[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1926.350]
[Page 237-239]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR
PART 1926_SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION--Table of Contents
Subpart J_Welding and Cutting
Sec. 1926.350 Gas welding and cutting.
Authority: Sec. 107, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act
(Construction Safety Act) (40 U.S.C. 333); secs. 4, 6, 8, Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Secretary of
Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), or 9-83 (48 FR
35736), as applicable.
(a) Transporting, moving, and storing compressed gas cylinders. (1)
Valve protection caps shall be in place and secured.
(2) When cylinders are hoisted, they shall be secured on a cradle,
slingboard, or pallet. They shall not be hoisted or transported by means
of magnets or choker slings.
(3) Cylinders shall be moved by tilting and rolling them on their
bottom edges. They shall not be intentionally dropped, struck, or
permitted to strike each other violently.
(4) When cylinders are transported by powered vehicles, they shall
be secured in a vertical position.
(5) Valve protection caps shall not be used for lifting cylinders
from one vertical position to another. Bars shall not be used under
valves or valve protection caps to pry cylinders loose when frozen.
Warm, not boiling, water shall be used to thaw cylinders loose.
(6) Unless cylinders are firmly secured on a special carrier
intended for this purpose, regulators shall be removed and valve
protection caps put in place before cylinders are moved.
(7) A suitable cylinder truck, chain, or other steadying device
shall be used to keep cylinders from being knocked over while in use.
(8) When work is finished, when cylinders are empty, or when
cylinders are moved at any time, the cylinder valve shall be closed.
(9) 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.
(10) Oxygen cylinders in storage shall be separated from fuel-gas
cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum
distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5
feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half
hour.
(11) Inside of buildings, cylinders shall be stored in a well-
protected, well-ventilated, dry location, at least 20 feet (6.1 m) from
highly combustible
[[Page 238]]
materials such as oil or excelsior. Cylinders should be stored in
definitely assigned places away from elevators, stairs, or gangways.
Assigned storage places shall be located where cylinders will not be
knocked over or damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to
tampering by unauthorized persons. Cylinders shall not be kept in
unventilated enclosures such as lockers and cupboards.
(12) The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all
compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tankcars, or motor
vehicle cargo tanks shall be in accordance with Compressed Gas
Association Pamphlet P-1-1965.
(b) Placing cylinders. (1) Cylinders shall be kept far enough away
from the actual welding or cutting operation so that sparks, hot slag,
or flame will not reach them. When this is impractical, fire resistant
shields shall be provided.
(2) Cylinders shall be placed where they cannot become part of an
electrical circuit. Electrodes shall not be struck against a cylinder to
strike an arc.
(3) Fuel gas cylinders shall be placed with valve end up whenever
they are in use. They shall not be placed in a location where they would
be subject to open flame, hot metal, or other sources of artificial
heat.
(4) Cylinders containing oxygen or acetylene or other fuel gas shall
not be taken into confined spaces.
(c) Treatment of cylinders. (1) Cylinders, whether full or empty,
shall not be used as rollers or supports.
(2) No person other than the gas supplier shall attempt to mix gases
in a cylinder. No one except the owner of the cylinder or person
authorized by him, shall refill a cylinder. No one shall use a
cylinder's contents for purposes other than those intended by the
supplier. All cylinders used shall meet the Department of Transportation
requirements published in 49 CFR part 178, subpart C, Specification for
Cylinders.
(3) No damaged or defective cylinder shall be used.
(d) Use of fuel gas. The employer shall thoroughly instruct
employees in the safe use of fuel gas, as follows:
(1) Before a regulator to a cylinder valve is connected, the valve
shall be opened slightly and closed immediately. (This action is
generally termed ``cracking'' and is intended to clear the valve of dust
or dirt that might otherwise enter the regulator.) The person cracking
the valve shall stand to one side of the outlet, not in front of it. The
valve of a fuel gas cylinder shall not be cracked where the gas would
reach welding work, sparks, flame, or other possible sources of
ignition.
(2) The cylinder valve shall always be opened slowly to prevent
damage to the regulator. For quick closing, valves on fuel gas cylinders
shall not be opened more than 1\1/2\ turns. When a special wrench is
required, it shall be left in position on the stem of the valve while
the cylinder is in use so that the fuel gas flow can be shut off quickly
in case of an emergency. In the case of manifolded or coupled cylinders,
at least one such wrench shall always be available for immediate use.
