How to Write a RAMS for Hot Works: Welding, Cutting and Grinding
Hot works, including welding, cutting, and grinding, are the leading cause of fire on construction sites. Sparks can travel up to 10 metres, and smouldering fires can ignite hours after work finishes. A dedicated RAMS for hot works covers permit to work requirements, fire prevention controls, exclusion zones, PPE, and the critical fire watch period (minimum 60 minutes, often 120 minutes for insurer compliance).
What Counts as Hot Works?
Hot works is any task that produces sparks, open flames, or heat above 100°C. On a typical construction site, that includes:
- Welding (MIG, TIG, MMA, and oxy-fuel)
- Grinding and cutting with abrasive discs
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- Gas cutting and brazing
- Soldering and lead work
- Torch-on roofing felt application
If the activity generates enough heat to ignite surrounding materials, it falls under the hot works category and requires specific risk controls in your RAMS.
Why Hot Works Need Their Own RAMS
Hot works are the leading cause of fire on construction sites. That alone justifies a dedicated RAMS rather than folding fire risk into a general document.
Sparks from grinding and welding can travel up to 10 metres horizontally, and even further when falling vertically through open structures. Molten slag can lodge in gaps, insulation, or cable trays and start smouldering fires that only ignite hours after the work has finished. This delayed ignition is what makes hot works fires so dangerous: the workforce may have left the area, or even the site, before the fire takes hold.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal duty on the responsible person to assess fire risk and implement appropriate controls. For hot works, that means your RAMS must go beyond standard PPE and method statements to cover fire prevention, detection, and post-work monitoring.
Hot Works Permit System
Most construction sites require a hot works permit before any welding, cutting, or grinding begins. The permit is a formal record that the area has been inspected, combustibles have been removed or protected, and fire prevention measures are in place.
Key points to include in your RAMS regarding the permit system:
- A permit must be obtained before work starts each shift. Permits are valid for one shift only.
- The permit must be cancelled and signed off at the end of the work period, confirming the fire watch has been completed.
- The fire watch must continue after work stops. The permit should not be signed off until the fire watch period is complete.
- If work moves to a different location, a new permit is required for the new area.
Your RAMS should reference the permit system so that every operative understands that no hot work begins without a live permit.
Key Hazards for Your RAMS
Your hot works RAMS should address these specific hazards:
- Fire from sparks and molten slag landing on combustible materials, including materials stored below or behind the work area
- Burns to operators and nearby workers from direct contact with hot metal, sparks, or radiant heat
- UV radiation from arc welding causing arc eye (photokeratitis) in operators and bystanders who look at the arc without protection
- Welding fumes containing manganese, chromium, and other hazardous substances (see our COSHH assessment for welding fumes guide for detailed controls)
- Explosion risk when working near flammable materials, gas lines, fuel stores, or in areas where flammable vapours may accumulate
- Confined space risks including oxygen depletion from gas shielding, toxic fume buildup, and reduced escape routes in the event of fire
Control Measures
Your RAMS should detail specific, practical controls for each hazard. Here are the critical areas to cover.
Fire Prevention
- Clear all combustible materials within a 10 metre radius of the work area. This includes packaging, timber, insulation, and stored materials.
- Cover gaps, openings, and penetrations with fire blankets to prevent sparks from travelling to other compartments or floors.
- Damp down combustible surfaces that cannot be moved, such as timber decking or formwork.
- Position a suitable fire extinguisher within 5 metres of the work area. For most hot works, a water or foam extinguisher is appropriate, with a CO2 extinguisher available for electrical equipment.
Fire Watch
- Maintain a fire watch for a minimum of 1 hour after all hot works have stopped. Some insurers and principal contractors require a 2 hour fire watch.
- The fire watcher must have a suitable extinguisher and know how to use it. They should also carry a radio or phone to raise the alarm immediately.
- Check the immediate area and all adjacent spaces, including above, below, and behind the work location.
PPE Requirements
- Welding visor or auto-darkening helmet appropriate to the welding process (shade number matched to the arc type)
- Flame-resistant overalls or clothing. Standard hi-vis polyester can melt onto the skin and must not be worn during hot works.
- Welding gauntlets that protect hands and forearms from sparks, spatter, and radiant heat
- Safety boots with heat-resistant soles to protect against molten metal splash
Exclusion Zones
- Set up physical barriers and signage around the hot works area to prevent unauthorised access
- Use welding screens or curtains to protect other workers from UV flash. Even brief exposure to an unshielded arc can cause arc eye.
- Communicate hot works zones at the daily site briefing so all trades are aware of the active work areas
The Fire Watch: The Part That Saves Lives
The fire watch is the single most important control in any hot works RAMS. It is the last line of defence against a fire that starts after the welding torch has been put down.
The minimum fire watch period is 60 minutes after all hot works have stopped. Many insurers and principal contractors require 120 minutes, particularly for work on or near roofs, in buildings with combustible insulation, or on refurbishment projects. Check your site-specific requirements and your company insurance policy before setting the duration in your RAMS.
The fire watcher should be a dedicated person who remains in the area for the full duration. They need a suitable fire extinguisher, a means of communication (radio or mobile phone), and knowledge of the site fire alarm and evacuation procedure. Their job is to monitor the work area and all adjacent spaces, including areas above, below, and behind the work location where sparks or heat may have travelled.
Document the fire watch completion. Record the time it started, the time it finished, and the name of the fire watcher. This record should be attached to the hot works permit and kept on file. If a fire investigation ever takes place, this documentation demonstrates that your controls were followed.
Generate Your Hot Works RAMS
Writing a thorough hot works RAMS from scratch takes time. SwiftRMS generates a complete, project-specific RAMS for hot works in minutes, covering fire prevention controls, PPE requirements, exclusion zones, and a linked fire watch checklist. Try it free and see the difference a structured, professional RAMS makes on your next hot works job.
For more on how permits integrate with your RAMS, see our permit to work guide.
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