This program area provides guidance for gas and electric cutting, welding, and soldering operations to prevent loss of life and property from fire, and personal injury from molten globules, intense light, sparks, noise, and exposure to fumes, vapors, gases, and particulates.

This program area also prescribes the personal protective equipment (PPE) required for these operations by Section 2, Cutting and Welding, of the Fire Safety Subject Area. Table 1 indicates the PPE required for each of the different operations. Table 2 shows examples of the PPE and indicates any standards the equipment must meet. Table 3 lists the various shades available for eye protection and indicates the acceptable ranges for various operations. Selection within those ranges is more a matter of worker comfort, and workers should also always select the shade that provides the best comfort and protection.

Table 1 Applications for PPE

Table 2 PPE Descriptions and Photos

Table 3 Filter Lenses

All cutting and welding operations within the applicable scope of the Fire Safety Subject Area must have a permit, operate under the permit conditions, and immediately cease operations when permit conditions cannot be maintained. All cutting and welding operations must either be done in a Designated Cutting and Welding Area or under conditions specified in a Cutting and Welding Permit.

Designated Cutting and Welding Areas

Designated Cutting/Welding Area Permit

Hot Work Permit: Example (Part 1)

Hot Work Permit: Example (Part 2)

Areas of Concern Related to Ignition of Combustibles and Guidance on Fire Watch Locations

Daily Checklist to Review Area for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting and Other Hot Work

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Last Modified: March 5, 2013
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DOE, Office of Science One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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