A recent accident has me explaining the fundamentals of our profession that so many seem to have lost in the past decades.
You have a hazard; DISTANCE yourself from that hazard
If you can not put DISTANCE between you and the hazard, then a BARRIER is necessary
Our Hot Work Programs are a perfect example of this fundamental hazard management approach. The HW job poses a serious hazard to people and property, so since the 1960s NFPA and the 1970s, OSHA has required a 35′ Fire Safety Area be designated and managed. This uses DISTANCE as a PREVENTION tool to keep the sparks/slag of the work from creating a fire.