Article: Seven Key Lessons To Prevent Worker Deaths During Hot Work In And Around Tanks

The CSB has identified over 60 fatalities since 1990 due to explosions and fires from hot work activities on tanks. Hot work is defined as "[w]ork involving burning, welding, or a similar operation that is capable of initiating fires or explosions." Hot work also includes other activities with the potential to create a source of ignition such as cutting, brazing, grinding, and soldering. Workers are potentially at risk not only in the oil and gas industry, where flammables are handled regularly, but also in many other sectors within general industry, such as food production, paper, and wastewater treatment.