Hot Work

Why are you taking a course about hot work? Let’s see what can go wrong. Welders were repairing a leak in an odor-scrubbing system when an explosion occurred in a tank connected with the system. Three workers were killed. An asphalt tank exploded when two workers used an acetylene torch to repair a crooked pipe. Both men were thrown long distances and killed. A worker was cutting an object with a torch, using the top of a drum containing kerosene as a workbench, when the torch cut into the drum and caused an explosion. The worker was fatally burned. What do all of these incidents have in common? They all occurred as a result of hot work – cutting, welding and other work that generates heat and sparks – taking place without adequate safety precautions. And these were not isolated incidents. Fires in industrial and other properties are often caused by cutting and welding, primarily with portable equipment in areas not specifically designed or approved for such work. Many insurance companies report that hot work losses are among the top causes of loss at the properties they insure. That’s not surprising: a fire can do a lot of damage very quickly. Additionally, many of those losses are caused by outside contractors. What MAY be surprising is the news that most – if not all – hot work incidents are completely preventable. You just need to know what safety precautions to take, and take them!