Hot work is a routine part of maintenance and repair across many agricultural industries—but it is also a leading cause of fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), thousands of hot work-related fires occur each year, resulting in injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage.
What is hot work?
Hot work is any task that involves generating heat, open flames or creates sparks. Processes such as welding, grinding, thawing pipes, torch-applied work; and similar are all hot work activities. During this type of work, the sparks and heat produced can cause injuries or ignite a fire if not performed safely.
When most people think about hot work, they think of metalworking shops, industrial welding operations and construction. However, hot work touches the lives of us all, mainly through installation, maintenance and repair operations.
- Equipment and vehicle repair in shops or in the field
- Grain handling and storage system maintenance
- Food processing equipment repair or installation
- Electrical, HVAC, or mechanical system work
- Tank, pipeline, or fuel system maintenance
- Structural repairs to buildings, storage facilities or infrastructure
Keep in mind that some work areas may be small or confined, which creates an even greater risk of fire. If hot work is left unsupervised, fires can occur, causing property damage and threatening the lives of your staff, and customers.
Hot work safety tips
- Develop a program with written procedures for safe practices and record keeping any time hot work is performed
- Keep emergency numbers readily available in case of fire
- Consider temporary protection whenever possible, such as easily accessible fire extinguishers
- Identify employees and / or additional security rounds for fire watches
- Enforce a strict “no smoking” policy in and around hot work areas
Hot work program implementation
To help minimize fires and potential injuries, a hot work program (PDF) should be in place at your facility. The steps to help implement a hot work program specific to your operation include the following:
1. Choose a hot work program coordinator
Designate a program coordinator (PDF) to manage and monitor hot work. Arrange for training appropriate to your operations.
2. Develop procedures for your program
Establish procedures (PDF) for all hot work performed by your workers or any outside contractors. This should include steps for completing a formal permit to help ensure proper safety precautions are taken.
3. Record all hot work projects in a logbook
Maintain a record (PDF) of all hot work projects for future review as necessary.
Learn more about establishing a hot work program in your operation by contacting Nationwide Risk Management today.
Additional resources
- Hot Work Permit Sample (PDF)
- Sprinkler system performance
- National Fire Protection Association: NFPA 51B, Standard for Fire Prevention during Welding, Cutting and Other Hot Work