Firechief’s ‘all in one’ kit has been developed especially for contractors and tradesmen who carry out Hot Work on site. Each Hot Work Kit contains everything needed to do Hot Work safely – all wrapped up in a handy carry-to-site bag. Firechief has three different types of the Hot Work Kits as follows:
Firechief Hot Work Kit – Powder (HWK1)
Contains:
x1 2kg ABC Powder Extinguisher (FXP2)
x1 1.2m x 1.8m Fire Blanket
Firechief Hot Work Kit – Foam (HWK2)
Contains:
x1 2L Foam Extinguisher (FXF2)
x1 1.2m x 1.8m Fire Blanket
Firechief Dual Hot Work Kit – Powder & Foam (HWK3)
Contains:
X1 2kg ABC Powder Extinguisher (FXP2)
X1 2L Foam Extinguisher (FXF2)
x1 1.2m x 1.8m Fire Blanket
Why do you need a Hot Work Kit?
Welding, soldering, brazing, grinding, and drilling are all known as ‘Hot Work’ and all pose fire risks – especially when working in areas containing flammable or combustible materials.
Hot Work is governed by strict safety regulations and by law all employers and self-employed contractors must assess the fire risks in a work area, obtain or self-complete a Hot Work permit for each job and ensure that the necessary fire safety equipment is on site in case of an incident. Those who don’t comply can be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), sentenced, fined, and even jailed.
If your Hot Work is unavoidable, you must have a Hot Work Permit in place BEFOFE any work starts. A Hot Work Permit is completed and issued by someone who understands the fire risks fully – such as the site supervisor or the contractor responsible for the work – and summarises what work is to be carried out, when and what precautions are needed.
So, if you are responsible for completing a Hot Work Permit on a site, what should you consider?
Remove or reduce the fire risk
It is important to minimize risk as much as possible. Ideally, try to carry out all the Hot Work before most of the combustible material gets onto site or have a special area where all Hot Work is done or even better carry out all the Hot Work off site.
Protect, cover or shield
Give special consideration to coverings such as polythene which are weatherproof but not fireproof as well as flammable liquids and acetylene which are another risk and be shielded or better still, stored off site.
Risks on larger sites
On larger sites, temporary buildings and cabins are also a risk as they usually contain heaters, fires, and paperwork so whenever possible they should be separated from the new construction. There must also be site security to guard against arson as this is the most significant fire risk.
Fire risk assessments carried out on construction sites may need to be updated frequently as construction progresses; for example, escape routes and emergency procedures may need changing and emergency procedures too and consider inspecting the escape route on a weekly basis to ensure it is clear and that you have the best means of warning workers in case of emergency.
The Firechief range includes high-performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers for your home and leisure time. For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.
The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult any and all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and where felt necessary to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader’s risk.