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Several of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) welding and cutting standards require employers to train workers and specify who needs training, the frequency of training, and recordkeeping requirements. Extended classroom and hands-on training for welders and welding helpers (such as fire watchers) may be needed to meet requirements.
The table below gives an overview of the OSHA regulations that apply to training for hot work in general industry:
Subject | Regulation | Who to train | When | Records to keep |
Welding, cutting, and brazing | 1910.252 | Cutters, welders, and their supervisors in safe equipment operation | Initially, and judged competent prior to assignment | No specific training documentation is required |
Oxygen-fuel gas welding and cutting | 1910.253 | Employees in charge of the oxygen or fuel-gas supply equipment | Initially, and judged competent prior to assignment | No specific training documentation is required |
Arc welding and cutting | 1910.254 | Employees who will operate arc welding equipment | Initially, or prior to assignment | No specific training documentation is required |
Resistance welding | 1910.255 | Employees who will operate resistance welding equipment | Initially, or prior to assignment | No specific training documentation is required |
Welding training should be provided in a language that the trainees understand. If a trainee’s vocabulary is limited, employers should account for that limitation. Translators may be needed.
Trainees should be made familiar with the company welding safety program. Anyone working welding or working around welding and other hot work should know:
An effective welding training program may also address:
Training for fire watchers
Fire watchers provide additional safeguards against fire during and after welding, cutting, or heating operations. Their responsibilities are addressed by OSHA in 1910.252 and by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in Z49.1-1967.
Training for fire watchers must include:
Training for arc welders and cutters
OSHA requires companies to instruct employees in the safe means of arc welding and cutting. In addition to general content about hot work and the company welding safety program, employees should learn about: