Hot work and fire watch

Summary

This video script emphasizes the crucial safety procedures for hot work on vessels to prevent fire incidents. It outlines the responsibilities of fire watchers and workers, highlighting the importance of proper equipment checks, toolbox talks, and emergency preparedness. The guide also covers correct fire extinguisher usage and the steps to take before, during, and after hot work to ensure a safe working environment and reduce fire risks.

Takeaways

• 🔥 **High-Risk Activity**: Hot work on board a vessel is an extremely high-risk activity that can lead to serious injury or damage due to incidents during welding and burning operations.
• 👀 **Appointing Fire Watchers**: It is essential to appoint fire watchers to work closely with the worker performing hot work to ensure everyone is briefed and following correct procedures to reduce fire risk.
• 📝 **Understanding Procedures**: Workers and fire watchers must understand and follow the correct procedures for carrying out hot work to prevent fire outbreaks.
• 🔥 **Causes of Fires**: Fires can start due to various reasons such as welding near combustibles, heat transfer, lack of vigilance, or defective equipment.
• 🛠️ **Equipment Checks**: It is crucial to check equipment properly, including hoses for perished or punctured conditions, and to use the right equipment like flashback arrestors for oxy-fuel cutting.
• 🧯 **Firefighting Knowledge**: Everyone involved should be trained in fire safety information, including knowing the types of fire extinguishers and how to use other firefighting equipment available at the worksite.
• 👷 **Fire Watcher Duties**: Fire watchers have specific duties before, during, and after hot work, including attending toolbox talks, inspecting the worksite, protecting combustibles, and ensuring fire extinguishers are within reach.
• 🚫 **No Dual Duties**: Fire watchers must not perform any other duties during their watch and should never leave their assigned location unattended.
• ⏰ **Post-Hot Work Monitoring**: Fire watchers must stay in position for at least 30 minutes after hot work ceases to monitor the area for any signs of fire.
• 📞 **Communication and Alarms**: Fire watchers must maintain awareness of their surroundings, communicate effectively with workers, and know the location and use of call alarms and emergency muster points.
• 🛑 **Stop the Job Triggers**:toolbox talks should include discussing potential 'stop the job' triggers and safety measures such as overhead lifting operations.

Q & A

What are the risks associated with heart work on a vessel?

Heart work on a vessel is an extremely high-risk activity that can result in serious injury to people, damage to equipment, and environmental harm due to incidents that can happen during welding and burning operations.

Why is it essential to appoint fire watchers during hot work?

Fire watchers are essential to work closely with the worker performing hot work, ensuring that everyone is properly briefed and following correct procedures to reduce the risk of fire.

What are the common causes of fires during hot work?

Fires can start due to welding or cutting near combustible materials, heat transfer, lack of vigilance, or defective equipment such as perished or punctured hoses.

What is the importance of using the right equipment for oxy-fuel cutting?

For oxy-fuel cutting, it is crucial to always use flashback arrestors fitted at both the torch and gauges to prevent fires from starting due to faulty equipment.

What are the basic principles one should understand to prevent fires connected with hot work activities?

Understanding how fires can start, knowing how to deal with different types of fires safely, and being aware of the fire extinguisher types and usage are basic principles to prevent fires during hot work activities.

What are the steps to use a fire extinguisher effectively?

To use a fire extinguisher effectively, one should pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, squeeze the trigger in a controlled manner, and sweep from side to side until the fire is put out.

What is the role of a fire watcher before hot work begins?

Before hot work, a fire watcher must attend and participate in the toolbox talk, carry out a full inspection of the worksite, remove or protect any combustible materials, and ensure the correct type of fire extinguisher is within reach.

What are the responsibilities of a fire watcher during hot work?

During hot work, a fire watcher must continuously monitor the worksite for stray sparks, communicate with the welder or burner, ensure escape routes are clear, and not perform any other duties while on fire watch.

What should a fire watcher do after hot work has ceased?

After hot work, a fire watcher must stay in position for at least 30 minutes, continue to monitor the area, carry out final checks as agreed, and maintain contact with the bridge if needed.

What are the key considerations for a welder or burner before starting hot work?

Before starting hot work, a welder or burner must ensure a permit to work is in place, attend the toolbox talk, appoint fire watches as needed, and check that all appropriate firefighting appliances are at the worksite and ready for use.

What are the safety measures a welder or burner should follow during hot work?

During hot work, a welder or burner should communicate clearly with the fire watcher, maintain good housekeeping, wear lifejackets when working near water, and stop the job to isolate gas hoses and vent during breaks.