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.
Which trade do think are the biggest culprits on this matter?
Hot work fires are often caused by negligence and a lack of proper training or project management. All contractors involved in hot works, no matter the trade, struggle with compliance in this area. There are many potential risks with having different trades on site and they should be managed appropriately.
For larger properties, there should at least be a small fire safety monitoring team, who can alert the authorities quickly.
This should be based on a thorough risk assessment covering the specific risks on site including construction type and storage levels. Having a dedicated team or designated person to monitor the area as part of the fire watch will help to mitigate the risk.
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...
I have not observed any on site yet but I have seen industry examples of CCTV monitoring systems designed to be compliant to BS5839-1:2017 and thermographic cameras are regularly requested on high risk sites.
The pre-work risk assessment typically determines the scope of the fire watch, which may involve technology. Infra-red cameras are useful, but only if the fire watch person(s) are trained in their use.
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.
The hot work permit system is aimed at all contractors no matter their size. However, as this needs to be controlled by the customer (whoever commissioned the work), a PDH owner is not technically competent to manage. This is separate from the remit of the HSE.
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?
The fire watch periods should be extended where determined necessary by a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. The JCoP and RISCAuthority document RC7: Risk control for hot work, have similar guidance regarding the period of the fire watch. We would not expect any fire watch periods to be shorter than this.
Who should be issuing the Hot works Permit? The property owner/occupier or the contractor?
A hot work permit should be issued by a designated "competent person" who is knowledgeable about hot work procedures, understands the associated risks, and has the authority to enforce safety protocols, typically a safety officer or supervisor within the workplace. In one of the samples we received, none of the contractors on site were authorised to issue a permit and the owner was not available.
Furthermore, only the customer (whoever commissioned the work) operates and manages hot works and the permit system. It is their responsibility to educate contractors on the building/area of work and the hazards the building(s), processes and contents present. They also determine the controls required, including whether the hot work can be undertaken externally, fire watch requirements (how many, what their role is, how long etc.), how to work, when to work and sign-on and off the HWP.
Contractors must never be responsible for issuing and controlling the hot work permit.
Do you provide training for companies such as restaurant groups?
We can provide training and are happy to provide a quote.
Additional Resources
Risk Guide: Hot Work Permit: Everything You Need to Know (Downloadable Template found here)