Before performing hot work, shipyard personnel must
prepare spaces for entry and work. Consideration must be given to such
items as illumination, ventilation, means of access (such as ladders), and
staging. When the space has been adequately prepared, a
marine chemist or shipyard competent person must conduct a visual
inspection. [See Testing
and Certification for Hot Work and Confined/Enclosed
Spaces.]
The tasks and
inspections below can be conducted by shipyard
personnel (such as tank cleaners, ship superintendent, port
engineer, Shipyard Competent Person (SCP), Marine Chemist, etc). Either
a Shipyard Competent Person (SCP) or a Marine
Chemist must test for hot
work,
depending on the hot work location.
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Tasks to Prepare for Hot Work
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In preparation of a space for hot work, shipyard personnel must
complete the following tasks as required by NFPA 306, Chapter 2,
or 29 CFR Part 1915.
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Determine the nature and the extent of the hot work. [NFPA 306,
2-2.2(b)]
-
Determine the nature of other operations in or adjacent to the space that
may affecting hot work (such as painting and cleaning). [NFPA 306, 2-2.2(b)]
-
Determine the cargo history, the last three cargos held in work space and adjacent
spaces. [NFPA 306, 2-2.2(a)]
-
Secure pipelines and other equipment (heating coils,
pumps, etc.) in the work space to prevent flammable or toxic materials
from being discharged into the space. [NFPA 306, 2-2.2(e)]
-
Make space "Safe
for Workers," including installing appropriate
illumination, access, staging, etc. [1915.71,
1915.72,
1915.73,
1915.74,
1915.77,
1915.91,
1915.92]
-
Post warning signs as appropriate. [1915.14(b)(2),
1915.16(b)]
[NFPA 306, 2-3]
-
Install appropriate hot work ventilation.
[1915.51] Before use, ensure that welding and burning equipment is
properly grounded, inspected, and installed. [1915.55
and 1915.56]
-
Ensure that adequate
fire protection is available. [1915.501(a)]
- For additional requirements, see the
Fire Protection
chapter.
Note:
When hot work is being performed, it is the employers'
responsibility to ensure that precautions are taken in
adjacent spaces. [1915.503(a)(2)]
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Figure 1: Preparing for hot work.
Figure 2: Blank in line to isolate system.
Figure 3: Safe for hot work.
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Figure 5: Grounded/bonded welding
machine.
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Figure 6: Fire watch.
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Figure 4: Continuous exhaust
ventilation in a confined space. |
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Inspections for Hot Work
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Preparation for hot work also includes:
-
Ensuring that flammable, combustible, or toxic
coatings (preservative coatings or insulation) have been removed from hot work
surfaces.
-
A shipyard competent
person must perform testing on any surface of which the
flammability is not known. [1915.53(b)]
-
Soft and greasy coatings must be adequately stripped back. [1915.53(e)]
-
Toxic preservative coatings must be stripped back at least
4 inches, otherwise airline respirators must be used. [1915.53(d)(1)]
- Ensuring that flammable and/or combustible materials (such as trash, rags, open containers of solvents, etc.) have been removed from the area.
[1915.91]
-
Ensuring that flammable or combustible materials have been removed or are adequately covered. [1915.503(b)]
-
Ensuring that all movable fire hazards in the vicinity have been removed
from the hot work area. [1915.503(a) and
(b)(1)]
- Ensuring ventilation is adequate to
maintain a safe atmosphere during hot work. [1915.51(b)]
- Ensuring that adjacent spaces have been inspected and
meet requirements for hot work.
-
In lieu of cleaning, adjacent spaces can be inerted.
- "Inert" or
"inerted atmosphere" means an atmospheric condition in
which the oxygen has been reduced or removed in order to prevent a fire or
explosion. [1915.11(b)
and NFPA 306]
- See also, NFPA Fire Protection Handbook for "Hot Work Oxygen
Chart" (Inerting).
- For additional requirements, see the
Fire Protection
chapter.
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Figure 1: Paint removed 4" all around
both sides.
Figure 2: Removal of flammable or
combustible material.
Figure 3: Adequate ventilation.
Figure 4: Adjacent space has been
inerted.
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