|
U.S. Department of Labor | |
||||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
 |
| Construction >
Construction Outreach TOC
> Welding and Cutting |
||
Welding and Cutting |
||
GAS WELDING AND CUTTING -§1926.350 Transporting, Moving, and Storing Compressed Gas Cylinders
The employer shall thoroughly instruct employees in the safe use of fuel gas, as follows:
|
||
Fuel gas and oxygen manifolds shall bear the name of the substance they contain in letters at least 1-inch high which shall be either painted on the manifold or on a sign permanently attached to it. These manifolds shall be placed in safe, well ventilated, and accessible locations and not be located within enclosed spaces. Manifold hose connections, including both ends of the supply hose that lead to the manifold, shall be such that the hose cannot be interchanged between fuel gas and oxygen manifolds and supply header connections. Adapters shall not be use to permit the interchange of hose. Hose connections shall be kept free of grease and oil. When not in use, manifold and header hose connections shall be capped. Nothing shall be placed on top of a manifold, when in use, which will damage the manifold or interfere with the quick closing of the valves. Hose  Fuel gas and oxygen hose shall be easily distinguishable from each other. The contrast may be made by different colors or by surface characteristics readily distinguishable by the sense of touch. Oxygen and fuel gas hoses shall not be interchangeable. (See accompanying figure for example.) A single hose having more than one gas passage shall not be used.When parallel sections of oxygen and fuel gas hose are taped together, not more than 4 inches out of 12 inches shall be covered by tape. All hose in use, carrying acetylene, oxygen, natural or manufactured fuel gas, or any gas or substance which may ignite or enter into combustion, or be in any way harmful to employees, shall be inspected at the beginning of each working shift. Defective hose shall be removed from service. Hose which has been subject to flashback, or which shows evidence of severe wear or damage, shall be tested to twice the normal pressure to which it is subject, but in no case less than 300 p.s.i. Defective hose, or hose in doubtful condition, shall not be used. Hose couplings shall be of the type that cannot be unlocked or disconnected by means of a straight pull without rotary motion. Boxes used for the storage of gas hose shall be ventilated. Hoses, cables, and other equipment shall be kept clear of passageways, ladders, and stairs. Torches Clogged torch tip openings shall be cleaned with suitable cleaning wires, drills, or other devices designed for such purpose. Torches in use shall be inspected at the beginning of each working shift for leaking shutoff valves, hose couplings, and tip connections. Defective torches shall not be used. Torches shall be lighted by friction lighters or other approved devices, and not by matches or from hot work. Regulators and Gauges Oxygen and fuel gas pressure regulators, including their related gauges, shall be in proper working order while in use. Oil and Grease Hazards Oxygen cylinders and fittings shall be kept away from oil or grease. Cylinders, cylinder caps and valves, couplings, regulators, hose, and apparatus shall be kept free from oil or greasy substances and shall not be handled with oily hands or gloves. Oxygen shall not be directed at oily surfaces, greasy clothes, or within a fuel oil or other storage tank or vessel. Additional Rules For additional details not covered in this subpart, applicable technical portions of American National Standards Institute, Z49.1-1967, Safety in Welding and Cutting, shall apply. ARC WELDING AND CUTTING - '1926.351 Manual Electrode Holders  Only manual electrode holders which are specifically designed for arc welding and cutting , and are of a capacity capable of safely handling the maximum rated current required by the electrodes, shall be used.Any current-carrying parts passing through the portion of the holder which the arc welder or cutter grips in his hand, and the outer surfaces of the jaws of the holder, shall be fully insulated against the maximum voltage encountered to ground. Welding Cables and Connectors All arc welding and cutting cables shall be of the completely, insulated, flexible type, capable of handling the maximum current requirements of the work in progress, taking into account the duty cycle under which the arc welder or cutter is working. Only cable free from repair or splices for a minimum distance of 10 feet from the cable end to which the electrode holder is connected shall be used, except that cables with standard insulated connectors or with splices whose insulating quality is equal to that of the cable are permitted. Cables in need of repair shall no be used. When a cable, other than the cable lead referred to above, becomes worn to the extent of exposing bare conductors, the portion thus exposed shall be protected by means of rubber and friction tape or other equivalent insulation. When it becomes necessary to connect or splice lengths of cable one to another, substantial insulated connectors of a capacity at least equivalent