What a scorcher!

Anyone working outside in the current very hot conditions could be said to be “Hot Working!”

If you’re not in an air-conditioned office today, then you will be feeling the heat one way or another.

Whether you are carrying out heavy physical labour, working underground, on the tube or in a kitchen, you will be feeling the heat and the current heatwave will only add to that.

We should all be hydrating more regularly, but now let’s look at those who are even more at risk.

Those people who are “Hot Working” on a day in and day out.

In risk management terms “Hot Working” is anything that involves the USE or APPLICATION of HEAT.

This is particularly important in situations where combustible materials are near the work being completed. So what processes are we talking about:

• Welding and Cutting
• Oxyacetylene or Gas
• Arc, MIG or TIG Welding
• Blow lamps and Blow Torches
• Soldering
• Heat Guns
• Angle grinders and the like

All of the above produce heat in one form or another, and they are usually subject to what are called “Hot Working Conditions” either carried out under Health & Safety guidance of the employer or under a “Hot Work Permit” system, enforced by the company for who the work is being conducted.

In general, they include things like:

• Access to the correct fire extinguishers
• Removal of combustible materials from the immediate vicinity
• Clearing up potential debris or waste
• Maintaining a fire watch for up to two hours after work is completed
• Signing off on the safe system of work

They are in place to make things safer #becauseaccidentshappen to nice people all the time.

Hot working?

It is today for everyone, but spare a thought for the hot working professionals, who do this day in and day out.

Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine if you can

Stay safe and stay hydrated