1.1 Hot work means any work requiring the use of electric arc or gas welding equipment, cutting burner equipment or other forms of naked flame, as well as heating or spark generating tools, regardless of where it is carried out on board a ship.
1.2 The Safety Management System (SMS) on board should include adequate guidance on control of hot work and should be robust enough to ensure compliance. Absence of guidance should be regarded as prohibition, rather than approval.
1.3 Whenever possible, a space such as a workshop where conditions are deemed safe, should be designated for hot work to be performed and first consideration given to performing any hot work in that space.
1.4 Hot work performed outside that space should be subject to the following considerations.
2 Hot work outside the designated space
2.1 The master or designated safety officer should be responsible for deciding whether hot work is justified and whether it can be conducted safely.
2.2 A permit-to-work system should be employed.
2.3 Hot work procedures should take account of national laws or regulations or other national safety and health rules.
2.4 A responsible officer, not involved in the hot work, should be designated to ensure that safe procedures are followed.
2.5 A written plan for the operation should be agreed by all who will have responsibilities in connection with the hot work.
2.6 The work area should be carefully prepared and isolated before hot work commences.
2.7 Fire safety precautions should be reviewed, including fire equipment preparations, setting a fire watch in adjacent compartments and areas, and fire-extinguishing measures.
2.8 Isolation of the work area and fire precautionsshould be continued until the risk of fire no longer exists.
