Welding safety presentation and toolbox talk

The rule

What OSHA requires

Plain-language summary. Each line links to the exact paragraph of the regulation.

• In construction, when practical, objects to be welded, cut or heated must be moved to a designated safe location. If they cannot be readily moved, all movable fire hazards nearby must be taken to a safe place or otherwise protected.

  “all movable fire hazards in the vicinity shall be taken to a safe place, or otherwise protected”

  29 CFR 1926.352(a)

• In construction, when normal fire prevention precautions are not sufficient, additional personnel must be assigned to guard against fire during the work and for a sufficient period afterward to ensure that no possibility of fire exists. They must be instructed on the specific fire hazards expected and how to use the firefighting equipment provided.

  “additional personnel shall be assigned to guard against fire while the actual welding, cutting, or heating operation is being performed”

  29 CFR 1926.352(e)

• In general industry, fire watchers must have fire extinguishing equipment readily available, be trained in its use and know how to sound an alarm. The fire watch must be kept for at least a half hour after welding or cutting is completed.

  “A fire watch shall be maintained for at least a half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations to detect and extinguish possible smoldering fires.”

  29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B)

• In general industry, when the object cannot be moved and not all fire hazards can be removed, certain additional precautions may be necessary (29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)). Where practicable, all combustibles must be relocated at least 35 feet (10.7 m) from the work site (29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(vii)). Where that is impracticable, they must be protected with flameproofed covers or otherwise shielded.

  “Where practicable, all combustibles shall be relocated at least 35 feet (10.7 m) from the work site.”

  29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(vii)

• In general industry, before cutting or welding is permitted, the area must be inspected by the person responsible for authorizing cutting and welding. That person designates the precautions to follow, preferably in the form of a written permit.

  “Before cutting or welding is permitted, the area shall be inspected by the individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations.”

  29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iv)

• In general industry, helmets or hand shields must be used during all arc welding and arc cutting, except submerged arc welding. Helpers and attendants must be provided with proper eye protection.

  “Helmets or hand shields shall be used during all arc welding or arc cutting operations, excluding submerged arc welding.”

  29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(i)(A)

• The employer must include the hazardous materials in fluxes, coatings, coverings and filler metals in its hazard communication program, and make sure each employee has access to their labels and safety data sheets and is trained under the hazard communication standard.

  “The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of such materials and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of § 1910.1200.”

  29 CFR 1910.252(c)(1)(iv)

• In construction, welding, cutting or heating in enclosed spaces that involves zinc-bearing metals or metals coated with zinc-bearing materials, lead base metals, cadmium-bearing filler materials, or chromium-bearing metals or metals coated with chromium-bearing materials must be done with general mechanical or local exhaust ventilation.

  “Welding, cutting, or heating in any enclosed spaces involving the metals specified in this subparagraph shall be performed with either general mechanical or local exhaust ventilation”

  29 CFR 1926.353(c)(1)

• In construction, employers must instruct employees in safe arc welding and cutting, including removing electrodes from holders left unattended, never dipping hot electrode holders in water, opening the power supply switch when leaving or stopping work for any appreciable length of time or moving the machine, and reporting faulty or defective equipment to the supervisor.

  “Employers shall instruct employees in the safe means of arc welding and cutting”

  29 CFR 1926.351(d)

• In construction, compressed gas cylinders must be secured upright at all times, except for short periods while they are actually being hoisted or carried, if necessary. Oxygen cylinders in storage must be separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials by at least 20 feet (6.1 m), or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high with a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour (29 CFR 1926.350(a)(10)).

  “Compressed gas cylinders shall be secured in an upright position at all times except, if necessary, for short periods of time while cylinders are actually being hoisted or carried.”

  29 CFR 1926.350(a)(9)

Who must be trained

In general industry, management must insist that cutters or welders and their supervisors are suitably trained in the safe operation of their equipment and the safe use of the process (29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(xiii)(C)). Workers designated to operate arc welding equipment must be properly instructed and qualified (29 CFR 1910.254(a)(3)), and workers designated to operate resistance welding equipment must be properly instructed and judged competent (29 CFR 1910.255(a)(3)). Fire watchers must be trained in the use of their fire extinguishing equipment (29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(B)). In construction, employers must instruct employees in the safe means of arc welding and cutting (29 CFR 1926.351(d)) and thoroughly instruct them in the safe use of fuel gas (29 CFR 1926.350(d)), and fire watch personnel must be instructed on the specific fire hazards expected and how to use the firefighting equipment provided (29 CFR 1926.352(e)). Employees must also be trained under the hazard communication standard on the hazardous materials in fluxes, coatings, coverings and filler metals (29 CFR 1910.252(c)(1)(iv)).