Questions & Answers
Does the layout of a hot work permit change with legislation or are the common templates acceptable to all insurers?
While UK legislation doesn't explicitly mandate hot work permits, the requirements within various health and safety laws effectively necessitate their use, meaning that changes in relevant legislation could indirectly impact the details and procedures involved in a hot work permit system; therefore, if the underlying health and safety laws are updated, hot work permit procedures could change to reflect those updates.
A scenario: a blow lamp is being used on external corner of a dormer window in a roof (lead flashing, not grinding through the roof etc) – continuous monitoring takes place externally for 1 hour after the works and there is no evidence of fire. The void in the roof is known to be empty and this can be seen through the window. Would you consider it to be reasonably practicable in the circumstances to remain in the external area and NOT leave the external roof area to view the void on the underside of the roof internally?
Extract from heat condition
After Ceasing Work
i) a continuous monitoring for 1 hour shall be made of the area within a radius of 6 metres (or as reasonably practicable in the circumstances) from where the heat has been applied to ensure that there is no risk of fire.
Which trade do think are the biggest culprits on this matter?
For larger properties, there should at least be a small fire safety monitoring team, who can alert the authorities quickly.
Are you seeing any development of using technology to perform the post works observations, rather than having a person in situ? Portable cameras with heat detection and the like...
One rule for [Private Domestic Housing] (PDHs) and one for commercial, pity the HSE don't focus on the small builders a bit more now and then.
Under the Joint Code of Practice it says an hour continuous watch and then a further hour. Would you advocate that on all Hot works outside those under the JCoP?
Who should be issuing the Hot works Permit? The property owner/occupier or the contractor?
Do you provide training for companies such as restaurant groups?
Additional Resources
Risk Guide: Hot Work Permit: Everything You Need to Know (Downloadable Template found here)