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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Hot Work, Welding, Cutting, & Brazing

Hot Work Permits

The purpose for the hot work permit program is to ensure that spark- and flame-producing construction and maintenance activities do not present an undue fire hazard to the people and Ohio State property. 

Hot work includes any operation producing flame, sparks or heat. Examples of hot work include but are not limited to torch cutting, welding, brazing, grinding, sawing, torch soldering, thawing frozen pipes and applying roofing.

In some cases, hot work permits are established as an annual permit specific to a location where welding or torch work may be conducted on a regular bases, such as fabrication teaching labs or certain shop areas. Outside of those designated areas, ALL HOT WORK PERMIT REQUESTS AND NOTIFICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED 24-HOURS BEFORE THE START OF HOT WORK ACTIVITIES, except for emergencies.

Considerations before any hot work tasks are started:
- Is the object needing hot work located in a safe area, such as a hot work area in a shop or an annual permit specific area?
- Has the area been inspected for any combustibles / flammables / or fammalbe vapros with in 35'?
- Are immovable fire hazards covered with non-combustible covering?
- Is a fire extinguisher in proximity of hot work?
- Have all other affected employees been notified?
- Is fire watch provided during and 60 minutes after the hot work activity?
- Is a final check of the hot work area conducted at the end of the day.

If you have questions about hot work, need additional assistance or need a Hot Work Permit, contact Kent McGuire at mcguire.225@osu.edu or 292-0588 Additionally, Hot Work Permits can be obtained through a service request. To obtain hot work permits for the Wooster Campus contact Wooster Campus EHS.

ALL HOT WORK PERMIT REQUESTS AND NOTIFICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED 24-HOURS BEFORE THE START OF HOT WORK ACTIVITIES, except for emergencies.

Resources:
OSU Hot Work Program
OSU Hot Work Permit
Hot Work Permit Checklist
Ohio BWC - Hot Work Procedures

Welding, Cutting, Brazing Safety

Health hazards from welding, cutting, and brazing operations include exposures to metal fumes and to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Safety hazards from these operations include burns, eye damage, electrical shock, cuts, and crushed toes and fingers. Many of these can be controlled with proper work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Resources:
OSHA Welding, Cutting, Brazing Overview
OSHA Resistance Welding
OSHA Arc Welding
OSHA Oxygen-fuel Gas Welding and Cutting )
OSHA Fact Sheet on Controlling Hazardous Fumes and Gases during Welding
OSHA Quicktake Hexavalent Chromium (link is external)OSHA Hexavalent Chromium
Ohio BWC Welding Safety
Lincoln Electric: Welding Safety Resources
National Ag Safety Database - Welding, Cutting, Brazing

Contacts:

If you have any questions, please contact Kent McGuire (CFAES Safety and Health Coordinator) at mcguire.225@osu.edu or (614) 292-0588. You may also contact the OSU Environmental Health and Safety Office online at http://ehs.osu.edu/ or by phone at (614) 292-1284.

 

Reviewed / Updated: 9/16/22 K. McGuire