Hot work is an all-encompassing term for activities that generate heat, sparks, or open flames in the workplace, such as welding, grinding, cutting, brazing, or using a blowtorch. Because of the extreme temperatures involved, this work brings serious risks if safety isn’t front and center.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year between 2017 and 2021 firefighters responded to an estimated 3,396 structure fires caused by unsafe hot work.
Nearly half of these fires began in homes, where there is little oversight on individuals engaging in hot work. Many others, however, started at workplaces involving welding or other hot work activities, where permits are required by law.
Hot work assessment is an integral part of commercial EHS consulting, and at the SP Group, we routinely help businesses maintain safe and compliant workplaces by advising them on hot work permits. Here’s everything you need to know about hot work permits so that you can stay compliant and keep your workers safe.
A Hot Work Permit is required whenever activities like cutting, welding, soldering, or brazing are performed in occupied buildings—anytime there's a chance of creating a spark or heat hazard. This applies to a wide range of work environments, from construction sites to maintenance tasks, whenever portable gas or arc equipment is being used. If you're not sure whether your task qualifies, it's always better to err on the side of caution and secure the permit.
Anyone conducting hot work in occupied buildings needs a Hot Work Permit. That includes not just the general contractors but also subcontractors, tradespeople, and even building maintenance staff. If multiple teams are working on the same project in different areas, each team is responsible for getting their own permit. Every individual’s hot work must be covered.
Hot Work Permits are needed for each specific location where the work will take place, so it's important to account for all buildings involved in the project. This includes any individual structures or sections of a larger complex (so utility tunnels count as separate buildings). For example, if multiple contractors are working on different buildings for a single project, each building requires its own permit—so don’t assume one permit will cover the whole job.
Hot Work Permits are typically issued by a designated safety officer, fire marshal, or supervisor who is trained in the specific risks and safety measures associated with hot work. Even more specifically, this supervisor will normally be familiar with your company’s industry, so they can offer the most accurate identification of risk factors during operational activities.
These individuals have the primary responsibility of making sure that proper precautions, such as fire extinguishers, fire-resistant blankets, and clear escape routes, are in place before any work begins.
Additionally, safety officers or supervisors often perform inspections to confirm that the hot work site is compliant with permit requirements and is free from hazards—these inspections can be scheduled or occur without notification, so it’s important to be compliant at all times. They also oversee the post-work process, making sure preventative measures are in place and the area is safe once the work is completed. This oversight helps minimize risks and ensures compliance with local safety regulations.
A hot work permit is a roadmap for safety. Every part of the permit is critical and serves a specific purpose to ensure that nothing gets missed during dangerous operational activities. Here are the four key parts that the permit needs to have:
The first step to acquire a hot work permit is making it clear what exactly is happening and who is involved. While this might seem overly simple, it’s the foundation from which safeguarding can be built.
The permit should describe the task—whether it’s welding, cutting, grinding, etc.—and identify the workers who are performing it. This ensures everyone knows the scope of the work and that the right people are doing the right job. On one hand this keeps unauthorized individuals from taking on work they are unprepared for. On the other hand, it enables proper accountability for each role.
Next, the work area needs a thorough inspection for any potential hazards. The permit should highlight any and all risks—like nearby combustible materials or restricted ventilation—and list the necessary precautions to keep things under control. In many ways, this will be the meat of the permit which the safety officer and supervisor will base their review off of, so it will likely be what determines the success or failure of your permit request.
This might include setting up protective barriers, ensuring adequate ventilation, or even relocating flammable materials out of the work zone. Each industry and workplace is different, so there is rarely a one-size-fits-all approach. To do this properly, we recommend hiring the help of an EHS consultant.
The permit must also specify who will be responsible for monitoring the area during and after the work is done to ensure nothing catches fire—this is what’s called a ‘fire watch’. It also confirms that emergency equipment (including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and clear escape routes) is on hand and ready to go. Again, this is likely to vary from industry to industry and the type of hot work being completed.
Before any sparks fly, the permit must be approved by the safety officer or supervisor. They review the plan, confirm all the precautions are in place, and sign off on the permit to ensure everything’s safe. It’s the final check before moving forward. EHS consultant companies, such as SP Group, can help companies organize their processes so that obtaining a permit is straightforward and without hiccups or missteps.
At SP Group, we specialize in EHS risk assessment, including helping companies file hot work permits. Let us ensure your hot work operations are up to code and running safely—contact us today!