to that of the cable shall be used. If connections are effected by means of cable lugs, they shall be securely fastened together to give good electrical contact, and the exposed metal parts of the lugs shall be completely insulated. Ground Returns and Machine Grounding A ground return cable shall have a safe current-carrying capacity equal to or exceeding the specified maximum output capacity of the arc welding or cutting unit which it services. When a single ground return cable services more than one unit, its safe current-carrying shall exceed the total specified maximum output capacities of the all the units which it services. Pipelines containing gases or flammable liquids, or conduits containing electrical circuits, shall not be used as a ground return. When a structure or pipeline is employed as a ground return circuit, it shall be determined that the required electrical contact exists at all joints. The generation of an arc, sparks, or heat at any point shall cause rejection of the structures as a ground circuit. When a structure or pipeline is continuously employed as a ground return circuit, all joints shall be bonded, and periodic inspections shall be conducted to ensure that no condition of electrolysis or fire hazard exists by virtue of such use. The frames of all arc welding and cutting machines shall be grounded either through a third wire in the cable containing the circuit conductor or through a separate wire which is grounded at the source of the current. Grounding circuits, other than by means of the structure, shall be checked to ensure that the circuit between the ground and the grounded power conductor has resistance low enough to permit sufficient current to flow to cause the fuse or circuit breaker to interrupt the current. All ground connections shall be inspected to ensure that they are mechanically strong and electrically adequate for the required current. Operating Instructions Employers shall instruct employees in the safe means of arc welding and cutting as follows:
Whenever practicable, all arc welding and cutting operations shall be shielded by noncombustible or flameproof screen which will protect employees and other persons working in the vicinity from the direct rays of the arc. FIRE PREVENTION - '1926.352 When practical, objects to be welded, cut, or heated shall be moved to a designated safe location or, if these objects cannot be readily moved, all movable fire hazards in the vicinity shall be taken to a safe place, or otherwise protected. If these objects cannot be moved and if all the fire hazards cannot be removed, positive means shall be taken to confine the heat, sparks, and slag, and to protect the immovable fire hazards from them. No welding, cutting or heating shall be done where the application of flammable paints, or the presence of other flammable compounds, or heavy dust concentrations creates a hazard. Suitable fire extinguishing equipment shall be immediately available in the work area and shall be maintained in a state or readiness for instant use. When the welding, cutting, or heating operation is such that normal fire prevention precautions are not sufficient, additional personnel shall be assigned to guard against fire while the actual welding, cutting, or heating operation is being performed, and for a sufficient period of time after completion of the work to ensure that no possibility of fire exists. Such personnel shall be instructed as to the specific anticipated fire hazards and how the firefighting equipment provided is to be used. When welding, cutting, or heating is performed on walls, floors, and ceilings, since direct penetration of sparks or heat transfer may introduce a fire hazard to an adjacent area, the same precautions shall be taken on the opposite side as are taken on the side on which the welding is being performed. For the elimination of possible fire in enclosed spaces as a result of gas escaping through leaking or improperly closed torch valves, the gas supply to the torch shall be positively shut off at some point outside the enclosed space whenever the torch is not to be used or whenever the torch is left unattended for a substantial period of time, such as during the lunch period. Overnight and at the change of shifts, the torch and hose shall be removed from the confined space. Open end fuel gas and oxygen hoses shall be immediately removed from enclosed spaces when they are disconnected from the torch or other gas-consuming device. Except when the contents are being removed or transferred, drums, pails, and other containers which contain or have contained flammable liquids shall be kept closed. Empty containers shall be removed to a safe area apart from hot work operations or open flames. Drums, containers, or hollow structures which have contained toxic or flammable substances shall, before welding, cutting, or heating is undertaken on them, either be filled with water or thoroughly cleaned of such substances and ventilated and tested. Before heat is applied to a drum, container, or hollow structure, a vent or opening shall be provided for the release of any built-up pressure during the application of heat. VENTILATION AND PROTECTION IN