Hot Work Permit
QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited ABN 78 003 191 035 AFSL 239 545
Before starting hot work Required precautions checklist Yes No N/A
The authorised permit issuer must verify all the precautions listed. Available sprinklers, fire hoses and fire extinguishers
are in service and there are no active/current fire
A response of ‘No’ should prevent the hot work taking place until
protection impairments
this precaution can be met or the hazard eliminated.
Hot work equipment in good repair e.g. oxy
Two copies of the completed permit should be completed / printed acetylene fitted with flashback arrestors
and signed by the issuer, one copy retained by the issuer and one
Requirements within 10m of hot work
copy for the person doing the work.
Flammable liquids, dust, lint and oil deposits removed
There are no safer ways of doing this job
Explosive atmosphere eliminated
Hot work can not be relocated to a dedicated hot works area Combustible floor wet down, covered with damp
sand or fire resistant sheeting
Who, when, where
Combustible material removed, if not possible then
A hot works permit is only valid for 8 hours, or no more than covered with fire resistant barriers or sheeting
one shift. If the work will take more than 8 hours or one shift, All wall and floor openings covered
a separate permit is required for each period. This hot works
Fire resistant sheeting or metal sheeting suspended
permit must also be prominently displayed on the job-site.
beneath hot work, including mezzanine.
Employee Contractor Induction completed Fire watch is supplied with suitable extinguishers
and/or hose reels
Date Job no./ref. Area smoke detection has been isolated to prevent
false alarms.
Location/building and floor
Work on walls/ceilings or enclosed equipment
Construction is non-combustible and without
combustible insulation or covering
Work description
Combustibles on either side of wall moved 1.5m away
Enclosed equipment cleaned of all combustibles
Containers purged of flammable liquids / vapours (if
this is required refer to the relevant areas within the
user notes to see if gas monitoring is required).
Fire watch / hot work area monitoring requirements
Name of person doing work
A continuous fire watch must be provided during and
for a minimum of 30 minutes after work, after which
periodic checks are required for a further 60 minutes
(with checks undertaken every 10-15 minutes).
I verify the above location has been examined, the precautions
checked on the required precautions checklist have been taken Fire watch is trained in the use of the equipment and
general emergency procedures
and permission is authorised for work.
Other precautions
This permit is being issued by a person authorised to do so.
Other permits to work required (confined space,
I advise that I am not acting as the fire watch (the permit issuer working at heights, fire protection impairment
can not act as the fire watch). forms etc.)
If a contractor is undertaking the work - I have sighted the
After hot works completed
contractors insurances and acknowledge that they are current.
Smoke detectors reinstated (deisolated)
All fire protection equipment reinstated
Signature of issuer
Final checks
Overall time taken by the fire watch for continuous monitoring
and period checking Mins Intials
Permit issuer has declared the worksite is safe for normal operations
Name of issuer to resume after completion of the monitoring period.
Time Initials
Permit expiration
Gas testing (if applicable)
Date Time
Equipment make & model
Serial number
Signature of fire watch
Date of last equipment check
Date of test
Results of test - % LEL Initials of tester
Name of fire watch Is hot work safe to proceed Yes No
1
Issuer guidance notes
Application and scope:
A Hot Work Permit should be used during use of equipment such as:
• Blow lamps
• Cutting and welding equipment
• Brazing and soldering equipment
• Bitumen boilers
• Temporary open flame heaters
• Any other equipment producing heat, flames or sparks.
The hot work permit will be needed whilst work is carried out within or on any part of the premises, except “dedicated hot works areas”
designed for use of such equipment, such as welding bays within maintenance work shops.
The Permit to Work must be issued to internal staff and/or to contractors for all hot works activities. A separate permit is required for
ongoing works every 8 hours or during a shift change/s (if there are multiple shift changes required).
The copy of the original permit is to be kept on file by the permit issuer.
User notes
Large fires within commercial businesses have resulted from inadequate hot work controls. For property insurance purposes, insurers
expect that the Hot Work Permit System to be followed with care and diligence by all concerned, to avoid the danger of fire outbreak.
Prior to any works, the third party insurance cover held by any contractors working must be checked for their currency and adequacy. The
adequacy of the insurance coverage should be discussed with your broker and would be dependent on the size of the works being undertaken.
