**WELDING, CUTTING AND BRAZING**

**Assessment Plan**

**NNSA/Nevada Site Office Facility Representative Division**

**Performance Objective:**

This assessment is to verify hot work requirements associated with
welding, cutting, burning, brazing, grinding and other spark- or
flame-producing operations have been implemented. Verify that the
requirements implemented are appropriate for preventing loss of life and
property from fire, and personal injury from contact with or exposure to
molten metals, vapors, radiant energy, injurious rays and sparks.

**Criteria:**

Establish designated area in which routine and repetitive welding,
cutting, and other spark- or flame producing operations are conducted
\[1910.252(a)(2)(iv),1910.252(a)(2)(vi)(A), 1910.252(a)(2)(xv), General
Requirements\].

Suitable fire extinguisher equipment shall be maintained in a state of
readiness and shall be

accessible for instant use; \[1926.352 and 1910.252(a)(2)(ii), General
Requirements\]

A fire watch is required whenever spark- or flame producing operations
are performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop.
\[1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A), General Requirements\].

Shielding shall be in place to protect personnel in the general vicinity
from bright light rays or exposure to flames and sparks \[1926.351,
shielding and 1910.252(a)(1)(ii), General Requirements\], and

The required personal protective equipment shall be available and used
\[1910.252(b)(3), General Requirements\].

**References:**

Code of Federal Regulations, 1910 Subpart Q, Welding, Cutting, and
Brazing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 1926.252, General requirements..

Code of Federal Regulations, 1926.253, Oxygen-fuel gas welding and
cutting

Code of Federal Regulations, 1926.254, Arc welding and cutting.

Code of Federal Regulations, [1926 Subpart
J](http://www.osha-slc.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1926),
Welding and Cutting.

Code of Federal Regulations,
[1926.350](http://www.osha-slc.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10696),
Gas welding and cutting.

Code of Federal Regulations,
[1926.351](http://www.osha-slc.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10697),
Arc welding and cutting.

Code of Federal Regulations,
[1926.352](http://www.osha-slc.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10698),
Fire prevention.

> Code of Federal Regulations,
> [1926.353](http://www.osha-slc.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10699),
> Ventilation and protection in welding, cutting, and heating.
>
> Code of Federal Regulations,
> [1926.354](http://www.osha-slc.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10700),
> Welding, cutting, and heating in way of preservative coatings.

American Welding Society, "Recommended Safe Practices for the
Preparation for Welding and Cutting of Containers That Have Held
Hazardous Substances," AWS F-4.1 (most recent edition)

National Fire Protection Association, "Standard for Fire Prevention in
Use of Cutting and Welding

Processes," NFPA 51B (most recent edition)

American National Standards Institute, "Safety in Welding, Cutting, and
Allied Processes, ANSI Z49.1

(most recent edition)

Code of Federal Regulations, "Welding, Cutting, and Brazing," 29 CFR
1910.252, Subpart Q, OSHA

(most recent edition)

Code of Federal Regulations, "Fire Protection," 29 CFR 1926.150 (most
recent edition)

Code of Federal Regulations, "Fire Prevention," 29 CFR 1926.151 (most
recent edition)

Code of Federal Regulations, "Fire Prevention," 29 CFR 1926.352 (most
recent edition)

U.S. Department of Energy, June 1997, "Fire Prevention Measures for
Cutting, Welding, and Related

Activities, "DOE/EH-0196, Issue No. 97-3 (Issue No. 91-3 revised)

**Approach:**

Document Review:

**Interviews:**

Facility Manager / Supervisors

Operators / Maintenance personnel

**Observations**

**Welding, Cutting and Brazing**

**Lines of Inquiry**

**NNSA/Nevada Site Office/Facility Representative Division**

  --------------------------------------- --------- -------- --------- ---------------------
                                          **YES**   **NO**   **N/A**   **COMMENTS**

