Whether we’re in process safety or just good ole fashioned occupational safety and health, the act of performing hot work (welding to the layperson – my feeble attempt at some Dumb and Dumber humor) can be one of the most dangerous task workers can perform. Add in the fact the hot work is done within a PSM/RMP “covered process” and the risk rise substantially. But yet, since hot work is done on a regular basis, the dangerous task is often done in a haphazard manner. In fact, even with a hot work permit the work is oftentimes not done “by the book” or by the permit as it may be. But a hot work permit is actually NOT our first line of protection when it comes to hot work. We have to ask three (3) questions to get to the point where we issue a permit for the hot work: