Hot work permit checklist
A hot work permit checklist controls the fire risk from welding, cutting, grinding, and brazing. Sparks can smoulder unseen for hours and start a fire after everyone has gone home, so a permit, a fire watch, and a post-work check are the standard controls.
Hot work permit checklist
Company: ____________
Site: ____________
Date: ____________
Before hot work
| Flammable materials removed or moved away from the work | N/A · Action | |
| Fire-safe zone cleared around the work area | N/A · Action | |
| Gas cylinders secured, inspected, and leak-checked | N/A · Action | |
| Extinguisher within reach and in date | N/A · Action | |
| Permit issued and area approved | N/A · Action |
During and after
| Fire watch posted during the work | N/A · Action | |
| Ventilation adequate for fumes | N/A · Action | |
| Area checked at least 30 minutes after work finishes | N/A · Action | |
| Permit closed out and signed | N/A · Action |
Completed by: ____________________
Signature: ____________________
swmspack.com · Free printable checklist. Not legal advice; adapt to your site.
Common questions
▸What is hot work?
Any work that produces heat, sparks, or flame: welding, oxy cutting, grinding, brazing, and soldering. It carries a fire and burn risk that a permit system controls.
▸Why check the area after hot work?
Sparks can lodge in materials and smoulder for hours before igniting. A post-work check, usually at least 30 minutes after, catches a fire before it spreads.
Need the SWMS itself, not just a checklist?
A checklist confirms controls are in place; a SWMS is the document the law requires before high risk construction work starts. Generate a site-specific one for your trade.