  1\. Are only authorized and trained                                  
  personnel permitted to use welding,                                  
  cutting or brazing equipment                                         
  \[1910.253(a)(4), Oxygen-fuel gas                                    
  welding and cutting\]?                                               

  2\. Does each operator have a copy of                                
  the appropriate operating instructions                               
  and are they directed to follow them                                 
  \[1910.2539a)(4), Oxygen-fuel gas                                    
  welding and cutting\]?                                               

  3\. Are compressed gas cylinders                                     
  regularly examined for obvious signs of                              
  defects, deep rusting, or leakage                                    
  \[1926.350(c)(3), Gas Cutting and                                    
  Welding\]?                                                           

  4\. Is care used in handling and                                     
  storage of cylinders, safety valves,                                 
  relief valves, etc., to prevent damage                               
  \[1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(B), Oxygen-fuel                                
  gas welding and cutting\]?                                           

  5\. Are precautions taken to prevent                                 
  the mixture of air or oxygen with                                    
  flammable gases, except at a burner or                               
  in a standard torch (1926.350,                                       
  Treatment of Cylinders)?                                             

  6\. Are only approved apparatus                                      
  (torches, regulators, pressure-reducing                              
  valves, acetylene generators,                                        
  manifolds) used \[1910.253(a)(3),                                    
  Oxygen-fuel gas welding and cutting\]?                               

  7\. Are cylinders kept away from                                     
  sources of heat \[1926.350, Placing                                  
  Cylinders, and 1926.350(b)(3), Gas                                   
  Welding and Cutting\]?                                               

  8\. Are the cylinders kept away from                                 
  elevators, stairs, or gangways                                       
  (1926.350, Transporting, Moving and                                  
  Storing Compressed Gas Cylinders)?                                   

  9\. Is it prohibited to use cylinders                                
  as rollers or supports (1926.350,                                    
  Treatment of Cylinders)?                                             

  10\. Are empty cylinders appropriately                               
  marked and their valves closed                                       
  (1926.350, Transporting, Moving and                                  
  Storing Compressed Gas Cylinders)?                                   

                                          **YES**   **NO**   **N/A**   **COMMENTS**

  11\. Are postings placed near cylinders                              
  having leaking fuse plugs or other                                   
  leaking safety devices so as not to                                  
  approach them with a source of ignition                              
  \[1910.253(b)(5)(iii)(G), Oxygen-fuel                                
  gas welding and cutting\]?                                           

  12\. Are cylinders, cylinder valves,                                 
  couplings, regulators, hoses, and                                    
  apparatus kept free of oily or greasy                                
  substances \[1926.350, Oil and Grease                                
  Hazards and 1926.350(i),                                             
  Inert-Gas/Metal-Arc Welding\]?                                       

  13\. Is care taken not to drop or                                    
  strike cylinders \[1926.350(a)(3),                                   
  Inert-Gas/Metal-Arc Welding\]?                                       

  14\. Unless secured on special trucks,                               
  are regulators removed and                                           
  valve-protection caps put in place                                   
  before moving cylinders                                              
  \[1926.350(a)(6), Gas Welding and                                    
  Cutting\]?                                                           

  15\. Are liquefied gases stored and                                  
  shipped valve-end up with valve covers                               
  in place \[1926.350(a)(1),                                           
  1926.350(a)(4), 1926.350(a)(9), Gas                                  
  Welding and Cutting\]?                                               

  16\. Are provisions made to never crack                              
  a fuel-gas cylinder valve near sources                               
  of ignition \[1926.350(b)(1), Gas                                    
  Welding and Cutting\]?                                               

  17\. Before a regulator is removed, is                               
  the valve closed and gas released from                               
  the regulator \[1926.350(d)(4), Gas                                  
  Welding and Cutting\]?                                               

  18\. Is the fuel gas hose and oxygen                                 
  gas hose easily distinguishable from                                 
  each other, either by colors or by                                   
  surface characteristics through the                                  
  sense of touch \[1926.350(f)(1), Gas                                 
  Welding and Cutting\]?                                               

  19\. Are gauges and pressure-reducing                                
  regulators in prime working order while                              
  in use \[1926.350(h), Gas Welding and                                
  Cutting\]?                                                           

  20\. On arc welding equipment are there                              
  cables that are worn or in need of                                   
  repair \[1926.351(b)(4), Arc welding                                 
  and Cutting\]?                                                       

  21\. In arc welding are the ground                                   
  connections periodically inspected to                                
  ensure that they are mechanically                                    
  strong and electrically adequate                                     
  \[1926.351, Arc Welding and Cutting\]?                               

