skip to main content
Travelers Logo
  • About
  • Careers
  • Agents
  • Investors
  • Sustainability
  • Contact Us
  • For Individuals
    • Overview
    • Products
      • Car
      • Home
      • Renters
      • Condo
      • Landlord
      • Boat & Yacht
      • Flood
      • Motorcycle
      • Travel
      • Pet
      • Weddings
      • Umbrella
      • All Products
    • Prepare & Prevent
      • Insurance 101
      • Home Central
      • Travelers Garage
      • Managing Through COVID-19
    • Affinity Group Discount
    • Online Service
    • Pay Your Bill
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • For Business
    • Overview
    • Products & Solutions
      • Overview
      • Boiler & Machinery
      • Commercial Auto & Trucking
      • Cyber
      • Environmental Liability
      • Excess Casualty & Umbrella
      • General Liability
      • Global Insurance
      • Inland Marine
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Ocean Marine
      • Property
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Surety Bonds
      • Workers Compensation
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Industries
      • Overview
      • Agribusiness
      • Architects, Engineers & Surveyors
      • Auto & Truck Dealers
      • Business & Professional Services
      • Construction
      • Education
      • Energy & Renewable
      • Equipment Dealers
      • Financial Institutions
      • Food Services
      • Health & Related Services
      • Hospitality & Recreation
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine Industries
      • Museums & Fine Art
      • Non-Profit
      • Oil & Gas
      • Public Entities
      • Real Estate
      • Retail
      • Technology
      • Transportation
      • Wholesale & Distribution
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Services
      • Overview
      • Risk Control
      • Claim
      • Premium Audit
      • Online Customer Tools
      • Risk Management Information Services
      • Travelers Client Advantage
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Small Business
      • Overview
      • Automobile Insurance
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Data Breach
      • Employment Practices Liability
      • Professional Insurance
      • Umbrella Insurance
      • Workers Compensation Inurance
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Large Business
      • Overview
      • Casualty
      • Cyber
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Property
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Multinational Business
    • Prepare & Prevent
      • By Topic
      • By Industry
      • Navigating Your Business Through COVID-19
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Claim Center
    • Claim Center
    • Should I File a Claim?
    • File a Claim
    • Upload a File
    • Roadside Assistance
    • Find a Service Provider
    • Check Your Claim Status
    • Manage Your Claim Experience
      • Understanding the Claim Process
      • Workers Compensation Resources
    • Claim Capabilities
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Prepare & Prevent
    • For Individuals
    • Home Central
      • Buying & Selling
      • Home Maintenance
      • Home Renovation
      • Home Safety
      • Moving
      • Smart Home
    • Travelers Garage
      • Buying & Selling
      • Car Maintenance
      • Distracted Driving
      • Safe Driving
      • Teen Driving
      • Boating
    • Insurance 101
    • Weather
    • For Business
    • Industries
      • Construction
      • Manufacturing
      • Nonprofit
      • Small Business
      • Technology
    • Topics
      • Business Continuity
      • Cyber
      • Driver and Fleet Safety
      • Facilities Management
      • Internet of Things
      • Product and Services Liability
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Workplace Safety
    • Travelers Risk Index
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • About Travelers
    • Overview
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Careers
      • Community
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Sustainability
      • History
      • Investors
      • Media Resources
      • News
      • Travelers Championship
      • Travelers Institute
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Get a Quote
    • Find an Agent
    • File a Claim
    • Pay Your Bill
Main Navigation
  • For Individuals
      • Insurance for Individuals
      • Products
        • Car
        • Home
        • Renters
        • Condo
        • Landlord
        • Boat & Yacht
        • Flood
        • Motorcycle
        • Travel
        • Pet
        • Weddings & Events
        • Umbrella
        • More
      • Prepare & Prevent
        • Insurance 101
        • Home Central
        • Travelers Garage
      • Affinity Group Discount
      • Online Service
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Get a home quote now

      It's easy to get a free quote for home insurance from Travelers in just a few minutes.

