155 Welding Safety: Basic

Hot work is any work that involves burning, welding, using fire- or spark-producing tools or that produces a source of ignition. Follow these general best practices below for hot work.

Welding with a fire watch nearby.

• Do not perform hot work where flammable vapors or combustible materials exist.
• Relocate work and equipment outside of the hazardous areas, when possible.
• Make suitable fire-extinguishing equipment immediately available in a state of readiness. The equipment may consist of pails of water, buckets of sand, hose, or portable extinguishers dependent upon the nature and quantity of the combustible material exposed.
• When performing hot work, assign a fire watch to guard.

Fire Watch

A worker designated as the "Fire Watch" is required whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop, or any of the following conditions exist:

• Appreciable combustible material, in building construction or contents, closer than 35 feet (10.7 m) to the point of operation.
• Appreciable combustibles are more than 35 feet (10.7 m) away but are easily ignited by sparks.
• Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot (10.7 m) radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas including concealed spaces in walls or floors.
• Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of metal partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited by conduction or radiation.