Electrical hot work safety program

An internal review of the safety practices for a large Canadian chemical plant indicated that the established procedures for electrical hot work needed to be expanded and formalized. The practices were expanded into a comprehensive electrical hot work program that included the philosophy, control, qualification, and safe work methods. The program resulted in changes that improved on an adequate chemicals and plastics safety standard and a facility safety standard. Detailed definitions were added to the chemicals and plastics safety standard and a mandate for an electrical hot work procedure for all electrical hot work activity was added to the facility safety standard. Basic concepts for expanding the electrical hot work safety program were oriented toward developing an awareness and discipline for the worker performing routine or general tasks. The program also provides for training and qualifying personnel to perform electrical hot work. The requirements for assuring that electrical hot work is necessary before a hazardous work permit can be obtained and for reviewing the job by the worker, his supervisor, and/or the supervisor responsible for the equipment on which work is to be done was retained