       

      Get a home quote now
  • For Business
      • Products & Solutions
        • Commercial Auto & Trucking
        • Cyber
        • General Liability
        • Management & Professional Liability
        • Property
        • Business Owner's Policy
        • Surety Bonds
        • Workers Compensation
        • More
      • Industries
        • Construction
        • Energy & Renewable
        • Financial Institutions
        • Healthcare
        • Manufacturing
        • Real Estate
        • Technology
        • Transportation
        • More
      • Prepare & Prevent
      • Services
        • Risk Control
        • Claim
        • Premium Audit
        • More
      • Pay Your Bill
      • Small Business
      • Large Business
      • Multinational Business
      • For Business Overview
    • Tips for Managing Risks Related to a Remote Workforce

      Tips for Managing Risks Related to a Remote Workforce

      With the current reality of more employees working from home through the pandemic, is your business ready for all the implications?

      Learn more
  • Claim Center
      • Claim Center
      • Should I File a Claim?
      • File a Claim
      • Upload a File
      • Roadside Assistance
      • Find a Service Provider
      • Check Your Claim Status
      • Manage Your Claim Experience
        • Understanding the Claim Process
        • Workers Compensation Resources
      • Claim Capabilities
    • Woman looking at information on her computer while holding a dog on her lap.

      Questions about the claim process?

      Check out our Claim Help Library for more information about our tools and services.

      Learn More
  • Prepare & Prevent
      • For Individuals
      • Home Central
        • Buying & Selling
        • Home Maintenance
        • Home Renovation
        • Home Safety
        • Moving
        • Smart Home
      • Travelers Garage
        • Buying & Selling
        • Car Maintenance
        • Distracted Driving
        • Safe Driving
        • Teen Driving
        • Boating
      • Insurance 101
      • Weather
      • For Business
      • Industries
        • Construction
        • Energy
        • Manufacturing
        • Nonprofit
        • Small Business
        • Technology
      • Topics
        • Business Continuity
        • Cyber
        • Driver and Fleet Safety
        • Facilities Management
        • Internet of Things
        • Product and Services Liability
        • Supply Chain Management
        • Workplace Safety
      • Travelers Risk Index
    • Managing Through COVID-19

      Managing Through COVID-19

      Resources to help you adapt to the realities of COVID-19.

      Learn more
  • Home
  • Prepare & Prevent
  • Business
  • Industries
  • Construction
  • Construction Job Site Hot Work Safety

Construction Job Site Hot Work Safety

Man in gold mask welding in a factory. Man in gold mask welding in a factory.

“Hot work” is defined as any operation that generates heat, spark or flame. Hot work activities can include burning, gas or mechanical cutting, gas or electric welding, soldering, brazing, flame heating, thawing of pipes, torch-applied roofing, grinding and any other similar operations capable of initiating fires or explosions. (NFPA 51B)

Poorly managed or uncontrolled hot work activities can have serious negative consequences, including injuries to workers or property damage due to fire, delays in project completion and damage to professional reputation.

A number of common issues are associated with poorly managed hot work activity, including:

  • Inadequate implementation of a hot work permitting program.
  • Failure to identify potential fire exposures in the area.
  • Neglecting to provide and inspect fire extinguishing equipment.
  • Lack of proper training provided.
  • Insufficient fire monitoring after completion of hot work.

Hot Work Permit Program Best Practices

Hot work permits should be required from the first day of construction to project completion. While fire hazards in the early phases of construction may be minimal, conditions can change quickly. It is important to set safety expectations early on in project timelines. Permits should capture key information regarding the activity, safe work practices, company contacts, fire watches and date/time. Permits should be valid for only one shift.

Another key component in a Hot Work Permit Program is to identify the Permit Authorizing Individual (PAI). The general contractor is usually in charge of assigning the PAI. The PAI is responsible for managing and administering hot work permits on-site. The PAI should evaluate exposures presented by hot work activities and administer all aspects of the Hot Work Permit Program.