It is best practice, particularly where major ongoing projects are concerned, that in addition to the issuance of hot work permits, that a
“safe work method statement” be produced. This will involve a competent person preparing and recording relevant details such as the
nature and purpose of the project; the time scales involved; the equipment to be used; the area/location of work; details of the persons
carrying out the work and the personnel in charge; details of the particular fire hazards presented from carrying out this work in this
location; the fire precautions taken; the fire protection equipment available; with details of inspections after work is completed.
It is preferable in all cases to conduct work either by a safer method not involving the application of heat, or to take the work to a safe location,
such as an open area or dedicated hot works area (i.e. maintenance workshop etc). The experience and competence of the contractors or
employee must always be established before the work is authorised and equipment checked for safety and condition. Fire protection/detection
equipment should be checked to ensure that it is functioning properly and is not impaired. (NB - fire detection in the immediate vicinity may
need to be isolated, but it should not be isolated in adjoining areas and must be deisolated immediately following the completion of hot work).
A hot work permit should only be issued by personnel authorised and trained to do so and a list of these persons should be maintained.
The precautions listed as part of the Hot work permit should be strictly observed, and common sense applied where there is doubt. Areas
should be kept clean and tidy during the work, combustible waste produced during operations should be removed regularly to a safe
location. The organisations non-smoking policy must be adhered.
When the work is complete, it is essential that a check is made after work is finished, to look for glowing embers, smoke, areas of residual
heat etc. The extent of this check is a function of the area of the hot work and is required for a minimum of 90 minutes, with continuous
monitoring for the first 30 minutes and periodic checking (every 10-15 minutes) for a further 60 minutes. In hazardous operating
environments, the minimum time for the fire watch may need to be extended. Where such checks cannot be carried out, issue
of the permit should be deferred or delayed.
Fire Protection Impairment
For planned impairments, a fire protection impairment form is required to be completed where the fire protection system is impaired/
isolated for more than eight hours of operation during a 24- hour period, or where more than 10% of the building’s fire services has been
affected by maintenance works.
The fire protection impairment form is a separate permit to this hot works permit. Any unplanned isolations or planned isolations
for a shorter duration must be noted on a fire impairment register.
Firewatch & Other Personnel
During the process of hot work, the assigned fire watch and all other persons responsible for the safe operation of the hot works should
ensure no condition arises, or action is taken, that would lead to a hazardous situation in the hot work area. Observation of safe practices
and adjacent equipment checks are essential.
Testing Officer
If gas monitoring is required (as assessed by the permit issuer), the person undertaking the testing of gasses is considered the testing
officer. The testing officer may be the fire watch if they are suitably qualified in the usage of gas testing. Gas testing devices shall comply
with the relevant Australian Standards. Testing shall take place as late as possible before the hot works is commenced (but not more than
2hrs before the works).
When is gas monitoring required?
If there are any equipment which may produce flammable gas/vapours, including any gas piping, within the vicinity of the proposed hot
works and the permit issuer deems this as an issue, monitoring of gasses is required prior to any hot works commencing. Works can
only commence if the flammable gas/vapours are less than 5% LEL and the permit issuer is satisfied the hot works may safely proceed. If
there is an expectation that the flammable gas/vapours from equipment are likely to increase above the 5% LEL during hot works, periodic
checks for gasses/vapours are required. Works shall cease if the the 5% LEL is met or exceeded.
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)—The minimum concentration (percentage) of a flammable gas that will propagate a flame in the presence of
an ignition source. The more explosive the gas, the lower the LEL. A mixture below this level is considered too “lean” to burn. LEL is usually
expressed as a percentage (from zero to 100% explosive).
In the event of a fire
Please contact the fire brigade on 000, if safe and possible, try and contain the fire, otherwise evacuate the area and contact the permit
issuer to notify them of the fire. If the work causes a small fire which is extinguished, work must nevertheless cease and the incident
reported to the issuer of the permit for immediate investigation. Only after full investigation should work be permitted to recommence.
133 723 [Link]/au
Insurance issued by QBE insurance (Australia) Ltd ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545. Subject to underwriting approval. Terms and conditions apply
(including exclusions and limitation). You can get a copy of the Policy wording by contacting your QBE BRM.
QM8708-0820 2