1. Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

2. Welding safety program guidelines
Determine who is accountable for enforcement of welding operations
Hot work permitting system
Perform a job hazard assessment of welding equipment 1a

3. Welding safety program guidelines
Special procedures for equipment used in welding process
Care of cylinders
Ventilation systems
Fire prevention 1b

4. Welding safety program guidelines
Engineering controls
Administrative controls
Personal protective equipment
Equipment inspection and maintenance
Incident investigation 1c

5. Welding hazards Damage to eyes and skin
Ultraviolet (UV) rays
Infrared rays
Purging and cleaning of closed containers prior to welding operations 2a

6. Welding hazards Toxic gases, fumes, and dusts
Fire hazards from welding and cutting operations 2b

7. Welding hazards
Metal splatter
Electric shock
Explosion hazards 2c

8. General safe work practices
Use a platform with toeboards when working from elevated surfaces
Protect workers from stray sparks or slag in areas below elevated work surfaces 3a

9. General safe work practices
Warn others of hot metal by marking work areas
Keep floor areas clear of electrodes and/or electrode stubs 3b

10. General safe work practices
Never use bare conductors, damaged regulators, torches, or electrode holders
Never arc weld or resist weld while standing on damp surfaces 3c

11. General safe work practices
Keep fire extinguishers near areas where hot work is performed 3d

12. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Never accept compressed gas cylinders (CGCs) that were shipped in a horizontal position
Store CGCs upright
Keep CGCs secured with chains or cables 4a

13. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Group cylinders by type of gas
Store full and empty cylinders apart
Store gases so that old stock is removed and used first 4b

14. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Keep protective caps on stored CGCs
Prevent the dropping or banging of CGCs
Don’t roll CGCs along the bottom rim 4c

15. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Don’t lift CGCs by the cap unless using hand trucks designed for this purpose
Prevent cylinders from falling, or from having objects fall on them 4d

16. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Ensure that valves, hoses, connectors, and regulators are in good condition 4e

17. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Never open valves until regulators are drained of gas and pressure adjusting devices are released
When empty, close and return CGCs to the vendor 4f

18. Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage
Empty CGCs must be labeled “MT” or “Empty”
Keep oil and grease away from oxygen CGCs, valves, and hoses 4g

19. Fire watches for welding operations

20. Designate a fire watch whenever these conditions exist
Combustible material is within 35 feet of the point of operation
Combustibles are more than 35 feet away, but are easily ignited by sparks 5b

21. Designate a fire watch whenever these conditions exist
Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas
Combustible materials opposite of walls or ceilings can be ignited by conduction or radiation 5c

22. Fire watchers will:
Have fire extinguishers readily available, and be trained in their use
Be familiar with alarm systems and their operation in the event of a fire 5d

23. Fire watchers will: Watch for fires in all exposed areas
Only try to extinguish fires obviously within the capacity of the equipment 5e

24. Fire watchers will:
Stay in hot work areas for at least one half hour after hot work operations have ceased to detect and extinguish smoldering fires 5f

25. Welding safety in confined spaces
Before entry, test the work space for the following types of hazards:
Flammability
Combustibility
Toxic fumes
Slippery floor surfaces 6a

26. Welding safety in confined spaces
When and where applicable, wear respiratory protection and a safety harness attached to a lifeline 6b

27. When hot work in a confined space is interrupted
Disconnect power to arc welding or cutting equipment
Remove electrodes from holders
Turn off torch valves 6c

28. When hot work in a confined space is interrupted
Turn off gas supply to gas welding and cutting units at a point outside the space
Remove the torch and hose from the confined space, if possible 6d

29. Make housekeeping a priority
Keep welding areas free of combustibles
Ensure proper storage of compressed gas cylinders 7

30. Don’t take shortcuts
Getting the job done safely is the first consideration
Always evaluate the job and implement appropriate safety precautions 8