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Welding, cutting, and brazing are hazardous activities that pose a unique combination of both safety and health risks to more than 500,000 workers in a wide variety of industries. The risk from fatal injuries alone is more than four deaths per thousand workers over a working lifetime. Health hazards from welding, cutting, and brazing operations include exposures to metal fumes and to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Safety hazards from these operations include burns, eye damage, electrical shock, cuts, and crushed toes and fingers. Many of these can be controlled with proper work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).
OSHA’s welding requirements apply to any employer with welding and cutting operations as part of its business.
Generally speaking, welding and cutting is not a typical safety topic for the warehousing and storage industry. However, some maintenance and repair operations may involve welding and/or cutting. For example, to repair a damaged upright of a storage rack, the repair kit you purchase may call for you to cut off the damaged portion. If your employees are not trained or equipped to handle welding and cutting tasks in-house, you may need to bring in a contractor to do the job. Either way, you must protect your employees from welding and cutting hazards, including fire and toxic gases and fumes.
Employers must: