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)?

2.    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?

3.    Are all employees trained and judged competent in the use of the welding apparatus?

4.    Are rules and instructions covering the operation and maintenance of oxygen or fuel-gas supply equipment readily available?

 

Cylinders and Containers

5.    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?

6.    Are oxygen and acetylene cylinders kept away from radiators and other sources of heat?

7.    Inside buildings are cylinders stored in well-protected, well-ventilated, dry locations at least 20 feet from highly combustible material such as oil?

8.    Are cylinders stored in designated spaces where they will not be knocked over, damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized people?

9.    Do empty cylinders have the valves closed?

10.  Are valve-protection caps always in place on cylinders that are not in use?

11.  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)?

12.  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?

13.  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?

14.  Are cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings, regulators, hoses, and apparatus kept free from oily and greasy substances?

15.  Are employees required to handle oxygen cylinders with oil- and grease-free hands or gloves?

16.  Is care taken to ensure cylinders are not dropped, struck, handled roughly, or permitted to strike each other violently?

Note: Cylinders may be moved by tilting and rolling them on their bottom edges, but a cylinder cart is strongly recommended.

17.  Is using valve-protection caps prohibited for lifting the cylinder from one vertical position to another?

18.  Unless the cylinders are secured on a special truck, are regulators removed and valve-protection caps installed before cylinders are moved?

19.  Do cylinders without fixed hand wheels have keys, handles, or non-adjustable wrenches on the valve stems while the cylinders are in service?

20.  Are cylinder valves closed when work is finished and before cylinders are moved?

21.  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?

22.  Are cylinders placed where they cannot become part of an electrical circuit?

23.  Is using cylinders as rollers or supports prohibited?

24.  When cylinders are hoisted, are they secured on a cradle, sling board, or pallet?

Note: Cylinders may not be hoisted or transported by magnets or choker slings.

25.  Is using a hammer or wrench to open cylinder valves prohibited?

Note: If valves cannot be opened by hand, notify the supplier.

26.  Is a policy in the place to report problems promptly to the supplier?

Note: Employees should not attempt to repair a cylinder.

27.  Are fuel-gas cylinders placed with the valve end up whenever they are in use?

28.  Are compressed-gas cylinders secured in an upright position so they cannot fall or be knocked over?

 Note: Use a suitable cylinder truck, chain, or other steadying devices.

29.  Before connecting a regulator to a cylinder valve, do employees open the valve slightly and close it immediately?

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.

30.  Before the regulator is removed, is the cylinder valve closed and the gas released from the regulator?

31.  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?

32.  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?

33.  Is tampering with safety devices prohibited?

34.  Are cylinder valves always opened slowly?

35.  Do employees 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?

36.  Is flash-back the protection provided by an approved device that will prevent the flame from passing into the fuel-gas system?

37.  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?

38.  Are the fuel-gas hose and oxygen hose easily distinguished from each other?

39.  Are all hoses inspected at the beginning of each day?

40.  Are leaking, defective, burned, or worn hoses removed, repaired, or replaced?

41.  Are hose couplings of the type that cannot be unlocked or disconnected by a straight pull without rotary motion?

42.  Are boxes used for the storage of gas hose ventilated?

43.  Are hoses, cables and other equipment kept clear of passageways, ladders, and stairs?

44.  Are clogged torch-tip openings cleaned with suitable cleaning wires, drills, or other devices designed for this purpose?

45.  Are torches inspected at the beginning of each day for leaking shutoff valves, hose couplings, and tip connections?

46.  Are defective torches removed from use?

47.  Are torches lighted by friction lighters or other approved devices?

Note: Torches should not be lighted by matches or from hot work.

48.  Are regulators (including gauges) repaired only by skilled mechanics who have had proper instruction?

49.  Are gauges on oxygen regulators marked USE NO OIL?

50.  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?