Section 10 - Welding and Cutting
10.A General.
10.A.01 Welders, cutters, and their supervisor must be trained in the safe operation of their equipment, safe welding/cutting practices, and welding/cutting respiratory and fire protection. > AIHA publication "Welding Health and Safety: A Field Guide for OEHS Professionals" is recommended.
10.A.02 All welding equipment must be inspected before each use to ensure that all required safety devices and ancillary equipment are in place and properly functioning. Defective equipment must be removed from service, replaced or repaired, and reinspected before again being placed in service
.10.A.03 Electrical and Pressurized System Requirements.
- Welding cylinders and their use and maintenance must meet the applicable requirements of Section 20.
- Arc welding and cutting systems and their use must meet the applicable requirements of this section.
10.A.04 Arc welding and cutting operations must be shielded by noncombustible or flameproof screens that will protect employees and other persons working within 35 ft (10.7 m) from the direct rays of the arc, sparks, molten metal, spatter, and chipped slag.
- Welding curtains must be suitable for the welding process and amperage.
- Welding curtains must provide a high degree of safety against ultraviolet radiation and blue light.
- Welding curtains must be fade resistant and flame retardant.
- The use of blue tinted welding curtains is prohibited if observers are in the work area as they provide very little blue light protection.
10.A.05 Cable, hoses, and other equipment must be kept clear of passageways, ladders, and stairways.
10.A.06 Welding and Cutting of Hazardous Materials.
- When welding, cutting, or heating on steel pipelines containing natural gas, 49 CFR 192 must apply.
- Before welding, cutting, or heating is commenced on any surface covered by a preservative coating whose flammability is not known, a test must be made to determine its flammability. Preservative coatings must be considered highly flammable when scrapings burn with extreme rapidity.
- Preservative coatings must be removed a sufficient distance from the area to be heated to ensure any temperature increase of the un-stripped metal will not result in visually observable decomposition, or degradation of the coatings; artificial cooling of the metal surrounding the heating area may be used to limit the area to be stripped.
- When welding, cutting, or heating toxic surface coatings (paints, preservatives, surface stripping chemicals, etc.) in enclosed spaces, all surfaces covered with the coatings must be stripped of such for a distance of at least 4 in (10.1 cm) from the area of heat application or the employees must be protected by airline respirators.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
10-1. Arc welding screens must protect employees and other persons working within _____.
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