Nothing shall be placed on top of a fuel gas cylinder, when in use,
which may damage the safety device or interfere with the quick closing
of the valve.
(3) Fuel gas shall not be used from cylinders through torches or
other devices which are equipped with shutoff valves without reducing
the pressure through a suitable regulator attached to the cylinder valve
or manifold.
(4) Before a regulator is removed from a cylinder valve, the
cylinder valve shall always be closed and the gas released from the
regulator.
(5) If, when the valve on a fuel gas cylinder is opened, there is
found to be a leak around the valve stem, the valve shall be closed and
the gland nut tightened. If this action does not stop the leak, the use
of the cylinder shall be discontinued, and it shall be properly tagged
and removed from the work area. In the event that fuel gas should leak
from the cylinder valve, rather than from the valve stem, and the gas
cannot be shut off, the cylinder shall be properly tagged and removed
from the work area. If a regulator attached to a cylinder valve will
effectively stop a leak through the valve seat, the cylinder need not be
removed from the work area.
[[Page 239]]
(6) If a leak should develop at a fuse plug or other safety device,
the cylinder shall be removed from the work area.
(e) Fuel gas and oxygen manifolds. (1) Fuel gas and oxygen manifolds
shall bear the name of the substance they contain in letters at least 1-
inch high which shall be either painted on the manifold or on a sign
permanently attached to it.
(2) Fuel gas and oxygen manifolds shall be placed in safe, well
ventilated, and accessible locations. They shall not be located within
enclosed spaces.
(3) Manifold hose connections, including both ends of the supply
hose that lead to the manifold, shall be such that the hose cannot be
interchanged between fuel gas and oxygen manifolds and supply header
connections. Adapters shall not be used to permit the interchange of
hose. Hose connections shall be kept free of grease and oil.
(4) When not in use, manifold and header hose connections shall be
capped.
(5) Nothing shall be placed on top of a manifold, when in use, which
will damage the manifold or interfere with the quick closing of the
valves.
(f) Hose. (1) Fuel gas hose and oxygen hose shall be easily
distinguishable from each other. The contrast may be made by different
colors or by surface characteristics readily distinguishable by the
sense of touch. Oxygen and fuel gas hoses shall not be interchangeable.
A single hose having more than one gas passage shall not be used.
(2) When parallel sections of oxygen and fuel gas hose are taped
together, not more than 4 inches out of 12 inches shall be covered by
tape.
(3) All hose in use, carrying acetylene, oxygen, natural or
manufactured fuel gas, or any gas or substance which may ignite or enter
into combustion, or be in any way harmful to employees, shall be
inspected at the beginning of each working shift. Defective hose shall
be removed from service.
(4) Hose which has been subject to flashback, or which shows
evidence of severe wear or damage, shall be tested to twice the normal
pressure to which it is subject, but in no case less than 300 p.s.i.
Defective hose, or hose in doubtful condition, shall not be used.
(5) Hose couplings shall be of the type that cannot be unlocked or
disconnected by means of a straight pull without rotary motion.
(6) Boxes used for the storage of gas hose shall be ventilated.
(7) Hoses, cables, and other equipment shall be kept clear of
passageways, ladders and stairs.
(g) Torches. (1) Clogged torch tip openings shall be cleaned with
suitable cleaning wires, drills, or other devices designed for such
purpose.
(2) Torches in use shall be inspected at the beginning of each
working shift for leaking shutoff valves, hose couplings, and tip
connections. Defective torches shall not be used.
(3) Torches shall be lighted by friction lighters or other approved
devices, and not by matches or from hot work.
(h) Regulators and gauges. Oxygen and fuel gas pressure regulators,
including their related gauges, shall be in proper working order while
in use.
(i) Oil and grease hazards. Oxygen cylinders and fittings shall be
kept away from oil or grease. Cylinders, cylinder caps and valves,
couplings, regulators, hose, and apparatus shall be kept free from oil
or greasy substances and shall not be handled with oily hands or gloves.
Oxygen shall not be directed at oily surfaces, greasy clothes, or within
a fuel oil or other storage tank or vessel.
(j) Additional rules. For additional details not covered in this
subpart, applicable technical portions of American National Standards
Institute, Z49.1-1967, Safety in Welding and Cutting, shall apply.
[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 55
FR 42328, Oct. 18, 1990; 58 FR 35179, June 30, 1993]
