Free hot work permit
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A hot work permit is used to authorise welding, cutting, grinding and other heat-producing work. This page explains what to include, how to complete the permit, and offers a free PDF-ready form you can download and use straight away. No sign-up required.
Last updated: 2026-02-21 · MapTrack
Commercial Director
How to use: Fill permit details → complete pre-work checklist → record personnel and authorisation → conduct fire watch → close out permit → save as PDF (Print → Save as PDF in your browser).
- ✓ PDF-ready. Open and print to PDF
- ✓ Covers fire watch, extinguishers, clearance distances and post-work monitoring
- ✓ Free to use with or without MapTrack
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See the first part of the permit below. Enter your email above to download the full hot work permit (PDF-ready).
What is a hot work permit?
A hot work permit is a formal document that authorises work involving open flames, sparks or heat-producing equipment such as welding, oxy-cutting, grinding, brazing or soldering. It is part of the broader permit-to-work system used on construction, industrial and maintenance sites in Australia. The permit ensures a systematic check is carried out before work begins - confirming that combustible materials have been removed or protected, fire-fighting equipment is available, atmospheric testing has been completed where required, and a fire watch person has been assigned. Under Australian WHS regulations, employers have a duty to manage fire risks associated with hot work, and a well-completed permit demonstrates due diligence.
Benefits of using a hot work permit
- Fire risk reduction: a structured pre-work checklist ensures combustibles are cleared, fire-fighting equipment is available and the area is safe before work begins.
- Regulatory compliance: meets WHS obligations and demonstrates due diligence to regulators, insurers and auditors.
- Clear accountability: the permit records who authorised the work, who is performing it and who is on fire watch, creating a defensible audit trail.
- Post-work monitoring: the built-in fire watch and close-out section ensures the area is monitored after work to prevent delayed ignition.
- Consistent process: a standard form ensures the same safety checks are applied across all sites, shifts and workers.
- Insurance evidence: a completed permit provides documented proof that fire risk controls were in place at the time of the work.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you move from paper or static PDFs to digital forms in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile — unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos — not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Book a demo to see digital hot work permits and permit-to-work management in MapTrack.
What to include in a hot work permit
Our free hot work permit includes:
- Permit details: permit number, date, valid from/to, site/location and project.
- Hot work description: type of work (welding, cutting, grinding, brazing, other), specific location and duration.
- Personnel: hot work operator and fire watch person.
- Pre-work checklist (P/F/N/A): risk assessment completed, SWMS reviewed, area inspected for combustibles (11 m radius), combustibles removed or covered with fire blankets, floor swept clean, wall/floor openings covered, flammable liquids/gases removed or isolated, sprinkler system operational, fire extinguisher(s) within 3 m, fire watch person briefed, ventilation adequate, gas testing completed (LEL), welding screens/barriers in place, hot work signage displayed, adjacent areas checked.
- Overall result: pass, fail or action required.
- Permit authorisation: issued by, hot work operator and fire watch signatures.
- Post-work fire watch: minimum 30 minutes, time completed.
- Permit close-out: area re-inspected, no hot spots, permit cancelled, signed off.
How to complete a hot work permit
- Fill in the permit details - permit number, date, valid from/to, site and project name.
- Describe the hot work. Type (welding, cutting, grinding, brazing), specific location and expected duration.
- Record the hot work operator and fire watch person names.
- Complete the pre-work checklist - inspect the area within an 11 m radius, clear combustibles, check fire-fighting equipment and ventilation, and confirm gas testing where required.
- Mark each item as Pass, Fail or N/A. Record notes for any items marked Fail.
- Record the overall result. If any item is Fail, the permit should not be issued until the issue is resolved.
- Have the permit authorised - the issuer, hot work operator and fire watch person all sign.
- After work is complete, conduct fire watch for a minimum of 30 minutes. Record the time completed.
- Close out the permit - re-inspect the area, confirm no hot spots, cancel the permit and sign off.
In MapTrack, you can build digital hot work permits, attach photo evidence, trigger automatic alerts and track permit status in real time, all linked to the relevant location or asset. Book a demo to see how.
When to use a hot work permit
A hot work permit must be completed before every instance of hot work - welding, cutting, grinding, brazing, soldering or any other work that produces sparks, open flames or high temperatures. A new permit is required each day or each shift, and whenever the scope, location or personnel change. If conditions change during the work (e.g. weather, ventilation, introduction of new combustible materials), the permit should be reviewed and re-issued if necessary. Most Australian site safety management plans and WHS codes of practice require a hot work permit as part of the permit-to-work system. Check your organisation's procedures for specific requirements.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a hot work permit?
- A hot work permit is a formal written authorisation that must be obtained before any work involving open flames, sparks or heat-producing processes is carried out. This includes welding, cutting, grinding, brazing and soldering. The permit ensures that the work area has been inspected, combustible materials have been removed or protected, fire-fighting equipment is available, and a fire watch has been assigned. In Australia, hot work permits are a standard requirement on most construction and industrial sites and form part of the broader permit-to-work system under WHS regulations.
- When is a hot work permit required?
- A hot work permit is required any time work involves the use of open flames, sparks or high temperatures that could ignite nearby materials. Common examples include arc welding, oxy-acetylene cutting, grinding, brazing, soldering and the use of heat guns or blowtorches. A permit is also required when the work is performed near combustible materials, flammable liquids or gases, or in areas where fire-suppression systems may be affected. Most Australian construction sites and industrial facilities require a hot work permit as part of their site safety management plan.
- How long should fire watch continue after hot work?
- Fire watch should continue for a minimum of 30 minutes after hot work has been completed, and many site procedures require 60 minutes or longer depending on the risk level. The fire watch person must remain in the area, monitor for smouldering or hot spots, and have a fire extinguisher readily available. The hot work permit should not be closed out until the post-work fire watch period has been completed, the area has been re-inspected, and no hot spots or signs of fire have been found.
- Is the template free to use without MapTrack?
- Yes. You can download and use the hot work permit for free. Open the file and use your browser's Print → Save as PDF to keep a copy. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital hot work permits on mobile with automatic alerts, photo evidence and audit trails, we’d be happy to show you MapTrack.
Need digital hot work permits with automatic alerts?
Build hot work permit forms in MapTrack. Complete them on mobile with photo evidence, trigger automatic notifications, and track permit status in real time, all linked to the relevant location or asset.