OXY/ACETYLENE SAFETY

Guidelines

This checklist covers regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor,

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the general
industry standard 29 CFR 1910.253 and the construction standard 29 CFR
1926.350. It applies to operations involving oxygen-fuel gas welding and cutting.
This checklist must be used with the Welding, Cutting, and Brazing–General
Requirements checklist. The regulations cited apply only to private employers
and their employees, unless adopted by a State agency and applied to other
groups such as public employees. A yes answer to a question indicates that this
portion of the inspection complies with the OSHA or U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) standard, or with a nonregulatory recommendation.

This checklist does not cover the extensive regulations dealing with manifolding
of cylinders, service piping systems, pressure relief devices, piping protective
equipment, and acetylene generators. Consult the OSHA regulations in 29 CFR
1910.253 for further details.

1. General Requirements

2. Is acetylene generated, piped, or used at pressures no greater than 15 psig

(pounds per square inch, gauge) or 30 psia (pounds per square inch,
absolute)? [29 CFR 1910.253(a)(2)]
3. Is all welding apparatus (torches, regulators, pressure- reducing valves,
acetylene generators, and manifolds) purchased from reputable welding
dealers who have indicated the equipment is suitable for the intended
purpose? [29 CFR 1910.253(a)(3)]
4. Are all employees trained and judged competent in the use of welding
apparatus? [29 CFR 1910.253(a)(4) and 1926.350(d)]
5. Are rules and instructions covering the operation and maintenance of
oxygen or fuel-gas supply equipment readily available? [29 CFR
 1910.253(a)(4)]

Cylinders and Containers

6. Are all compressed gas cylinders legibly marked on their shoulders (by
stenciling, stamping, or permanent labeling) with the chemical or trade
name of the gas? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(1)(ii)]
7. Are oxygen and acetylene cylinders kept away from radiators and other
sources of heat? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(i)]
8. Inside buildings, are cylinders stored in well-protected, well-ventilated, dry
locations at least 20 feet from highly combustible material such as oil? [29
CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii)]
9. Are cylinders stored in designated spaces where they will not be knocked
over, damaged by passing or falling objects, or subjected to tampering by
unauthorized people? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii)]
10.Do empty cylinders have the valves closed? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(iii) and
(b)(5)(ii)(H) and 1926.350(a)(8)]
11.Are valve-protection caps always in place on cylinders that are not in use?
[29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(iv) and 1926.350(a)(1)]
12.Is storage of fuel gas cylinders inside a building limited to a total gas
capacity of 2,000 cubic feet or 300 pounds of liquefied petroleum gas
(except for those being used or attached and ready to use)? [29 CFR
1910.253(b)(3)]
13.Is a separate, specially constructed room or compartment provided to store
cylinders that have more than 2,000 cubic feet total gas capacity or 300
pounds of liquefied petroleum gas? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(3)(i)]
14.Are stored oxygen cylinders separated from fuel-gas cylinders or
combustible materials (especially oil or grease) by at least 20 feet, or by a
noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet high with a fire-resistance rating of
at least one-half hour? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii)]
15.Are cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings, regulators, hoses, and apparatus
kept free from oily and greasy substances? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(i) and
1926.350(i)]
16.Are employees and students required to handle oxygen cylinders with oil-
and grease-free hands or gloves? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(i) and 1926.350(i)]
17.Is care taken to ensure cylinders are not dropped, struck, handled roughly,
or permitted to strike each other violently? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(B), (b)
(5)(ii)(O), and (b)(5)(iii)(B); and 1926.350(a)(3)]

Note: Cylinders may be moved by tilting and rolling them on their bottom
edges, but a cylinder cart is strongly recommended.

18.Is using valve-protection caps prohibited for lifting the cylinder from one
vertical position to another? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(C) and 1926.350(a)
(5)]
19.Unless the cylinders are secured on a special truck, are regulators removed
and valve-protection caps installed before cylinders are moved? [29 CFR
1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(D) and 1926.350(a)(6)]
20.Do cylinders without fixed hand wheels have keys, handles, or
nonadjustable wrenches on the valve stems while the cylinders are in
service? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(E) and 1926.350(d)(2)]
21.Are cylinder valves closed when work is finished and before cylinders are
moved? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(F) and (b)(5)(ii)(G) and 1926.350(a)(8)]
22.Are cylinders kept far enough away from the welding or cutting operation
so that sparks, hot slag, or flames will not reach them? Or, are fire-resistant
shields provided? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(I) and 1926.350(b)(1)]
23.Are cylinders placed where they cannot become part of an electrical
circuit? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(J) and 1926.350(b)(2)]
24.Is using cylinders as rollers or supports prohibited? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)
(ii)(K) and 1926.350(c)(1)]
25.When cylinders are hoisted, are they secured on a cradle, slingboard, or
pallet? [29 CFR 1926.350(a)(2)]

Note: Cylinders may not be hoisted or transported by magnets or choker

slings.

