Hot Work Policy & Procedure Policy: Reference: The purpose of the PCS General Contractor Hot Work policy is to protect personnel and property from a fire caused by hot work. The PCS Hot Work procedure defines the responsibilities and requirements for performing hot work and establishes controls through the use of a hot work permit. This procedure establishes the means to assess the work area and the planned hot work activity to ensure sufficient and necessary controls are in place to prevent a fire. Hot work will only be performed in areas that are or have been made fire safe. Where fire prevention precautions, such as a fire suppression system or a fire or smoke detection system, are not sufficient a fire watch person shall be assigned to monitor the area for fire, as needed. FC 302, Standard for Welding and Cutting FC 301, Standard for Construction Operations Definitions Hot Work and Dust Refers to work that involves open flames or work that produces heat, sparks or dust that will affect the fire alarm system. Such operations include but are not limited to welding, soldering, brazing, cutting, coring, grinding, adhesive bonding, thermal spraying, riveting, chipping, soldering, and thawing pipes. Hot Worker Person performing the hot work Permit a document used to request approval to proceed with hot work and identify necessary fire precautions. The permit is posted at the workplace during the work process and remains posted until the fire watch is completed. The Hot Worker must be able to produce this permit on demand. Fire Watch Monitoring the work area during and after the hot work to identify fire hazards and respond appropriately. A person trained in the use of fire suppression equipment and alarm activation is qualified to perform the fire watch. Fire suppression equipment and a means of communication must be immediately available during a fire watch. This person may not be assigned to any other task and will not be doing the actual hot work. Page 1 of
Scope The Hot Work and Dust Program applies to all PCS employees, contractors, and subcontractors. Permits are required for all temporary operations involving open flames or producing heat, smoke, sparks or dust. Permits are required for all operations that suspend or affect the operation of the fire alarm system. Exception: Hot work permits are not required for work conducted in designated welding areas or shops. A hot work permit is also not required for normal laboratory operations. These areas are subject to a workplace inspection program that includes the assessment of fire hazards and control measures. Responsibilities Site Supervisor Inform employees and contractors of the PCS Hot Work and Program work procedure Initiate request for permit and provide worker with approved hot work permit Ensure hot work permits are completed for all Hot Work Evaluate in cooperation with Project Management and Health & Safety the work to be performed and identify required precautions (including fire watch) on the hot work permit Inspect the hot work area and sign off on the permit that all requirements have been met. Assign a competent fire watch person to the hot work job/task if required Forward hot work permit to Project Management and Health, Safety at least 2 days prior to commencing the hot work Forward a final copy of the hot work permit to Project Management and Health Safety (including signatures required for fire watch after completing the hot work) immediately after completion of project/fire watch Hot Worker (Employees, contractors, and sub-contractors) Complete the Hot Work permit and forward to the Site Supervisor Post the approved Hot Work permit at the location of the hot work, and Conduct hot work in accordance with PCS requirements including but not limited to providing a 10 lb extinguisher and be trained in its use and how to activate the building fire alarm system. Report any accident/incident immediately to Site Supervisor, Doug McFarlane at 613-222-2309 and PCS at 613-836-1183 Page 2 of
Fill out the appropriate portions of the permit upon completion of work. Fire Watch Monitor the area where hot work is occurring during and after the hot work has been completed. Fire Watch must be provided for a minimum of 30 minutes after work is completed. Project Management Review hot work applications within 2 days Acknowledge receipt of the permit (approve, or provide comments) and if no action required, indicate this to the Site Supervisor. Make the necessary modifications to the fire alarm system based on information supplied in hot work permits. Ensure temporary modifications to the fire alarm system are restored to normal operations once hot work is performed Health, Safety Inspect hot work jobs, tasks as appropriate Evaluate completed hot works permits Aid in the determination of the fire watch requirements Provide training in the hot work permit system Review the hot work permit system in conjunction with Project Management and continually improve the program Procedure Site Supervisor (Doug McFarlane) to