Protect's Hot Work Supervisors – Experience Prevents Accidents

Even the smallest mistake during hot work can lead to serious damage. That is why the role of a fire watch is never just a formality. At Protect, fire watch duties are performed by experienced fire and rescue professionals who have years—often even decades—of experience in operational rescue work.

Protect employs 18 fire safety guards, 15–16 of whom are very active. Shifts are scheduled year-round, and each guard typically works about one shift per week. Team spirit and the support of an experienced team are an important part of our operations.

In an interview, Jari Luokkala, a senior fire safety supervisor at Protect, explains what fire safety supervision entails in practice—and why experience is crucial in this line of work.

Hot work supervision is a process that begins even before the actual work starts—before welding or cutting.

Each morning, the person responsible for issuing hot work permits contacts the fire safety officers to confirm who is on duty that day. At the hot work site, the officers, the permit issuer, and the contractor review the upcoming work and the associated risks together.

“Let’s go over what we’re going to do, what needs to be protected, and what we need to keep in mind. That’s how the day gets started,” Luokkala says.

Many risks are associated with surprisingly mundane things: packaging materials, oily rags, unnoticed fire hazards, or structures that a spark could reach.

“The most common mistake is neglecting safety. There’s always some debris that a spark could hit,” Luokkala points out.

The cleanliness of the hot work area and the control of the fire load—that is, the amount of combustible materials—directly affect how safely the work can be carried out.

Protect's fire safety officers primarily work in industrial environments where hot work poses a particularly high risk.

Many facilities handle chemicals, volatile substances, or dusts that can ignite easily. This directly affects which fire extinguishers can be used.

“You can’t use water everywhere. Powder can be used on many types of fires, but in some situations, water can actually make things worse,” Luokkala explains.

Before work begins, we identify which gases or substances are present in the space and ensure that the correct fire extinguishers and safety measures are in place. Some sites also use foam suppression systems or sprinklers, and a fire truck is always kept nearby during roof work.

Although most days go by without incident, the risk of a fire is always present. A fire can start from a situation where a small but significant risk has gone unnoticed—and situations often unfold in a matter of seconds.

Dust explosions, sparks traveling through structures, liquids spilled on the floor—a chain reaction can start with something small.

After all hot work is completed, a post-work inspection is also conducted. It usually takes about an hour—always two hours for roof work.

Post-construction monitoring is not a mere formality, but a crucial part of safety: smoldering areas and hot structures can catch fire even long after construction is complete.

Effective fire watch is not something you see from the outside. Most workdays go by without any incidents.

“If something does happen, it’s a surprise. We go over the risks so thoroughly that there shouldn’t be any problems,” Luokkala says.

At the heart of Protect’s hot work supervision is experience: professionals who have seen what the start of a fire looks like—and what can follow. Often, supervisors are stationed on different floors or in different parts of the site to ensure that sparks do not travel along structural elements into other areas.

When everything is going smoothly, it’s easy to forget how the guardian of this complex chain of risks cuts it off before it even has a chance to begin.

Hot work supervision is not merely an additional requirement for a hot work permit. It is a critical component of risk management, especially in industrial settings where even minor errors can have serious consequences.

“All big fires start small. We’re here to make sure that small fire doesn’t have time to grow into a big one,” Luokkala sums up.

Protect’s experienced professionals are here to help you ensure that hot work is carried out safely in all situations. Contact us, and we’ll work together to assess your company’s needs.

Read also on the guidelines and regulations for a permanent fire workplace