26.Is using a hammer or wrench to open cylinder valves prohibited? [29 CFR
1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(Q)]

Note: If valves cannot be opened by hand, notify the supplier.

27.Is a policy in place to report problems promptly to the supplier? [29 CFR
1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(R)(1)]
 Note: Employees and students should not attempt to repair a cylinder.

28.Are fuel-gas cylinders placed with the valve end up whenever they are in
use? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(A) and 1926.350(b)(3)]
29.Are compressed-gas cylinders secured in an upright position so they
cannot fall or be knocked over? [29 CFR 1926.350(a)(9)]

Note: Use a suitable cylinder truck, chain, or other steadying device.

30.Before connecting a regulator to a cylinder valve, do employees open the

valve slightly and close it immediately? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(P) and (b)
(5)(iii)(C) and 1926.350(d)(1)]

Note: Open the valve while standing to one side of the outlet; never in
front of it. Never crack the fuel-gas or oxygen cylinder valve near other
welding work or near sparks, flames, or other possible sources of ignition
and combustion.

31.Before a regulator is removed, is the cylinder valve closed and the gas
released from the regulator? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(D) and 1926.350(d)
(4)]
32.For torches or other devices equipped with shutoff valves, is the fuel gas
from cylinders only used through a suitable regulator to reduce the
pressure? [29 CFR 1926.350(d)(3)]
33.If cylinders have leaky valves or fittings that cannot be stopped by closing
the valve or tightening the gland nut, are cylinders immediately taken
outside away from sources of ignition and slowly emptied? [29 CFR
1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(F) and 1926.350(d)(5)]
34.Is tampering with safety devices prohibited? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(H)]
35.Are cylinder valves always opened slowly? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(J) and
1926.350(d)(2)]
36.Do employees and students know not to open acetylene cylinder valves
more than 1-1/2 turns of the cylinder, and preferably no more than 3/4 of
a turn? [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(K) and 1926.350(d)(2)]
37.Is flash-back protection provided by an approved device that will prevent
flame from passing into the fuel-gas system? [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(3)(ii)(C)
(3)]
38.When parallel lengths of oxygen and fuel-gas hose are taped together for
convenience or to prevent tangling, is four inches (or less) of every 12
inches of hosed taped? [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(5)(ii) and 1926.350(f)(2)]
39.Are the fuel-gas hose and oxygen hose easily distinguished from each
other? [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(1)]
40.Are all hoses inspected at the beginning of each day? [29 CFR 1926.350(f)
(3)]
41.Are leaking, defective, burned, or worn hoses removed, repaired, or
replaced? [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(5)(v) and 1926.350(f)(3)]
42.Are hose couplings of the type that cannot be unlocked or disconnected by
a straight pull without rotary motion? [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(5)]
43.Are boxes used for the storage of gas hose ventilated? [29 CFR 1926.350(f)
(6)]
44.Are hoses, cables, and other equipment kept clear of passageways, ladders,
and stairs? [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(7)]
45.Are clogged torch-tip openings cleaned with suitable cleaning wires, drills,
or other devices designed for this purpose? [29 CFR 1926.350(g)(1)]
46.Are torches inspected at the beginning of each day for leaking shutoff
valves, hose couplings, and tip connections? [29 CFR 1926.350(g)(2)]
47.Are defective torches removed from use? [29 CFR 1926.350(g)(2)]
48.Are torches lighted by friction lighters or other approved devices? [29 CFR
1926.350(g)(3)]

Note: Torches should not be lighted by matches or from hot work.

49.Are regulators (including gauges) repaired only by skilled mechanics who

have had proper instruction? [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(6)(ii)]
50.Are gauges on oxygen regulators marked USE NO OIL? [29 CFR
1910.253(e)(6)(iii)]
51.Are union nuts and connections on regulators inspected before use to
detect faulty seats that may cause leakage of gas when the regulators are
attached to the cylinder valves? [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(6)(iv)]