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29 CFR 1910.252: Welding fire safety

Subpart Q—Welding, Cutting and Brazing · official heading: General requirements

Welding and cutting need fire prevention: combustibles moved away or shielded, fire watches where required, and protection from fumes.

2,582citations since 2015
1,963employers cited
82%serious, willful or repeat
$1,500median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1910.252 2,582 times since 2015, against 1,963 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $6,951,585 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1910.252(b)(2)(iii) · 1,135 citations

(iii) Protection from arc welding rays. Where the work permits, the welder should be enclosed in an individual booth painted with a finish of low reflectivity such as zinc oxide (an important factor for absorbing ultraviolet radiations) and lamp black, or shall be enclosed with noncombustible screens similarly painted. Booths and screens shall permit circulation of air at floor level. Workers or other persons adjacent to the welding areas shall be protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields or shall be required to wear appropriate goggles.

1910.252(b)(3) · 144 citations

(3) Protective clothing—General requirements. Employees exposed to the hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations shall be protected by personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of § 1910.132 of this part. Appropriate protective clothing required for any welding operation will vary with the size, nature and location of the work to be performed.

1910.252(a)(3)(i) · 116 citations

(3) Welding or cutting containers—(i) Used containers. No welding, cutting, or other hot work shall be performed on used drums, barrels, tanks or other containers until they have been cleaned so thoroughly as to make absolutely certain that there are no flammable materials present or any substances such as greases, tars, acids, or other materials which when subjected to heat, might produce flammable or toxic vapors. Any pipe lines or connections to the drum or vessel shall be disconnected or blanked.

1910.252(b)(2)(ia) · 100 citations

(2) Eye protection—(i) Selection. (A) Helmets or hand shields shall be used during all arc welding or arc cutting operations, excluding submerged arc welding. Helpers or attendants shall be provided with proper eye protection.

1910.252(a)(2)(vii) · 97 citations

(vii) Relocation of combustibles. Where practicable, all combustibles shall be relocated at least 35 feet (10.7 m) from the work site. Where relocation is impracticable, combustibles shall be protected with flameproofed covers or otherwise shielded with metal or asbestos guards or curtains.

1910.252(c)(1)(iv) · 96 citations

(iv) Hazard communication. The employer shall include the potentially hazardous materials employed in fluxes, coatings, coverings, and filler metals, all of which are potentially used in welding and cutting, or are released to the atmosphere during welding and cutting, in the program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (§ 1910.1200). 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. Potentially hazardous materials shall include but not be limited to the materials itemized in paragraphs (c)(5) through (c)(12) of this section.

1910.252(a)(2)(ii) · 78 citations

(ii) Fire extinquishers. Suitable fire extinguishing equipment shall be maintained in a state of readiness for instant use. Such equipment may consist of pails of water, buckets of sand, hose or portable extinguishers depending upon the nature and quantity of the combustible material exposed.

1910.252(a)(2)(iv) · 66 citations

(iv) Authorization. Before cutting or welding is permitted, the area shall be inspected by the individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations. He shall designate precautions to be followed in granting authorization to proceed preferably in the form of a written permit.

Industries cited most

  • Manufacturing 1,703
  • Construction 173
  • Other Services (except Public Administration) 163
  • Wholesale Trade 142
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 111
  • Transportation and Warehousing 84

States cited most

Recently cited employers