Attachment G Hot Work Permit Request.pdf

1.10

VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

West Palm Beach, Florida

ENGINEERING SERVICE POLICY 03/16/07

1.0 ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION 548/138

1.10 OPEN FLAME CONTROL

I. PURPOSE

To establish policy to ensure dependable operation of the VA Medical Center fire alarm system and to provide safe controlled use of open flame for construction, fabrication, demolition and maintenance functions. This policy does not apply to Bunsen burners for shop work where an approved exhaust system is provided.

II. POLICY

A. All VA personnel shall take necessary precautions to reduce the possibility of fires and/or false fire alarm signals involving welding, cutting, use of torches and other ignition-producing sources.

This control shall include a hot work permit program which involves inspection of the work area, taking necessary precautions and issuing a signed Hot Work Permit to the employee or contractor performing the work.

B. All work performed by contractors or VAMC staff requiring welding, flame burning or hot work of any sort shall require a Hot Work Permit per the guidelines outlined in this policy.

C. Hot Work Permits shall be authorized by the Chief, Facilities Management or designee and

Occupational Safety and Health Manager or designee.

D. A Hot Work Permit shall not be required for work performed in room BC-360 which shall be designated as the welding shop. However, the following requirements shall be met:

1) All work performed in the welding shop shall be protected by a welding screen, shield or barrier placed between work being performed and the outside bulk oxygen storage tank.

2) A minimum of 32’-0” shall be maintained at all times between work being performed and the outside oxygen storage tank. Care shall be taken so as to prevent any objects coming in contact with the storage tank or any of its associated equipment.

3) No work shall be performed during the filling of, or the transfer of any liquids and/or gases to the bulk oxygen storage tank. Filling and/or maintenance schedule shall be verified with the controlling official of the oxygen systems.

4) A fire extinguisher of suitable size which has been visually inspected, deemed fully charged and in a workable state with a current inspection tag attached, shall be readily accessible.

5) A fire watch shall be posted during and for thirty minutes after work has been completed.

E. Only apparatus in good repair and satisfactory operating condition will be used.

F. Welders and their supervisors shall be suitably trained in the safe operation of their equipment.

G. Contractors performing cutting or welding shall be suitably trained and have an awareness of the magnitude of the risks involved.

H. All contractors or Engineering personnel shall be advised of the presence or proximity of flammable materials or hazardous conditions of which they may not be aware.

I. The area in the vicinity of the work will be rechecked by the Site

Superintendent/Project Manager/Supervisor thirty (30) minutes after the hot work is completed.

J. Each hot work permit is notated by recipient and returned to Occupational Safety and

Health.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES

A. It is the responsibility of the applicable supervisor to inform staff regarding the requirements of this policy.

B. It is the responsibility of Occupational Safety and Health to include this policy within the

Contractor’s Safety Orientation Manual.

C. The COTR/CO shall be responsible to ensure contractors comply with the requirements of this policy.

D. Contractors shall be responsible for evaluating and minimizing risks of false fire alarms.

Contractors shall advise the COTR of plans to cover and uncover smoke or heat detectors. If fire alarm systems, visual or audible portions of a system must be disabled or taken off line, the contractor shall contact the COTR and Electric Shop Supervisor. If any portion of the fire alarm system is disabled or taken off line, the Electric Shop shall be responsible to ensure the system is returned to service. Advance notice and approval is also required for work after hours, weekends and holidays.

E. Engineering staff performing hot work shall be responsible for evaluating and minimizing risks of false fire alarms. Staff shall advise supervisors of plans to cover and uncover smoke or heat detectors. If fire alarm systems, visual or audible portions of a system must be disabled or taken off line, staff shall contact the Electric Shop Supervisor. If any portion of the fire alarm system is disabled or taken off line, the Electric Shop shall be responsible to ensure the system is returned to service. Advance notice and approval is also required for work after hours, weekends and holidays.

E. Before the hot work permit (Attachment A) is signed and issued, the employee/contractor and supervisor/site superintendent/project manager shall ensure:

1. Fire-resistant material protects combustible materials and drain openings in the immediate area.

2. Potential explosive atmospheres are tested using a calibrated explosive gas detector and precautions taken as necessary. The test is to be performed by

Occupational Safety and Health and/or contracted services.

