Hot Work Permit
Hot Work Permit
A hot work permit is a safety-critical authorization required for performing hot work in temporary locations. How does the permit work in practice, and why is careful management so important on worksites?
What is Hot Work?
Hot work refers to any operation that involves open flames, sparks, or heat that could ignite flammable materials in the surrounding area. Common in industries like construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing, hot work includes tasks such as welding, cutting, grinding, soldering, and brazing. Because it presents significant fire hazards, strict safety protocols and permits are usually required to prevent accidents and ensure worker safety.
Examples of hot work:
Welding and cutting metal with torches
Grinding surfaces that produce sparks
Soldering or brazing with an open flame
Using heat guns or thermal tools near flammable materials
Operating machinery that generates high heat or sparks
What Does a Hot Work Permit Mean?
A hot work permit is a written authorization granted before any work that involves open flames, sparks, or high heat. Typical hot work tasks include welding, cutting, grinding, heating metal, soldering, and bitumen work on construction sites.
The purpose is to ensure that everybody knows what is happening on the site and all necessary safety measures are in place before the work begins, so it does not cause a fire or explosion hazard.
Permanent vs. Temporary Hot Work Sites
Permanent hot work areas: Specially designed and equipped areas where hot work can be performed safely at all times. They are permanently prepared with fire safety arrangements. Normally, no separate hot work permit or hot work card/certificate is required.
Temporary hot work sites: Places not primarily designed for hot work but where it must be done temporarily—for example, on construction sites, during maintenance, or in industrial shutdowns.
At temporary sites, risks are higher.
Workers must have a valid hot work card, certificate or training.
A hot work permit must be issued for the duration of the task.
Conditions and Responsibilities
Before granting a permit, a thorough risk assessment is conducted: flammable materials must be removed or shielded, spark paths considered, and firefighting equipment placed nearby.
The permit defines:
Worker and fire watch: A fire watch is assigned to monitor surroundings during and after the work, ensuring no fires start. They continue monitoring for at least 1 hour after completion.
Permit issuer: A competent person (e.g., site supervisor, safety officer) with a valid hot work card or similar training and strong fire safety knowledge.
Validity and conditions: The permit applies to a specific place and time. Conditions include protective measures, firefighting equipment, and isolations (e.g., covering combustibles, monitoring adjacent areas).
All parties must understand their responsibilities:
Worker → safe execution of the job.
Fire watch → monitor environment during and after.
Permit issuer → overall responsibility and compliance with safety measures.
No hot work should begin at a temporary site without a valid permit.
Legislation and Standards in Finland
Rescue Act (379/2011): Requires adequate precautions to prevent fires during hot work. Employers must ensure permit and supervision procedures are in place.
Hot Work Card (SPEK): A 5-year qualification required for workers performing hot work and often for permit issuers. It ensures workers know the risks and protective measures.
SFS 5900 Standard: National guidelines for fire safety in hot work, defining permanent vs. temporary sites and specifying permit content.
Insurance company rules: Policies often require written permits and safety compliance. Failure to follow conditions can reduce or void compensation in case of accidents.
Hot Work Permit Process
A typical hot work process may
Work need identified
Supervisor or worker identifies the task as hot work (e.g., welding in a maintenance room).
Alternative (non-hot work) methods for the work considered
Permit application
A form is filled with job details: task, location, time, workers, fire watch, and safety measures.
Inspection and approval
Permit issuer reviews and confirms risks are assessed and protective measures arranged.
Checks that both worker and fire watch have valid hot work cards.
Approves with signature or digitally.
Work execution
Job is carried out under permit conditions.
Fire watch monitors throughout.
Post-work monitoring
Fire watch continues supervision for 1–2 hours after completion.
Permit closure
Once safe, the permit is closed and archived, with observations noted.
Traditionally, this is done on paper forms, but paper processes create issues with updates, distribution, and record-keeping.
Challenges with Paper Permits
Information gaps: Updates (e.g., extended work time) may not reach all parties.
Monitoring: Supervisors cannot easily see all active hot work permits across the site.
Archiving: Finding old permits for audits or investigations is difficult.
Human error: Handwritten forms may be incomplete, unclear, or missing signatures.
Benefits of Digital Hot Work Permits
Digital permit systems solve these challenges:
Real-time visibility: Everyone can see permit status on mobile or computer.
Faster approval: Digital forms and remote approvals save time.
Improved safety: Built-in reminders ensure critical checks are completed.
Better documentation: All permits stored in one place, searchable by date, site, or type.
Data insights: Track frequency of hot work and identify high-risk areas.
Summary: Hot Work Permits as a Cornerstone of Safety
Hot work permits ensure that hazardous jobs are carried out in a controlled and safe manner. They protect workers, property, and the environment from fire risks. In Finland, strict practices—hot work card training, written permits, and safety measures—have proven effective in preventing accidents.
Careful permit management is part of building a strong safety culture. When employees see that high-risk work is treated with discipline and seriousness, safety awareness improves across all operations.
Tip: Digital permit solutions make hot work management smoother, faster, and better documented. If you want to improve hot work safety in your organization, consider adopting a modern system. Book a demo of Gate Apps’ digital permit solution and see it in action.
