All You Need to Know About Hot Work Permits

Honey Watson 3 years ago 3 min read

The hot work permit system assures the workers involved in the renovation, repairs, construction, and maintenance of machines and infrastructure are aware of its dangers. The hazardous works include hot work, melting, cutting, welding, etc., and the management has to put control measures to mitigate them. Getting hot work permits in TX is necessary, as the temperature of this region is too high. And when you are working in an industry where you have to deal with hot objects and fire, the heat becomes unbearable.

Climate change is pretty much devastating Texas too. The state’s climatologist published the latest changes in the climate; 2021 saw an increase of 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit from 189 to 2020. With climate change, the rainfall is increasing, and the soil is drier than ever.

When do you need the hot work permit?

This permit is necessary when the workers need to do the following activities:

Renovation
Maintenance
Construction
Welding
Cutting
Soldering
Melting

All these activities generate heat, most of which is done outdoors, which increases the stress on the workers. The workers have the right to know the risks involved in the job and the tasks required to do in the field. The hot work permit also acts as a symbol of undertaking a risky job for the workers, which means they know what they are getting into.

Where is the hot work permit necessary?

The places where the workers will face hot objects have to work close to melting materials and fire and where the temperature is higher than average. Usually, the projects that need hot work permits in TX tend to be in tunnels, metal cutting, the extraction process, excavation, etc.

In short, you need this permit wherever there’s a danger of fire, heat, heatwaves, and high temperature.

From where can you get the certificate/permit?

It is easy to obtain the application form for a work permit. Just go to the website of the Texas Workforce Commission or this link, Or you can directly go to the office of the Texas Workforce Commission for further queries. But, when it comes to a hot work permit, you need the approval of the Fire Prevention Officer at the Department of Environmental Health & Safety & Risk Management Services and the project manager or EHS personnel.

Which industries require a hot work permit?

You will find that several industries require hot work permits in Texas, such as:

Oil and gas
Office properties/equipment
Hotels, motels, and other infrastructures
Construction

The major industries in Texas are agriculture, oil and petroleum, tourism, and entertainment. The construction sector is also a significant part of the state’s GDP. And most of these industries require workers to get a hot work permit.

You have to apply for the permit a few days/weeks in advance, depending on the state or county’s rules and regulations. Whatever the pre-requisites are, you need to fulfill them. The permit provides safety and guarantees to you and your employees.

What are the benefits of getting this permit for your workers?

As a legally established company/agency, your workers must have this permit as a legal obligation. Different authorities provide different NOCs, permissions, and guidelines, and in the same way, you need this permission from the Texas authorities as well.

The benefits of this permit are: