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 Certifying for Hot Work and Confined or Enclosed
Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres.]
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.
Tasks to Prepare for Hot Work |
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.
-
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. [29 CFR 1915.71,
29 CFR 1915.72,
29 CFR 1915.73,
29 CFR 1915.74,
29 CFR 1915.77,
29 CFR 1915.91,
29 CFR 1915.92]
-
Post warning signs as appropriate. [29 CFR 1915.14(b)(2),
29 CFR 1915.16(b)]
[NFPA 306, 2-3]
-
Install appropriate hot work ventilation.
[29 CFR 1915.51] Before use, ensure that welding and burning equipment is
properly grounded, inspected, and installed. [29 CFR 1915.55
and 29 CFR 1915.56]
-
Ensure that adequate
fire protection is available. [29 CFR 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. [29 CFR 1915.503(a)(2)]

Figure 5: Grounded/bonded welding
machine.

Figure 6: Fire watch.
|
Inspections for Hot Work |

Figure 8: Paint removed 4" all around
both sides.

Figure 9: Removal of flammable or
combustible material.

Figure 10: Adequate ventilation.

Figure 11: Adjacent space has been
inerted.
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. [29 CFR 1915.53(b)]
-
Soft and greasy coatings must be adequately stripped back. [29 CFR 1915.53(e)]
-
Toxic preservative coatings must be stripped back at least
4 inches, otherwise airline respirators must be used. [29 CFR 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.
[29 CFR 1915.91]
-
Ensuring that flammable or combustible materials have been removed or are adequately covered. [29 CFR 1915.503(b)]
-
Ensuring that all movable fire hazards in the vicinity have been removed
from the hot work area. [29 CFR 1915.503(a) and
(b)(1)]
- Ensuring ventilation is adequate to
maintain a safe atmosphere during hot work. [29 CFR 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. [29 CFR 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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