Department: Operational Safety
Division: Projects / Yard Safety
Industry: Shipyard / Marine / Oil & Gas / Industrial
Reports To: Supervisor – Operational Safety
Job Grade: 4–5
Overtime Eligibility: Yes
Job Purpose
The Confined Space & Hot Work Watch is responsible for providing continuous safety monitoring for confined-space entry and hot-work activities. The position ensures strict access control, compliance with the Permit-to-Work (PTW) system, continuous communication with personnel, identification of unsafe conditions, and immediate intervention when established safety controls are not effective.
The role is critical to protecting personnel and ensuring compliance with approved Confined Space Entry and Hot Work procedures.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain continuous attendance at the assigned confined-space entry point or hot-work location and control access at all times.
- Maintain accurate real-time entry/exit records and personnel headcounts, using the applicable T-Card, Entry Log, or site system.
- Verify that applicable PTW documentation is valid, current, and available, including Confined Space Entry Permits, Hot Work Permits, Risk Assessments/JSA, and associated safety requirements.
- Verify required physical controls, including barricades, warning signs, safe access/egress, lighting, ventilation, firefighting equipment, and emergency/rescue equipment.
- Maintain continuous two-way communication with confined-space entrants and work parties and immediately escalate any loss of communication, distress, abnormal behavior, or changing hazardous conditions.
- Prevent unauthorized personnel from entering confined spaces or controlled hot-work zones.
- Ensure tools, hoses, cables, cylinders, equipment, and potential ignition sources introduced into the work area comply with applicable HSE requirements.
- For hot work, ensure appropriate fire extinguishers/firefighting equipment are readily available and continuously monitor for sparks, heat, ignition, or fire hazards.
- Take immediate action to prevent ignition or fire spread and raise the alarm immediately in case of an uncontrolled fire or emergency.
- Exercise Stop Work Authority whenever unsafe conditions arise, safety controls fail, atmospheric conditions become unsafe or questionable, or permit requirements are violated.
- Order immediate evacuation of the confined space when required by alarms, emergency conditions, gas-monitoring results, loss of communication, or instructions from authorized safety personnel.
- Immediately report unsafe conditions to the Confined Space Entry Supervisor (CSES), Permit Issuer, Task Supervisor, HSE/Safety Officer, or Emergency Response Team (ERT) as applicable.
- Ensure emergency access and evacuation routes remain clear throughout the activity.
- Remain at the assigned position until the activity is completed or properly relieved by another authorized person.
- Participate in toolbox talks, pre-job safety meetings, emergency drills, and other HSE activities as required.
Qualifications & Experience
- High School / Secondary School education or equivalent.
- Valid Confined Space Watch / Hole Watch and Hot Work / Fire Watch training or certification.
- Minimum 1–2 years of relevant experience in shipyard, marine, Oil & Gas, petrochemical, refinery, construction, or heavy industrial environments.
- Good understanding of Confined Space Entry, Hot Work, Permit-to-Work (PTW), JSA/Risk Assessment, and emergency procedures.
- Basic knowledge of atmospheric hazards, including oxygen deficiency, flammable gases, and toxic gases.
- Knowledge of fire prevention and proper use of portable fire extinguishers.
- Familiarity with confined-space entry/exit logging and personnel accountability.
- Ability to recognize unsafe acts and conditions and exercise Stop Work Authority when necessary.
- Good communication and observation skills.
- Ability to understand safety signs, alarms, and emergency instructions.
- Must be physically fit and capable of working in shipyard/industrial environments.
- Must remain attentive and alert throughout the assigned watch.
Preferred Requirements
Previous shipyard, marine, offshore, Saudi Aramco, SABIC, or major Oil & Gas/EPC project experience is preferred. H₂S Awareness, Basic Firefighting, Confined Space Entry, Fire Watch, and other client-approved HSE certifications are an advantage.