Hot works
Hot works are on-site tasks producing heat, sparks, or open flame: welding, cutting, grinding, brazing. Most public liability policies impose permit conditions.
Ask Chalkline about this →Hot works are any on-site tasks that produce heat, sparks, or open flame, including welding, oxy-acetylene cutting, angle grinding, brazing, and soldering. The term is used primarily in insurance and WHS contexts to identify activities that carry a heightened fire risk.
Most public liability insurance policies impose specific conditions on hot works: a hot-works permit may be required before each job, a fire watcher (a person standing by to monitor for ignition) is often a condition of cover during and after the task, and daily site inspections for smouldering materials may be required. Failure to comply with these conditions can void coverage for any fire-related claim arising from the work.
On residential sites, the most common hot-works exposures are angle grinding during steel fixing, welding for structural elements, and brazing for copper plumbing. Builders should check their public liability PDS for specific hot-works conditions before work commences.
Also known as: Hot work, hot-work permit.
Category: Insurance / WHS
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Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.