WELDING, CUTTING, AND HEATING - '1926.353 Mechanical Ventilation Mechanical ventilation shall consist of either general mechanical ventilation systems or local exhaust systems. Ventilation shall be deemed adequate if it is of sufficient capacity and so arranged as to remove fumes and smoke at the source and keep their concentration in the breathing zone within safe limits as defined in Subpart D of Part 1926, Occupational Health and Environmental Controls. Contaminated air exhausted from a working space shall be discharged clear of the source of intake air. All air replacing that withdrawn shall be clean and respirable. Oxygen shall not be used for ventilation purposes, comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning the work area. Welding, Cutting, and Heating in Confined Spaces Except where air line respirators are required or allowed as described below, adequate mechanical ventilation meeting the requirements described above shall be provided whenever welding, cutting, or heating is performed in a confined space. When sufficient ventilation cannot be obtained without blocking the means of access, employees in the confined space shall be protected by air line respirators in accordance with the requirements of Subpart E of Part 1926, Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment. An employee on the outside of the confined space shall be assigned to maintain communication with those working within it and to aid them in an emergency. Where a welder must enter a confined space through a small opening, means shall be provided for quickly removing him in case of emergency. When safety belts and lifelines are used for this purpose they shall be so attached to the welder's body that his body cannot be jammed in a small exit opening. An attendant with a pre-planned rescue procedure shall be stationed outside to observe the welder at all times and be capable of putting rescue operations into effect. Welding, Cutting, or Heating of Metals of Toxic Significance Welding, cutting, or heating in any enclosed spaces involving the following metals shall be performed with adequate mechanical ventilation as described above:
Employees performing such operations in the open air shall be protected by filter-type respirators in accordance with the requirements of Subpart E, except that employees performing such operations on beryllium-containing base or filler metals shall be protected by air line respirators in accordance with the requirements of Subpart E. Other employees exposed to the same atmosphere as the welders or burners shall be protected in the same manner as the welder or burner. Inert-Gas Metal-Arc Welding Since the inert-gas metal-arc welding process involves the production of ultra-violet radiation of intensities of 5 to 30 times that produced during shielded metal-arc welding, the decomposition of chlorinated solvents by ultraviolet rays, and the liberation of toxic fumes and gases, employees shall not be permitted to engage in, or be exposed to the process until the following special precautions have been taken:
Welding, cutting, or heating not involving conditions or toxic materials described above may normally be done without mechanical ventilation or respiratory protective equipment. These protections shall be provided, however, where an unsafe accumulation of contaminants exists because of unusual physical or atmospheric conditions. Employees performing any type of welding, cutting, or heating shall be protected by suitable eye protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of Subpart E. WELDING, CUTTING, AND HEATING IN WAY OF PRESERVATIVE COATINGS - '1926.354 Before welding, cutting, or heating is commenced on any surface covered by a preservative coating whose flammability is not known, a test shall be made by a competent person to determine its flammability. Preservative coatings shall be considered to be highly flammable when scrapings burn with extreme rapidity. When coatings are determined to be highly flammable, they shall be stripped from the area to be heated to prevent ignition. Protection against toxic preservative coatings:
|
||
Back to Top  www.osha.gov |
www.dol.gov | |
|
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Information Quality | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |
|
|
Valve protection caps shall be in place and secured.
Fuel gas shall not be used from cylinders through torches or other devices which are equipped with shutoff valves without reducing the pressure through a suitable regulator attached to the cylinder valve or manifold.
The cylinder valve shall always be opened slowly to prevent damage to the regulator. for quick closing, valves of fuel gas cylinders shall not be opened more than 1= turns. When a special wrench is required, it shall be left in position on the stem of the valve while the cylinder is in use so that the fuel gas flow can be shut off quickly in case of an emergency. In the case of manifolded or coupled cylinders, at least one such wrench shall always be available for immediate use. Nothing shall be placed on top of a fuel gas cylinder, when in use, which may damage the safety device or interfere with the quick closing of the valve.