Health and Safety Policy Arrangements – Hot Works
Hot works, such as welding, cutting, grinding, and soldering, generate heat, sparks, or flames and pose significant risks, including fires, explosions, and burns. As a small business owner in the UK, it’s crucial to manage these risks under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards and implement control measures, such as designating safe areas for hot works, using fire-resistant barriers, and keeping flammable materials away. Issuing hot work permits ensures all safety procedures are followed, and providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) along with training in safe practices is essential. Regular monitoring and having fire-fighting equipment readily available are also critical. By effectively managing hot works, you not only ensure legal compliance but also protect your workers’ safety and prevent potentially catastrophic incidents, contributing to a safer workplace.
Take a look at the information below for things you might want to include in your own H&S policy…
Feel free to copy / paste this list, and you can find out more about our full H&S policy here.
The [Proprietor / Directors] of [My Company] will ensure that;
- Hot works will be avoided wherever possible by making use of a suitable alternative means of production / process that reduces the overall risk involved.
- Where hot works are required, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment will be carried out by a competent person. The risk assessment will include fire hazards, confined space hazards and inhalation of fumes / smoke.
- Any control measures identified in the above assessments will be put in place to prevent, reduce or control risks to personnel and/or others and/or property.
- The results/outcomes of any/all of the above assessments and any method statements, written procedures, safe systems of work, permits to work, control measures, PPE requirements, etc. produced from the above assessment will be communicated to the relevant personnel, who will also receive any training required to ensure that the outcomes of the above assessments are met.
- Any Personal Protective Equipment selected and supplied as a last resort control measure will be assessed as to ensure its suitability to; the person, the task, the environment, combinations of PPE, etc.
- All the above assessments and subsequent control measures will be regularly monitored and reviewed as appropriate, taking into account new materials, equipment, legislation, work practices etc.
- The site manager / client will be notified of all hot works being carried out on site.
- Where hot works are undertaken, suitable safety precautions will be put in place including but not limited to:
- Provision of serviced fire extinguisher suitable to the type of fire / fuel likely to be involved.
- Any other means of extinguishing deemed suitable.
- A means of raising the alarm.
- A safe means of evacuation.
- A “watch-man” to oversee operatives carrying out hot works.
- A suitable means of ventilation of the work area if it is not suitably ventilated by natural air flow.
- Hot works will cease at least 1 hour before the end of the working day to allow time to cool and ensure that there is no risk of combustion.
- All operatives will receive training in hot works, fire prevention and control, and associated risks including fumes, smoke, confined spaces (due to burning of oxygen during works) and any other associated training deemed necessary.
- A burns specific first aid kit will be provided on each site where hot works is being carried out.
Our minimum health and safety performance standards will be obtained from; but not restricted to;
- HSG168 – Fire safety in Construction Work – Guidance
- Cis 51 – Construction fire safety
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
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