Product Overview

This Hot Works Procedure is a professionally developed work health and safety document designed specifically for Australian businesses that carry out welding, cutting, grinding, soldering and other hot work activities. It provides a clear, practical framework to manage fire, explosion and health risks across metal fabrication and welding, plumbing and gasfitting, building and construction, and automotive and mechanical environments.

Built around Australian WHS legislation, codes of practice and relevant Australian Standards, this procedure gives you a ready-to-use template that can be quickly adapted to your operations. It supports WHS compliance, reduces the likelihood of serious incidents and helps standardise how hot work is planned, authorised and carried out across your sites.

Key Features

• Comprehensive step-by-step guidance for planning, authorising and performing hot work, including a robust hot work permit system.
• Detailed coverage of risk assessment, isolation, ventilation, fire watch and emergency response requirements.
• Clear role and responsibility definitions for managers, supervisors, workers, contractors and fire watch personnel.
• Specific controls tailored for workshops, construction sites, plant rooms, vehicles, pipework and confined or enclosed spaces.
• Practical checklists and example table structures to support consistent safety documentation and record-keeping.
• Alignment with Australian WHS legislation, Safe Work Australia guidance and key Australian Standards for welding and allied processes.

Benefits

• Strengthens work health and safety performance by systematically controlling hot work hazards.
• Supports WHS compliance and demonstrates due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers.
• Saves time by providing a ready-made, structured procedure instead of starting from scratch.
• Improves consistency across multiple sites, projects and trades by standardising hot work practices.
• Reduces the risk of fires, explosions, burns and fume exposure in high-risk activities.
• Provides clear guidance for training, inductions and toolbox talks on hot work safety.

Who is this for?

• Metal fabrication and welding workshops needing robust hot work controls and documentation.
• Plumbing and gasfitting businesses undertaking brazing, soldering and oxy-fuel cutting on sites and in plant rooms.
• Building and construction contractors managing multiple trades performing hot work on active projects.
• Automotive and mechanical repairers carrying out welding and cutting on vehicles, plant and equipment.
• Safety managers, WHS advisors, HR and compliance staff responsible for developing or updating safety documentation and procedures.

Legislation & References

This Hot Works Procedure has been developed with reference to Australian work health and safety legislation and recognised guidance, including the WHS Act and Regulations (jurisdictional equivalents), relevant Safe Work Australia codes of practice, and Australian Standards relating to welding, hot work and gas cylinder safety. While it is not a substitute for legal advice, it provides a strong, industry-aligned foundation to support your internal WHS compliance efforts and can be readily integrated into your broader safety management system.