Optional Information
Name of school: 
Date of inspection:
Career-Technical program/course/room:
Signature of inspector: 


Welding and Cutting with
Oxygen-Fuel Gas
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 1910.253 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.

     Please Circle  
General Requirements

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are all employees trained and judged
    competent in the use of welding apparatus?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(a)(4) and 1926.350(d)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are rules and instructions covering the
    operation and maintenance of oxygen or
    fuel-gas supply equipment readily available?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(a)(4)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 


Cylinders and Containers

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are oxygen and acetylene cylinders kept
    away from radiators and other sources of heat?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(i)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Do empty cylinders have the valves closed?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(iii) and (b)(5)(ii)(H)
    and 1926.350(a)(8)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Is using cylinders as rollers or supports prohibited?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(K) and 1926.350(c)(1)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Is tampering with safety devices prohibited?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(H)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are cylinder valves always opened slowly?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(J) and 1926.350(d)(2)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are the fuel-gas hose and oxygen hose
    easily distinguished from each other?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(1)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are all hoses inspected at the beginning of
    each day?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(3)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are leaking, defective, burned, or worn hoses
    removed, repaired, or replaced?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(5)(v) and 1926.350(f)(3)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are boxes used for the storage of gas
    hose ventilated?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(6)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are hoses, cables, and other equipment kept
    clear of passageways, ladders, and stairs?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(f)(7)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are clogged torch-tip openings cleaned with
    suitable cleaning wires, drills, or other devices
    designed for this purpose?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(g)(1)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are torches inspected at the beginning of
    each day for leaking shutoff valves, hose
    couplings, and tip connections?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(g)(2)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are defective torches removed from use?
    [29 CFR 1926.350(g)(2)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are regulators (including gauges) repaired
    only by skilled mechanics who have had
    proper instruction?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(6)(ii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are gauges on oxygen regulators marked
    USE NO OIL?
    [29 CFR 1910.253(e)(6)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. 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)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 



Comments/Corrective action:



















Back to the previous page           Back to Contents

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health