                                          **YES**   **NO**   **N/A**   **COMMENTS**

  22\. Are electrodes removed from the                                 
  holders when not in use                                              
  \[1910.252(b)(4)(v), General                                         
  Requirements and 1926.351, Arc Welding                               
  and Cutting\]?                                                       

  23\. Is it required that electric power                              
  to the welder be shut off when no one                                
  is in attendance \[1910.252(b)(4)(v),                                
  General Requirements and 1926.351, Arc                               
  Welding and Cutting\]?                                               

  24\. Is suitable fire extinguishing                                  
  equipment available for immediate use                                
  \[1910.252(a)(2)(ii), General                                        
  Requirements\]?                                                      

  25\. Are work and electrode lead cables                              
  frequently inspected for wear and                                    
  damage, and replaced when needed                                     
  \[1926.351, Arc Welding and Cutting?                                 

  26\. Do means for connecting cable                                   
  lengths have adequate insulation                                     
  \[1926.351, Arc Welding and Cutting\]?                               

  27\. When the object to be welded                                    
  cannot be moved and fire hazards cannot                              
  be removed, are shields used to confine                              
  heat, sparks, and slag \[1926.352, Fire                              
  Prevention\]?                                                        

  28\. Are fire watchers assigned when                                 
  welding or cutting is performed in                                   
  locations where a serious fire might                                 
  develop \[1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A),                                    
  General Requirements\]?                                              

  29\. Are combustible floors kept wet,                                
  covered by damp sand, or protected by                                
  fire-resistant shields                                               
  \[1910.252(a)(2)(v), General                                         
  Requirements\]?                                                      

  30\. When floors are wet down, are                                   
  personnel protected from possible                                    
  electrical shock \[1910.252(a)(2)(v),                                
  General Requirements\]?                                              

  31\. When welding is done on metal                                   
  walls, are precautions taken to protect                              
  combustibles on the other side                                       
  \[1910.252(a)(2)(iii)(A)(3), General                                 
  Requirements\]?                                                      

  32\. Before hot work is begun, are used                              
  drums, barrels, tanks, and other                                     
  containers so thoroughly cleaned that                                
  no substances remain that could                                      
  explode, ignite, or produce toxic                                    
  vapors \[1910.252(a)(2)(vi)(B) and                                   
  1910.252(a)(3), General Requirements\]?                              

                                          **YES**   **NO**   **N/A**   **COMMENTS**

  33\. Is it required that eye protection                              
  helmets, hand shields and goggles meet                               
  appropriate standards                                                
  \[1910.252(b)(2)(ii)(I), General                                     
  Requirements\]?                                                      

  34\. Are employees exposed to the                                    
  hazards created by welding, cutting or                               
  brazing operations protected with                                    
  personal protective equipment and                                    
  clothing \[1910.252(b)(3), General                                   
  Requirements\]?                                                      

  35\. Is a check made for adequate                                    
  ventilation in and where welding or                                  
  cutting is performed                                                 
  \[1910.252(b)(4)(ii), General                                        
  Requirements\]?                                                      

  36\. When working in confined places,                                
  are environmental monitoring tests                                   
  taken and means provided for quick                                   
  removal of welders in case of an                                     
  emergency \[1926.353, Ventilation and                                
  Protection in Welding, Cutting and                                   
  Heating\]?                                                           
  --------------------------------------- --------- -------- --------- ---------------------