We continue to see facility’s struggling with the basics of hot work safety. Most of these businesses are self insured and therefore do not have the extra set of eyes from their insurance carrier from time to time. But all do have catastrophic insurance and I am amazed that these carriers do not expect more. None the less, OSHA has set some minimum standards for Hot Work. These are NOT options, but REQUIRED when issuing a permit.
1) if the object to be worked on can be REMOVED from the area and taken to a FIRE SAFE area, then this is to be done.
2) if the object to be worked on can not be removed from the area, then the area within 35′ of the hot work MUST be made FIRE SAFE in the following manner.
a) ALL flammables and combustibles that are movable MUST BE moved out of the 35′ fire safe area
b) those flammables and combustibles that can not be moved, must be guarded/shielded.
Notice the first requirement is MOVING those items that are movable! This includes pallets, plastic drums, boxes. etc. I am NOT aware of an exception to this requirement. If it can burn and it can be moved, it MUST be moved outside the 35′ fire safe area. it can NOT be covered with a fire proof tarp.