what is a hot works permit?

Question

Some lecture of mine said it was to do with working in enviroments where the room temp. (or protective suit temp) will rise above a certain level.

Thats why it involves working in shifts.

Answer 1

Hot work permit is the prime requirement prior to carry out any mechanical operation in the plant when there is a danger of fire.
There is a written procedure for the precaution for the servicing people as well as operation.
Hot work permit is made only after ensuring all the precautions like area is free of flammable material, whether there is a provision of safety appliances, fire hydrant is working or not , fire extenguisher is there or not and that too in good condition.
Signature of safety incharge, production incharge and engineering incharge is taken after ensuring all the above prior to start up of work.
Suppose if there is a work of welding in LDO/LSHS fuel line , then line is to be flushed out completely by air/steam or by any other media so that no traces of fuel comes out from the line. there are test of checking fuel traces like flash-point check.After ensuring this and whether the source/ equiment is isolated or not that too is to be ensured.pumps are to be electrically isolated or not, static electricity is taken care of or not is also to be taken care of.
I am not able to put all details here , but I am giving to some links which is worth-while to study.
You can click following link for more details:
http://www.utmb.edu/ehs/OS&FP/HotWorkProcedure.htm
http://www.etsu.edu/plant/Hot_work_permit_policy.htm
http://in.search.yahoo.com/search?fr=slv1-msgr&p=HOT%20PERMIT

Answer 2

A hot works permit is issued for projects located in a flammable environment (such as a petroluem storage tank) that involve sparks or flame (such as metal grinding or cutting or welding).