obtain hot work permit from Project Manager (Gary Codogno) Site Supervisor to complete Permit and submit the following to Client Representative at least 8 hrs prior to commencing work. Notice of intent, devices affected, time and duration of isolation or bypass Copy of Hot Work Permit The Hot Work Permit must be signed by the Site Supervisor before commencement of work. Work area is to be inspected prior to approving the Hot Work Permit, using the Hot Work Checklist. The Hot Worker or supervisor posts the hot work permit that identifies start time and emergency contact information. The hot work is conducted according to permit. Site Supervisor to assign a Fire Watcher to be assigned when combustible materials are within 10m of the welding or cutting or in the event that the existing fire alarm system is non-operational (see PCS Fire Watch Procedure). Page 3 of
Upon completion of work, work area and adjacent areas are to be inspected for a minimum of 30 minutes. Completed Hot Work Permit is to be returned to Client Representative. Emergency Hot Work In case of emergency, PCS recognizes that a two working day notification may be unreasonable, however, a hot work permit, complete with the checklist and signatures, will still be forwarded to both Project Management as soon as reasonably practicable. Determination of Fire Watch A fire watch is required for the hot work permit if ANY of the following conditions exist: Project Management or Health & Safety has indicated a fire watch is required Any flammable or combustibles are located either below or within 10 meters horizontally of the work site The hot work is being done in an area where flammable and combustibles are located more than 15 feet away, but could easily be ignited by sparks. Where there is a possibility of sparks leaking onto combustible materials in areas adjacent to the area where the hot work is carried out (openings in walls, floors or ceilings shall be covered or closed to prevent the passage of sparks to such adjacent areas) Conditions change during the course of the hot work that increases the risk of fire. Required by Ontario Fire Code Page of
HOT WORK PERMIT All temporary operations involving open flames or producing heat and/or sparks require a Hot Work Permit. This includes, but is not limited to, Brazing, Cutting, Grinding, Soldering, Thawing, and Welding. INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY SUPERVISOR 1. Verify precautions listed at right (or do not proceed with the work). 2. Complete page 1 and retain for job files. 3. Post page 2 in vicinity of hot work. DATE JOB NO. LOCATION/BUILDING & FLOOR (Be Specific) DESCRIPTION OF WORK BEING PERFORMED NAME OF PERSON DOING HOT WORK and LICENSE # The above location has been examined, the precautions checked on the Hot Work Checklist have been taken to prevent fire, and permission is authorized for this work. SIGNED: SIGNED: (Permit Authorizing Individual) (Person doing Hot Work) PART B SIGNED: (Fire Watch) TIME STARTED: Date: Time: AM/PM PERMIT EXPIRES: Date: Time: AM/PM FIRE WATCH SIGNOFF Work area and all adjacent areas to which sparks and heat might have spread were inspected during the fire watch period and were found fire safe. Signed: FINAL CHECKUP (minimum 30 minutes after Hot Work) Work area was monitored for hour(s) following Hot Work and found fire safe. Signed: FILL OUT EMERGENCY INFORMATION ON BACK OF Page 2. HOT WORK CHECKLIST Sprinklers and hose streams in service/operable. Hot Work Equipment in good condition (e.g., power source, welding leads, torches, etc.) Multi-purpose fire extinguisher and/or water pump can. REQUIREMENTS WITHIN 35 FEET OF WORK Dust, Lint, Debris, Flammable Liquids and oily deposits removed; floors swept clean. Explosive atmosphere in area eliminated. Combustible floors (e.g., wood, tile, carpeting) wet down, covered with damp sand or fire blankets. Remove flammable and combustible material where possible. Otherwise protect with fire blankets, guards, or metal shields. All wall and floor openings covered. Walkways protected beneath hot work. WORK ON WALLS OR CEILINGS Combustibles moved away from other side of wall. WORK IN CONFINED SPACES Confined space cleaned of all combustibles (example: grease, oil, flammable vapors). Containers purged of flammable liquids/vapors. Follow confined space guidelines. FIRE WATCH/HOT WORK AREA MONITORING Fire watch will be provided during and for 30 minutes after work, including any coffee or lunch breaks. Fire watch is supplied with an extinguisher, and/or water pump can, also making use of other extinguishers located throughout work area. Fire watch is trained in use of this equipment and familiar with location of sounding alarm. Fire watch may be required for opposite side of walls, above, and below floors and ceilings. OTHER PRECAUTIONS TAKEN Copyright J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc Neenah, WI USA (800) 327-6868
WARNING! HOT WORK IN PROGRESS WATCH FOR FIRE! IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY: CALL: AT: WARNING!