Say this
- No permit, no hot work. The permit means someone has checked this spot today, so read it and stick to the location and the job on it.
- Before you strike an arc, look around and below you. Move anything that can burn, or cover it with a fire blanket, and block any gaps sparks could fall through.
- Never cut or weld a drum, tank or pipe that may have held fuel, oil, paint or solvent unless it has been cleaned and tested. A spoonful of residue can blow it apart.
- Check your hoses and flashback arresters before you start. Test leaks with spray, never a flame, and close the cylinder valves when you finish.
- The fire watch only watches for fire. If they tell you to stop, you stop.
- When the torch goes off, the job isn't over. The fire watch stays for at least 30 minutes and checks the area, including the floor below.
- If a fire starts and you can't put it out in seconds, raise the alarm, close the cylinder valves if it is safe to do so, and get out.
Ask the crew
- What do you check around and below you before starting?
- Why is an empty drum dangerous to cut?
- How long does the fire watch stay after the work stops, and what do they check?
- What do you do if an acetylene cylinder gets hot after a flashback?
Show them
- The hot work permit for today's job and what each signature means.
- The flashback arresters on the gas set and how to check the hoses.
- Where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it.
Sign-off
| Name | Company | Signature |
|---|---|---|
Sources
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Laws and codes of practice change; always check the current official text and your site's own procedures.
