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29 CFR 1910.254: Arc welding and cutting

Subpart Q—Welding, Cutting and Brazing

647citations since 2015
580employers cited
78%serious, willful or repeat
$450median penalty per item

OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1910.254 647 times since 2015, against 580 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $1,096,828 at their current amounts.

Citations per year

The parts of the rule cited most

1910.254(d)(9)(iii) · 457 citations

(iii) Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors shall be replaced. Joining lengths of work and electrode cables shall be done by the use of connecting means specifically intended for the purpose. The connecting means shall have insulation adequate for the service conditions.

1910.254(b)(4)(iv) · 59 citations

(iv) Terminals for welding leads should be protected from accidental electrical contact by personnel or by metal objects, i.e., vehicles, crane hooks, etc. Protection may be obtained by use of: Dead-front receptacles for plug connections; recessed openings with nonremovable hinged covers; heavy insulating sleeving or taping or other equivalent electrical and mechanical protection. If a welding lead terminal which is intended to be used exclusively for connection to the work is connected to the grounded enclosure, it must be done by a conductor at least two AWG sizes smaller than the grounding conductor and the terminal shall be marked to indicate that it is grounded.

1910.254(d)(9)(i) · 33 citations

(9) Maintenance. (i) The operator should report any equipment defect or safety hazard to his supervisor and the use of the equipment shall be discontinued until its safety has been assured. Repairs shall be made only by qualified personnel.

1910.254(d)(8) · 26 citations

(8) Electric shock. Cables with splices within 10 feet (3 m) of the holder shall not be used. The welder should not coil or loop welding electrode cable around parts of his body.

1910.254(d)(6) · 10 citations

(6) Manufacturers' instructions. Printed rules and instructions covering operation of equipment supplied by the manufacturers shall be strictly followed.

1910.254(d)(3) · 9 citations

(3) Grounding. Grounding of the welding machine frame shall be checked. Special attention shall be given to safety ground connections of portable machines.

1910.254(c)(2)(v) · 8 citations

(v) All ground connections shall be checked to determine that they are mechanically strong and electrically adequate for the required current.

1910.254(d)(1) · 8 citations

(d) Operation and maintenance—(1) General. Workers assigned to operate or maintain arc welding equipment shall be acquainted with the requirements of this section and with 1910.252 (a), (b), and (c) of this part.

Industries cited most

  • Manufacturing 376
  • Construction 81
  • Other Services (except Public Administration) 49
  • Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 23
  • Transportation and Warehousing 20
  • Wholesale Trade 18

States cited most

Recently cited employers