1 Before starting any hot work, on board a ship
or on a berth, the responsible person of the company to carry out
the hot work shall be in possession of a written authorization to
carry out such hot work issued by the port authority. Such authorization
should include details of the specific location of the hot work as
well as the safety precautions to be followed.
2 In addition to the safety precautions required
be the port authority, before starting any hot work, the responsible
person of the company to carry out the hot work together with the
responsible person(s) of the ship and/or berth, should add any additional
safety precautions required by the ship and/or berth.
These should include:
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.1 the examination, and frequency of re-examination
of local areas and adjacent areas, including tests, carried out by
accredited testing establishments, to ensure the areas are free, and
continue to be free, of flammable and/or explosive atmospheres and,
where appropriate, are not deficient in oxygen;
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.2 the removal of dangerous cargoes and other
flammable substances and objects away from the working and adjacent
areas. This includes scale, sludge, sediment and other possible flammable
material;
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.3 efficient protection of flammable structural
members, e.g. beams, wooden walls, floors, doors, wall and ceiling
coverings against accidental ignition; and
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.4 the sealing of open pipes, pipe lead-throughs,
valves, joints, gaps and open parts to prevent the transfer of flames,
sparks and hot particles from the working areas to adjacent or other
areas.
3 A duplicate of the hot work authorization and
safety precautions should be posted adjacent to the work area as well
as at each entrance to the work area. The authorization and safety
precautions should be readily visible to, and clearly understood by,
all persons engaged in the hot work.
4 While carrying out hot work it is essential
that:
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.1 checks are carried out to ensure that conditions
have not changed; and
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.2 at least one suitable fire extinguisher, or
other suitable fire-extinguishing equipment is readily available for
immediate use at the location of the hot work.
5 During hot work, on completion and for a sufficient
time after completion of such work, an effective fire-watch should
be maintained in the area of the hot work as well as adjacent areas
where a hazard resulting from the transfer of heat may be created.
6 Reference should also be made to the appropriate
publications listed in the bibliography (see appendix 2) where additional
valuable guidance on hot work procedures may be found. In particular,
the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals
(ISGOTT) should be consulted.