Toolbox talk: hot work
Hoshen — Safety, Hygiene and Environmental Engineering · Hoshen's professional guidance
Suggested length: 5–10 minutes
Why it matters
Hot work produces sparks, flame and heat that can ignite flammable material — sometimes at a distance, and sometimes hours after the work has finished.
Key points
- 1.Hot work does not begin without a permit, a cleared area, available extinguishing means and a responsible person present.
- 2.Sparks travel. Openings, ducts, raised floors and cable runs are sealed or protected.
- 3.Flammable material that cannot be removed is covered with fire-resistant covering or screened by a barrier.
- 4.A fire watch is required where there is a risk of spread, and is free to watch and nothing else.
- 5.The watch continues after the work ends, and the far side of the wall is checked too.
- 6.A vessel or pipe that has held flammable or unidentified material is not touched without cleaning, testing and approval.
What to check today
- Is the permit for the current job complete and signed?
- Is the extinguisher nearby, serviceable and in date?
- Who is the fire watch today, and are they genuinely free?
Discussion question
What is the nearest flammable thing to the work point right now?
Attendance
Briefing given by: ____________________ Date: ____________
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This material reflects Hoshen's professional practice. It is not legislation and establishes no legal duty. Adapt it to your site, your risks and the requirements that apply to you.