Understanding the risks of hot work

Hot work is an essential part of many construction or maintenance projects and with it comes multiple hazards that need to be managed.

What is hot work?

Hot work is one of the few occasions in which heat, sparks or naked flames are intentionally introduced into the workplace, making it a high-risk activity that needs to be managed and controlled effectively. Common hot work activities include anything that uses:

  • gas and electric welding and cutting equipment
  • blow lamps and blow torches
  • electric or gas hot air guns, heaters or blowers
  • bitumen and tar boilers
  • angle grinders and grinding wheels
  • brazing and soldering equipment
  • drills
  • any other equipment that can produce a spark, frictional heat or flame.
Share with your clients

Our capacity provider has put together a hot work risk management guide, full of useful information for your clients. It covers:

  1. Hot work overview
  2. Selecting and managing contractors
  3. Construction and the Joint Code of Practice (JCOP)
  4. Conducting hot work operations
  5. Using thermographics
  6. The Hot Work Passport
  7. Related Health and Safety risks
  8. Staying protected
Hot Work - Risk Management Solutions Guide

Whilst hot work claims are a relatively rare occurrence, when they do happen, the damage and cost they inflict can be significant. Here is a claims example of when a hotel was having maintenance works carried out (click the image above).