# Welding Hot Work Safety Checklist (NFPA 51B Based) > Source: https://netray.co/tools/welding-hot-work-safety-checklist > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Pre-job, during-job and after-job checklist for welding, cutting and brazing with critical items flagged. ## Category ehs-workforce ## Industry Welding & Fabrication ## Audience - EHS manager - Welding supervisor - Maintenance manager - Fire safety officer ## Tool **Kind:** checklist **Groups:** #### Before work: area and permit **Items:** **Text:** Hot work permit issued, signed and posted at the job **Critical:** true **Text:** Work cannot be done in a safe designated welding area instead **Critical:** false **Text:** Combustibles removed or moved at least 11 m (35 ft) from the work **Critical:** true **Text:** Where combustibles cannot be moved, they are covered with fire-resistant blankets or shielded **Critical:** true **Text:** Floor swept clean of combustible dust, oil and scrap **Critical:** false **Text:** Openings, cracks and floor holes within the area covered or sealed **Critical:** true **Text:** Walls and ceilings of combustible construction checked or protected **Critical:** false **Text:** Tanks and containers cleaned, purged or tested for flammable vapors before welding **Critical:** true **Text:** Atmosphere tested for flammable gas where it may be present **Critical:** true **Text:** Sprinklers and fire alarm in service, or impairment procedure applied **Critical:** false #### Before work: equipment and gas **Items:** **Text:** Welding machine inspected, cables and lugs undamaged **Critical:** true **Text:** Work lead clamp attached close to the work, not through bearings or chains **Critical:** false **Text:** Electrode holders and torches insulated and in good condition **Critical:** false **Text:** Gas cylinders secured upright with chains or stands and caps on when moved **Critical:** true **Text:** Fuel gas and oxygen cylinders separated or protected by a barrier **Critical:** true **Text:** Hoses and regulators checked for leaks and wear **Critical:** true **Text:** Flashback arrestors and check valves fitted on oxy-fuel equipment **Critical:** true **Text:** Fire extinguisher of the correct type within reach and charged **Critical:** true **Text:** Grounding and electrical supply inspected, no wet floors **Critical:** false #### Before work: people and PPE **Items:** **Text:** Welder has current qualification and training for the task **Critical:** false **Text:** Welding helmet with correct filter shade and clean lens **Critical:** true **Text:** Flame-resistant clothing, gloves, boots and leather sleeves or apron **Critical:** true **Text:** Safety glasses worn under the helmet **Critical:** false **Text:** Hearing protection where noise levels require it **Critical:** false **Text:** Respiratory protection available for stainless, galvanized or coated materials **Critical:** true **Text:** Screens or curtains set up to protect nearby workers from arc flash **Critical:** false **Text:** Fire watch assigned, trained and equipped **Critical:** true #### Ventilation and special materials **Items:** **Text:** Local exhaust ventilation or fume extraction in use in enclosed areas **Critical:** true **Text:** Confined space entry permit in place where the work is inside a vessel or tank **Critical:** true **Text:** Coatings, paint and galvanizing removed from the weld zone or fume controls applied **Critical:** true **Text:** Chromium, manganese or cadmium exposure considered for the base metal and filler **Critical:** false **Text:** Shielding gas leaks cannot displace oxygen in low spots or closed spaces **Critical:** true #### During work and after work **Items:** **Text:** Fire watch stays in position during the work and watches for sparks below and on the other side of walls **Critical:** true **Text:** Work stops if conditions change, such as wind, flammable vapors or new combustibles **Critical:** true **Text:** Fire watch continues for at least 30 minutes after hot work ends **Critical:** true **Text:** Area inspected again, including adjacent rooms and floors below, before closing the permit **Critical:** true **Text:** Hot materials marked or protected so nobody handles them **Critical:** false **Text:** Equipment shut off, cylinder valves closed and hoses relieved **Critical:** false **Text:** Permit closed out and filed, with any incidents or near misses recorded **Critical:** false **Scoring Note:** All critical items must be complete before hot work starts. Distances and fire watch durations shown follow common NFPA 51B guidance. Confirm against current regulations and your site rules. ## Content **Intro:** Hot work is a leading cause of industrial fires, and most fires start from sparks traveling further than people expect. This checklist walks through the permit, equipment, people and follow-up controls for welding and cutting. **Sections:** #### How to use the checklist **Body:** Complete the first three groups before the arc is struck, and complete the last group during and after the job. Critical items are flagged, and any unchecked critical item is a stop. Print or export the checklist and attach it to the hot work permit, or load it into your maintenance or EHS work order. Keep completed copies with permit records for audits. #### The rules behind it **Body:** NFPA 51B covers fire prevention during welding, cutting and other hot work, and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.252 sets general requirements for welding, cutting and brazing in general industry. Common elements are clearing or protecting combustibles within about 11 m (35 ft), assigning a trained fire watch, keeping extinguishers ready, and continuing the watch for at least 30 minutes afterward. Many insurers and sites require a longer watch or a final check several hours later. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Hot work incidents tend to repeat the same patterns, and each one is on this list for a reason. **Bullets:** - Ending the fire watch the moment the arc stops. - Ignoring combustibles on the other side of a wall or floor. - Using damaged cables or torches to finish a quick job. - Welding on or near containers that held flammable material. - Leaving cylinders unsecured or mixing oxygen and fuel gas storage. **Cta:** If you want hot work permits and inspections tied to maintenance work orders in your ERP or EAM, Netray can show how that workflow is usually set up. **Faq:** #### What is a hot work permit? **Answer:** A hot work permit is a written authorization for welding, cutting, brazing, grinding or other work that creates sparks or flame outside a designated area. It records the location, the controls in place, the fire watch and the time window, and is closed out after the final check. #### How long must a fire watch stay after welding? **Answer:** NFPA 51B calls for a fire watch for at least 30 minutes after hot work finishes, and many sites and insurers require longer or add a later re-inspection. Smoldering fires can start well after the work. Follow the stricter rule on your site. #### How far must combustibles be from welding? **Answer:** A common requirement is 11 m (35 ft) from the work, unless the combustibles are moved, covered or shielded. Sparks can travel farther and through openings, so check below, above and on the other side of walls. #### Does this checklist replace my site safety procedure? **Answer:** No. It is a general starting point for welding and cutting. Your site rules, insurer, local regulations and the current edition of NFPA 51B and applicable OSHA or national standards take precedence. Adapt it for confined spaces and hazardous areas. ## Search terms hot work permit checklist, welding safety checklist, NFPA 51B checklist, fire watch checklist welding, welding and cutting safety inspection, hot work safety template, OSHA 1910.252 checklist, gas cylinder safety welding --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json