What Is Considered As Hot Work And How Dangerous Is It?

Did you know that there are nearly 610,000 workers in “hot work” professions in the US? Welders, solderers, brazing workers are all considered hot workers. This profession has steady growth but is one of the more dangerous professions out there. 

Want to learn more? Read on so you can answer questions like “what is hot work?”, “How dangerous is hot work?”, and whether you need a permit for this type of work.

What Is Hot Work?

Any work that generates a source of ignition, such as a spark, flame, or heat, is considered hot work. It can be direct, such as when the equipment the worker is using creates a flame, or indirect. Indirect is when you are cutting something and sparks are created. 

Anything involving welding, cutting, grinding, soldering, or brazing or grinding, burning, melting, or drilling metals or glass. In addition, some of the other common types include: 

• Thawing pipes
• Cutting
• Using open flames and torches
• Using hot air blowers
• Using lead heaters
• Using bitumen and tar boilers

The nature of the work and the materials and equipment used require special training, care, and protection.  

Hot Work Hazards

It is inherently dangerous because it involves an open flame, sparks, or heat, all of which can cause industrial fires or injuries. However, there are additional dangers that hot workers face, including: 

Exposure to UV or Infrared Light: This can occur during welding and expose workers to lights that can damage their eyes or skin. 

Electrical Hazards: Because they are typically using electrical equipment, there is always the risk of short-circuiting, bad wiring, and electrocution. 

Exposure to Fumes: Fumes can occur through various types of hot work, and without proper protection, workers can be exposed to these fumes which can damage their eyes and respiratory systems. 

Burns: There is the obvious danger of a burn from using a heat source, such as an open flame, but workers are also at risk of burns from hot materials or equipment. 

Beyond PPE and permits, teams should also be prepared to respond promptly to medical incidents such as fume inhalation, burns, or eye injuries. Short, practical training helps workers recognise signs of serious injury, perform basic stabilisation, and manage casualties until emergency services arrive.

Many organisations find value in accredited, one-day programmes that cover CPR, wound and burn care, and casualty management. If you’re organising site training in the North West, consider accredited First Aid Courses that provide clear, vocationally relevant skills and a certificate employers can rely on. Embedding this into hot-work safety planning reduces response times and can improve outcomes when incidents occur.

Hot Work Safety

In order to protect hot workers, proper safety precautions need to be taken. Because of the potential danger of this type of work, a permit is needed. Any type of hot work requires a permit, which includes information on the safety precautions that will be taken, including: 

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) (such as face masks, gloves, and goggles)
• Proper equipment
• Availability of fire extinguishers and other ways of putting out fires
• Removal of combustible materials from the area
• Removal of flammable substances from the area
• Proper ventilation during the work
• Screens to contain sparks
• Safe storage of equipment
• Fire watches for the appropriate duration that is specified in the permit or risk assessment
• Proper training and certification of those performing the work

All of this information will typically be included in a permit application. Check out more about hot work permits from OSHA before you get started. 

All You Need to Know About Hot Work

Now that you can answer the question “what is hot work”, you can plan for this type of work at your home or business and ensure that all safety precautions are taken. It is sometimes necessary, but only if proper steps are taken before the work begins. 

If you found this information useful, be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go and come back often for new content.