As per our company procedures all hot works must have an additional person to act as a Fire Watch, who must then remain in the area 1 hour after the works to watch for any signs of a fire etc.

So in theory, if you cut up a section of metal pole using an angle grinder with a cutting blade (which may take 1 minute), classed as hot works, you or someone then needs to stay in the area for an hour before fitting the section you just cut.

OTT or is it just me?

I suggest that your HWP should be flexible enough to enable a more risk based approach. A check at some point may be required but I don't think someone has to sit there pondering the theory of singularity for an hour! ( I would have put scratching something but I would have been moderated!)

I'd suggest that you amend your policy to say that the fire watcher makes regular checks over the course of that hour (especially for low risk jobs), not stays in the area twiddling their thumbs (or scratching their anatomy as Phil suggested), that way you may also improve that person's productivity.

Alternatively, could you not cut the pole in a designated workshop and take it to the job site, thus negating the need for HWP? I don't know your industry so apologies if this isn't a feasible option.

Tom