189. In this Part, “hot work” means any work where flame is used or a source of ignition may be produced.

190. If hot work is to be performed,

• (a) a qualified person must be assigned to patrol the working area and the adjoining areas and maintain a fire protection watch of the area for the duration of the work and, if necessary, for a period of 30 minutes after the work is completed; and

• (b) a sufficient number of fire extinguishers shall be provided in the working area and the adjoining areas.

191. Hot work must not be performed in a working area where

• (a) flammable gas, vapour or dust may be present in the atmosphere, unless the area has been freed of gas, tested by a marine chemist or other qualified person, and found to be safe for that work to be performed in the area; and

• (b) an explosive or flammable substance may be present in the working area, unless a marine chemist or other qualified person has ensured that adequate protection exists to permit that work to be safely performed in the area.

• 192. (1) Electrical welding equipment cables and gas welding or burning equipment cylinders and pipes must be placed clear of areas used for vehicles unless adequate protection for the cables, cylinders and pipes is provided.

• (2) Gas cylinders of welding and burning equipment must be placed securely in an upright position when in use.

193. Before equipment used for hot work is left unattended, the person in charge of the working area must ensure that the equipment is in a safe condition.

194. If a hazardous substance may be produced in a working area as a result of hot work

• (a) the working area must be well ventilated; or

• (b) any person in the working area must wear a respiratory protective device.

• 195. (1) The concentration of any chemical agent to which a person is likely to be exposed in a working area must not be more than

  • (a) the value referred to in subsection 255(1); or

  • (b) the percentage referred to in subsection 255(5).

• (2) The concentration in a working area of airborne hazardous substances, other than chemical agents, must not be hazardous to the health or safety of the person in the area.

196. The percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere in a working area must not be less than 19.5 per cent or more than 23 per cent by volume at normal atmospheric pressure and in no case is the partial pressure of oxygen to be less than 148 mm Hg.

• 197. (1) If ventilation equipment is used to maintain the concentration of an airborne hazardous substance below or at the value or percentage referred to in section 195 or the percentage of oxygen in the air of a confined space within the limits referred to in section 196, the employer is prohibited from granting any person access to the working area, unless

  • (a) the ventilation equipment is

    • (i) equipped with an alarm that will, if the equipment fails, be activated automatically and be audible or visible to any person in the working area, or

    • (ii) monitored by an employee who is in constant attendance at the equipment; and

  • (b) in the event of a failure of the ventilation equipment, sufficient time will be available for a person to escape from the working area before one of the following occurs:

    • (i) that person’s exposure to or the concentration of a hazardous substance in the working area is more than the value or percentage prescribed in section 195, or

    • (ii) the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere ceases to meet the requirements of section 196.

• (2) The employee referred to in subparagraph (1)(a)(ii) must activate an alarm in the event of faulty operation of the ventilation equipment.