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Welding, Cutting, and
Brazing-General Requirements
Self-Inspection Checklist

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 1910.25 and the construction standards 29 CFR 1926.351, 1926.352, 1926.353, and 1926.354. The checklist applies to operations involving welding, cutting, brazing, and heating. This checklist does not cover in detail regulations dealing with work in confined or enclosed spaces. If these conditions are encountered, please consult 29 CFR 1910.146, 1910.252, and 1926.353. 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.

check mark symbol Questions marked with this symbol may require the help of an outside expert.
 

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  Fire Prevention and Protection
 
  1. Are all moveable fire hazards and combustibles

    2. moved to at least 35 feet away from areas or
    objects to be welded?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(1)(i) and 1910.252(a)(2)(vii) and
    1926.352(a)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. When welding or cutting operations are performed

    2. within 35 feet of combustible materials or floor,
    ceiling, or wall openings, are guards, barriers, or
    other precautions used to confine heat
    sparks and slag?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(1)(ii), 29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A),
    and 1926.352(b)]

    Note: If all fire hazards cannot be removed or
    when the floor, ceiling, or wall has openings,
    special precautions listed in 1910.252(a)(2) and
    1926.352(e) and (f) may be necessary. These
    requirements include having fire watchers
    present during and up to 30 minutes after the
    job is done; having an inspection conducted
    before beginning work; covering or wetting
    combustible materials; relocating combustibles;
    and covering or shutting down ventilation ducts
    and conveyors. In some cases, welding or
    cutting is prohibited if sprinkler systems are
    inoperable or unusual fire and explosion
    hazards exist.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Is welding prohibited where flammable materials

    2. are used (such as paints) or where heavy dust
    concentrations are present?
    [29 CFR 1926.352(c)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Is suitable fire extinguishing equipment kept

    2. where welding or cutting is done? Is this
    equipment ready for instant use?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(ii) and 1926.352(d)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. When students or employees weld or cut

    2. containers such as barrels or tanks, are the
    containers thoroughly cleaned to remove
    materials that, when heated, may cause fire,
    explosion, or release of toxic materials?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(3)(i) and 1926.352(i)]

    Note: The construction regulations in 1926.352(i)
    also permit barrels or tanks to be filled with
    water as an alternative to cleaning.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Before welding or cutting containers, are all

    2. hollow spaces and cavities vented to
    release trapped air or gases?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(a)(3)(ii) and 1926.352(j)]

    Note: Purging with inert gas is recommended.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Protection of Personnel
 
  1. Are welding cables and hoses kept clear of

    2. passageways, ladders, and stairways?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(1)(ii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are welders, cutters, brazers, and helpers given

    2. suitable face, neck, and ear protection to prevent
    direct radiant energy from the arc?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(ii)(B)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are welders, cutters, brazers, and helpers given

    2. suitable eye protection with proper filter
    lens shade numbers?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2) and 1926.353(e)(2)]

    Note: The following is a guide for selecting
    proper shade numbers. These recommendations
    may vary to suit individual needs:
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(ii)(H)]
     

    Welding Operations*
    Shade No.
    Shielded metal-arc welding:
         1/16-, 3/32-, 1/8-, 5/32-inch electrodes

    Gas-shielded arc welding (nonferrous):
         1/16-, 3/32-, 1/8-, 5/32-inch electrodes

    Gas-shielded arc welding (ferrous):
         1/16-, 3/32-, 1/8-, 5/32-inch electrodes

    Shielded metal-arc welding:
         3/16-, 7/32-, 1/4-inch electrodes
         5/16-, 3/8-inch electrodes

    Atomic hydrogen welding

    Carbon arc welding

    Soldering

    Torch brazing

    Light cutting, up to 1 inch

    Medium cutting, 1 inch to 6 inches

    Heavy cutting, 6 inches and over

    Gas welding (light) up to 1/8 inch

    Gas welding (medium) 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch

    Gas welding (heavy) 1/2 inch and over 
    10
     

    11
     

    12
     

    12
    14

    10-14

    14

    2

    3 or 4

    3 or 4

    4 or 5

    5 or 6

    4 or 5

    5 or 6

    6 or 8
     *Note: In gas welding or oxygen cutting in which the
       torch produces a high yellow light, use a filter
       or lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line
       in the visible light of the operation.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are employees and students who are welding on

    2. platforms, scaffolds, or runways protected from
    falls by railings, lifelines, or safety belts?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(1)(i)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. When the work permits, are welders enclosed in

    2. an individual noncombustible booth or screened-in
    area with an internal, nonreflective surface?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii) and 1926.351(e)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Do booths and screens permit air circulation

    2. at the floor level?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii) and (c)(1)(ii)] 

    Note: At least 2 feet of space is recommended
    at the bottom.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are employees and students working nearby

    2. protected from arc welding rays by screens,
    booths, or shields?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are employees and students given personal

    2. protective clothing to prevent injury from
    welding hazards?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(3)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

check mark symbol
  1. Are all welding operations in confined spaces

    2. done with careful consideration to space
    ventilation, respiratory protection, rescue,
    escape, atmospheric testing, and
    personnel training?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(b)(4)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

check mark symbol
  1. Have all operations involving the welding, cutting,

    2. or heating of metals containing lead, cadmium,
    mercury, or beryllium been evaluated to determine
    if respiratory protection is required?
    [29 CFR 1926.353(c)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Health Protection and Ventilation

check mark symbol
  1. Is local or general exhaust ventilation provided

    2. during welding to maintain concentrations of
    toxic materials such as fluorides, cadmium,
    zinc, beryllium, lead, or mercury within
    acceptable limits?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(c) and 1926.353(a)(2)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Do the suppliers of fluxes, coatings, coverings,

    2. and filler metals supply information about the
    hazardous releases associated with these
    materials?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(c)(1)(iv)]

    Note: Check the MSDS (material safety data
    sheet) for information.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Is mechanical ventilation provided when there is

    2. less than 10,000 cubic feet of space per welder?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(c)(2)(i)(A)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Is mechanical ventilation provided when the

    2. ceiling height is less than 16 feet?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(c)(2)(i)(B)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Is contaminated air exhausted from a working

    2. space discharged into the open air and away
    from sources of fresh intake air?
    [29 CFR 1926.353(a)(4)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Is first aid equipment for welders immediately

    2. available at all times?
    [29 CFR 1910.252(c)(13)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Welding, Cutting, and Heating of Coatings
 
  1. Is the welding, cutting, or heating of surfaces

    2. covered by a preservative coating prohibited
    unless the flammability of the coating has been
    evaluated by a competent person?
    [29 CFR 1926.354(a)]

    Note: Preservative coatings shall be considered
    highly flammable when scrapings burn quickly.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are highly flammable coatings stripped from

    2. the area to be heated?
    [29 CFR 1926.354(b)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Have preservative coatings been stripped from

    2. the object so that the temperature of the
    unstripped metal will not be appreciably raised?
    [29 CFR 1926.354(d)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are toxic preservative surfaces removed to at

    2. least 4 inches away from the area of heat
    application, or is suitable respiratory
    protection provided?
    [29 CFR 1926.354(c)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health