When you weld, cut or grind, the potential for accidents is significant, so it’s crucial to be cautious. Wear your personal protective equipment (PPE), and follow the established safety rules.

Hot Work includes, but is not limited to any work that involves operations including cutting, welding, Thermit welding, brazing, soldering, grinding, thermal spraying, thawing pipe, installation of torch-applied roof systems or any other similar activity.

General Hot Work Safety Rules

Whenever possible, move welding to an Approved Designated Area, which is a permanent location designed or approved for hot work operations to be performed regularly.

If Hot Work is to be performed outside a Designated Area:

• Ensure that a fire extinguisher is readily available and accessible.
• Keep combustible materials 35 ft away from the point of operation, or
• Protect combustibles with a listed or approved welding curtain, welding blanket, welding pad, or equivalent.

If the 35 Foot Rule cannot be maintained, a Fire Watch must be present.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as a face shield, leather welder’s vest, and gauntlet gloves.  Wear cotton or denim clothing.

Ensure that there is adequate ventilation in the work area and use local exhaust ventilation in situations where welding fumes and gases can accumulate.

Inspect equipment for loose connections, bare wires or cables before operating.  Make sure that machinery is properly grounded.

All units must be equipped with back-flow preventing and flash back arrestors.