WAC 296-304-01009
Precautions for hot work. (1) General
requirements.
(a) Designated areas. The employer may designate areas
for hot work in sites such as vessels, vessel sections,
fabricating shops, and subassembly areas that are free of fire
hazards.
(b) Nondesignated areas.
(i) Before authorizing hot work in a nondesignated area,
the employer must visually inspect the area where hot work is
to be performed, including adjacent spaces, to ensure the area
is free of fire hazards, unless a marine chemist's certificate
or shipyard competent person's log is used for authorization.
(ii) The employer shall authorize employees to perform
hot work only in areas that are free of fire hazards, or that
have been controlled by physical isolation, fire watches, or
other positive means.
Note:
The requirements of (b) of this subsection apply to all hot work operations in shipyard employment except those
covered by WAC 296-304-02007.
(2) Specific requirements.
(a) Maintaining fire hazard-free conditions. The
employer must keep all hot work areas free of new hazards that
may cause or contribute to the spread of fire. Unexpected
energizing and energy release are covered by WAC 296-304-120.
Exposure to toxic and hazardous substances is covered in
chapter 296-841 WAC, Airborne contaminants; chapter 296-802
WAC, Employee medical and exposure records; and WAC 296-800-170, Employer chemical hazard
communication -- Introduction.
(b) Fuel gas and oxygen supply lines and torches. The
employer must make sure that:
(i) No unattended fuel gas and oxygen hose lines or
torches are in confined spaces;
(ii) No unattended charged fuel gas and oxygen hose lines
or torches are in enclosed spaces for more than fifteen
minutes;
(iii) All fuel gas and oxygen hose lines are disconnected
at the supply manifold at the end of each shift; and
(iv) All disconnected fuel gas and oxygen hose lines are
rolled back to the supply manifold or to open air to
disconnect the torch; or extended fuel gas and oxygen hose
lines are not reconnected at the supply manifold unless the
lines are given a positive means of identification when they
were first connected and the lines are tested using a drop
test or other positive means to ensure the integrity of fuel
gas and oxygen burning system.