What action should be taken if flammable materials cannot be removed from the work area?

If flammable materials cannot be removed from the work area, the appropriate action is to protect them with fire-retardant materials. This approach is essential as it effectively reduces the risk of fire ignition and spread in the area where torch operations or other hot work are being performed. Fire-retardant materials are specifically designed to withstand heat and resist combustion, which provides an additional layer of safety when handling flammable substances.

Covering flammable materials with a tarp, while seemingly protective, may not offer sufficient resistance to flames or heat compared to specialized fire-retardant coverings. Ignoring the presence of flammable materials would pose a significant safety risk, as it does not address the potential for fire hazards. Saturating the materials with water could create other hazards and may not effectively mitigate the risk of fire, particularly if the ignition source is significant or if the flammable materials are in large quantities. Therefore, utilizing fire-retardant materials is the most effective safety measure in this scenario.