3. Automatic fire protection systems are in service and other suitable fire extinguishing equipment is available.

4. Proper housekeeping of the area is maintained to reduce potential fire hazards.

5. Special care is taken to prevent damage to insulation when working near wires or conduits.

6. A fire watch is posted on site and for thirty (30) minutes thereafter.

IV. PROCESS

A. Contractors or VA employees will complete the Contractor/employee portion (Section A) of the Hot Work permit. Contractors or VA employees will forward the hot work permit to the Site

Superintendent/Project Manager or Supervisor.

B. The Site Superintendent/Project Manager will complete Section B of the Hot Work permit and forward it to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH, Section C) through the COTR. VA employees shall forward the permit to OSH through the Supervisor. OSH shall complete Section C and forward the

Permit to the Chief, FMS for final approval (Section D).

C. Upon request, designated electricians/electronics technicians will respond promptly to disable visual/audible portions of the fire alarm system or place systems off line. Designated electricians

/electronics technicians will provide fire alarm system status reports to the telephone operators, Police

Dispatch and supervisory personnel as needed.

D. Supervisors or VA COTRs will notify the designated electricians/electronics mechanics when hot work is complete. No portion of the fire alarm system shall be held in bypass mode beyond 4:00 pm unless the hot work is approved by OSH and Chief, FMS and is actually in progress.

E. Sprinkler system and fire alarm disablements and returns to normal operational status must be reported in the VISTA “Automated Fire Alarm Shutdown Notification”.

V. REFERENCE

National Fire Prevention Association Standard No. 51B.

Chief, Facilities Management Service

Attachment

Attachment A

Hot Work Permit (For Cutting, Welding, and Open Flame with Portable Gas or Arc Equipment)

TO BE COMPLETED 48 HOURS PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF WORK

Date: _____________________ Location of Work: _________________________

Description of Work to be Performed:

Contractor/VA Employee Signature

Fire Watch Required? Yes _____ No _____

Signature of person responsible for checking at site 30 minutes after each burn operation for the duration of the permit: _________________________________________________

Fire Extinguishers Required? Yes _____ No _____

Fire Alarm Issues? Yes _____ No _____

Please explain:

Other Precautions Required and Taken:

PRECAUTIONS

❑ Sprinkler in Service

❑ Cutting and welding equipment in good repair

WITHIN 35 FT OF WORK AREA

❑ Floor swept clean, combustibles removed

SECTION A

To be filled in by Contractor/Employee

SECTION B

To be filled in by Site Superintendent/Project Manager/Supervisor

❑ Combustible floors wet down, covered with damp sand, metal or other shields

❑ No combustible materials or flammable liquids

❑ Combustibles and flammable liquids protected with cover guards, or metal shields

❑ All wall and floor openings covered

❑ Covers suspended beneath work to collect sparks

WORK ON WALLS OR CEILINGS

❑ Construction noncombustible and without combustible covering

❑ Combustibles moved away from opposite side of wall

WORK ON ENCLOSED EQUIPMENT

(Tanks, containers, ducts, dust collectors, etc.)

❑ Equipment cleaned of all combustibles

❑ Containers purged of flammable vapors

FIRE WATCH

❑ To be provided during and 30 minutes after operation

❑ Supplied with extinguisher

❑ Trained in the use of equipment and in sounding fire alarm

FINAL CHECK

❑ To be made at the end of the 30-minute fire watch.

The location where this work is to be performed has been examined, necessary precautions taken, and permission is granted for this work.

Permit expires: _____________________ Signed: ____________________________

VA Supervisor/VA COTR

Signed: ________________________________________________________

Occupational Safety and Health Manager or designee

Note: Before approving any Hot Work Permit, Chief of FMS or designee shall inspect the work area and confirm precautions have been taken in accordance with NFPA 51B.

Signed: ________________________________________________________

Chief, Facilities Management Service

SECTION D

To be filled in by Chief, Facilities Management Service or designee

SECTION C

To be filled in by Occupational Safety and Health or designee