Reducing the Risks

There are various actions that can be taken to help reduce possible risks involving hot work activities.

  • Eliminate hot work through use of alternative products or materials.
  • Communicate hot work programs with property owners and trade personnel.
  • Effectively communicate your hot work program throughout your organization.
  • Review and adhere to the safe work practices cited in the NFPA 241 Plan.

Preparing the Work Area for Permitted Hot Work

It is important to prepare the work area prior to any hot work activity and take the appropriate measures necessary to create a safe hot work environment. Consider the following:

  1. Fire Extinguishing Equipment Preparation:
    • Verify that fire extinguishing equipment is in service and inspected.
    • Ensure that the fire extinguishing equipment is in the work area.
  2. Within 35 Feet of Hot Work Activities:
    • Remove or protect combustibles using approved materials, such as fire-retardant blankets and welding screens.
    • Sweep floors and remove any debris or trash.
    • Cover wall and floor openings securely, including any duct work.
  3. For Hot Work on Walls, Ceilings or Roofs:
    • Verify that construction is free from combustible coverings and/or insulation.
    • Remove combustibles from opposite side of the wall, ceiling or roof.
  4. For Hot Work on Enclosed Equipment:
    • Clear equipment of all combustibles.
    • De-energize and purge of all flammable liquids or vapors.

Fire Watch

  • Perform continuous fire watch during and for at least 60 minutes after the completion of hot work.
    • The PAI may require a longer duration fire watch based on their assessment of the work area, exposures and hazards.
  • Perform fire watch during temporary breaks in work activity, such as lunch breaks.
  • Ensure that the individual assigned as the fire watch is trained on the use of fire extinguishing equipment and alarm systems.
  • Provide additional fire watches in areas below or adjacent to the hot work area, as deemed necessary by the PAI.
  • The individual responsible for fire watch should be assigned no other duties.

Displaying and Retaining the Permit

The permit should be displayed in or near the work area. Once hot work and related fire watch activities are finished, complete the permit and return it to the PAI for a final inspection of the work area and signature. The PAI should retain the completed permit for their records.

Learn More About Construction Insurance

More Prepare & Prevent

construction worker using AR glasses

5 Innovations Impacting Construction Job Site Safety

Construction job sites can present workers with a variety of hazards. Explore five areas of innovation impacting construction job site safety.

Two workers at a construction site holding laptop computers, wearing safety equipment

Job Site Safety Technology: 5 Things to Consider Before Implementing

Here are some considerations before implementing construction safety technology at your job site.

Illustration of people with helmets

Construction Risk Management

Construction defects can be extremely costly. Help prevent unnecessary construction defect costs with construction risk management tips.

Top Stories
Cranes on a construction during severe weather

Preparing Your Construction Site for Severe Weather

Property damage from severe weather events can add both cost and time to a project.

  • Learn more

Related Content

  • Construction Risk Management
  • How to Onboard Construction Workers
  • Material Handling Strategies for Contractors to Help Avoid Injuries

Find an Agent

Need an Agent?

Get the personal service and attention that an agent provides.

Find a local agent in your area:


Close-up of top of Crane

Risk Management Solutions for Construction Contractors

Highly-skilled underwriting, customized commercial insurance products for the construction industry, and tailored programs and services to help reduce contractors' cost of risk.


See All Construction Content


Travelers logo

Travelers and The Travelers Umbrella are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries.
© 2023 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved.

  • Travelers on Facebook
  • Travelers on YouTube
  • Travelers on Twitter
  • Travelers on LinkedIn
  • Travelers on Instagram

Products & Services

  • For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • Claim Services
  • Prepare & Prevent

Our Company

  • About Travelers
  • Careers
  • Investors
  • Sustainability
  • Travelers Institute

Connect

  • Customer Support
  • MyTravelers®
  • For Agents
  • Find an Agent

Legal & Compliance

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy & Security
  • Cookie Settings
  • Accessibility
  • Producer Compensation Disclosure