M O D U L E 2 : T O D E M O N S T R A T E I N D I V I D U A L H O T W O R K R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S A N D I M P O R T A N C E O F F I R E W A T C H

HOT WORK DUTIES & FIRE WATCH

HOT WORK DUTIES

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Attend supervisor training offered by Safety Training Department.

Ensure all employees who perform Hot Work are trained on the Hot Work Program and it’s requirements.

Safe handling and use of equipment, as well as determining any combustible or hazardous areas that are present in the work area.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Protect combustibles from ignition by having the work moved to a location free from combustibles, moving combustibles to a safe distance, or properly shielding against ignition.

See that Hot Work is not scheduled to be performed during operations that might expose combustibles to ignition.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Obtain a Hot Work permit and determine that the Hot Work operator secures his approval that conditions are safe before performing any Hot Work.

Ensure that fire protection and extinguishing equipment are properly located at the site and employees are trained in its use.

Make a fire watch available if needed.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Enforce Hot Work Program standards by ensuring all employees under their direction comply with all facets of the Hot Work Program.

Provide a copy of the Hot Work Program to employees upon their request.

Be responsible for transferring Hot Work information between shift changes.

Retain Hot Work permits for 1 year.

HOT WORK OPERATORS RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completely adhere to the requirements of this program and attend required training.

• Understand the emergency procedures in the event of a fire and shall have an awareness of the inherent risks involved.

• Plan for the worst

• Know how to use a fire extinguisher

• Know how to notify occupants of a fire

• Know the safest route for evacuation

• Prepare the work area per the policy/permit.

HOT WORK OPERATORS RESPONSIBILITIES

Have the supervisor's approval before starting the Hot Work operations.

Stopping Hot Work operations and notifying management or the area supervisor if an unsafe condition occurs.

Fill out the permit correctly.

Send complete Hot Work permits to Safety Training Manager.

ALL EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIESAny employee that observes changing unsafe

condition associated with Hot Work activities must use individual initiative to report the unsafe condition(s).

Each employee has the right to halt Hot Work operations when new conditions develop that could pose a hazard to employees. An example of changing conditions might be

the introduction of a flammable substance into the Hot Work area.

CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• The project manager is responsible for ensuring compliance with the contractor safety program. This would include ensuring that all forms are turned in and, if necessary, signed, and that proper training is completed.

• The supervising plant engineer is responsible for ensuring that the contractor is adhering to the requirements of the plant and corporate programs.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervisors, contractors, the fire watch, and the Hot Work operators shall recognize their mutual responsibility for safety in Hot Work operations.

FIRE WATCH

FIRE WATCH

A Fire Watch is needed when there is a chance that fire might develop from combustible materials. A fire watch is needed if combustible materials are located:

1) Closer than 35’ from the Hot Work.

2) More than 35’ away from the Hot Work but might be easily ignited by sparks.

3) Walls or floor openings within 35’ expose combustible materials in adjacent areas including concealed areas spaces in walls and floors.

4) Adjacent to the opposite side of partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs.

FIRE WATCH RESPONSIBILITIES

Be aware of the inherent hazards of the work site and of the Hot Work.

Ensure that safe conditions are maintained.

Have the authority to stop the Hot Work if unsafe conditions develop.

Final signature on Hot Work permit.

FIRE WATCH RESPONSIBILITIES

Have fire extinguishing equipment, as well as attending required training.

Sound and being familiar with alarm procedures in the facilities in the case of an uncontrolled fire.

Watch for fires in all exposed areas, during Hot Work operations and for at least 30-60 min. after completion, and trying to extinguish them only when they are within the scope of their training and equipment.

FIRE WATCH

The Fire Watch (personnel) monitors the Hot Work area for changing conditions and watches for fires, and extinguishes them if possible. Must be trained annually on the Hot

Work program.

Have no other responsibilities other than fire watching. Note: When changing conditions are

observed by anyone– whether the fire watch, Hot Work operator, supervisor, or any other employee– that person should immediately halt the Hot Work on his or her own initiative!!

FIRE WATCH

As mentioned earlier, a fire watch must be maintained for 30 min. after completion of Hot Work however depending on conditions the watch can be held up to 3 hours.

More than one fire watch is required when combustible material that could be ignited by Hot Work cannot be directly observed by only one fire watch.

OSHA STANDARDS

Click here to see what OSHA requires for organizations that utilize fire watch.

IMPORTANT

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