What precautions should be taken to carry out hot work close to a smoke detector in the engine room?
Is it enough to cover it with plastic to prevent it from triggering the alarm?
Hot work always starts with planning followed by preparations.
- A proper Risk Assessment must be carried out
- Hot Work permit obtained with signatures of Safety Officer, Chief Engineer and Master.
- Deck officer and engineer in charge must be informed.
- The loop for this special sensor to be switched off at the Fire Monitoring panel
- Take normal precautions for hot work.
Never cover the smoke detector, because this measure may not help and fire alarm will be activated. Additionally, if such shortcuts get encouraged, unsafe habits tend to develop. The sensor may remain covered if hot work carried out often in that location, f.e. in the Workshop.
