OSHA has cited 29 CFR 1915.53 20 times since 2015, against 5 employers. Penalties on these items add up to $11,602 at their current amounts.
Citations per year
The parts of the rule cited most
1915.53(d)(1) · 18 citations
(d) Protection against toxic preservative coatings. (1) In enclosed spaces, all surfaces covered with toxic preservatives shall be stripped of all toxic coatings for a distance of at least 4 inches from the area of heat application or the employees shall be protected by air line respirators meeting the requirements of § 1915.154.
1915.53(b) · 1 citations
(b) 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.
1915.53(c) · 1 citations
(c) Precautions shall be taken to prevent ignition of highly flammable hardened preservative coatings. When coatings are determined to be highly flammable they shall be stripped from the area to be heated to prevent ignition, or, where shipbreaking is involved, the coatings may be burned away under controlled conditions. A 1 1/2 inch or larger fire hose with fog nozzle, which has been uncoiled and placed under pressure, shall be immediately available for instant use in the immediate vicinity, consistent with avoiding freezing of the hose.
Industries cited most
- Manufacturing 18
- Transportation and Warehousing 1
- Information 1
Recently cited employers
- Fraser Shipyards, LLC. Superior, WI · Jan 6, 2026