or Welding

A hot work permit is a permit that requires a written plan that describes in detail the measures to be taken to ensure employee safety, property and surroundings. These permits are also known as “hot jobs” or “hot work” by different individuals.

Table of Contents

Hot Work Permits

Before hot work operations begin in a non-designated location, a completed hot work permit is required.

The following conditions must be confirmed before permitting the hot work to commence:

Equipment to be used (e.g. welding equipment, shields, personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers) must be in satisfactory operating condition and in good repair.

The floor must be swept clean for a radius of 35 ft if combustible materials, such as paper or wood shavings are on the floor,

Combustible floors (except wood on concrete) must be kept wet or be covered with damp sand ( note: where floors have been wet down, personnel operating arc welding or cutting equipment shall be protected from possible shock)., or be protected by noncombustible or fire-retardant shields.

All combustible materials must be moved at least 35 ft away from the hot work operation. If relocation is impractical, combustibles must be protected with fire-retardant covers, shields or curtains. Edges of covers at the floor must be tight to prevent sparks from going under them, including where several covers overlap when protecting a large pile.

OSHA has very specific regulations covering welding, brazing and cutting operations. Ventilation requirements depend on the metals and compounds used. Welding & cutting operations, conducted outside authorized hot work areas, includes extensive procedures for fire prevention.

Welding Hazards

• burns & fire
• impact
• penetration
• dust, smoke & fumes
• heat
• light radiation
• asphyxiation

Types of Welding & Cutting

Arc Welding is the process of using an electric current between a metal electrode and base metal. The generated heat melts the metal of the electrode and base metal which combine and then solidify in the weld joint.

Gas Welding process uses a gas flame to melt the edges of two adjoining surfaces. After removal of the flame, the liquid metal cools to join the surfaces together. Gases used with oxygen or air are acetylene, MAPP gas and hydrogen.

Cutting — there are two common types of cutting done with welding equipment

• Oxygen cutting heats metal with a gas flame – an oxygen jet increases the heat and blows away the molten metal

• Arc cutting uses the high heat of an electric arc to melt a channel or hole in the metal.

Hot work is allowed only in areas that are or have been made fire-safe. Hot work may only be performed in either designated areas or permit-required areas.

A designated area is a specific area designed or approved for such work, such as a maintenance shop or a detached outside location that is of noncombustible or fire-resistive construction, essentially free of combustible and flammable contents, and suitably segregated from adjacent areas.

permit-required area is an area made fire-safe by removing or protecting combustibles from ignition sources.

Hot work is not allowed:

• In sprinklered buildings if the fire protection system is impaired
• In the presence of explosive atmospheres or potentially explosive atmospheres ( e.g. on drums previously containing solvents)
• In explosive atmospheres that can develop in areas with an accumulation of combustible dusts (e.g. grain silos).

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