Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

ANSI Z49.1:1999
Part II
Specific Processes
10. Oxyfuel Gas Welding and Cutting
Safety
10.1 Scope. This section covers safe practices for users of
oxyfuel gas welding, cutting, soldering, brazing, and related
materials and equipment. It does not cover specifications
for the design and construction of such equipment,
nor for the construction or installation of bulk gas supply
or piping distribution systems.
10.2 Terminology
10.2.1 Call Oxygen by Name. Oxygen shall be called
by its proper name, oxygen, and not by the word air.
10.2.2 Call Fuel Gases by Name. Fuels, fuel gases, and
liquid fuels shall be called by their proper names, such as,
acetylene, propane, natural gas, and not by the word gas.
10.3 Oxygen and Combustibles
10.3.1 Keep Oxygen from Combustibles. Oxygen
cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings, regulators, hoses,
and apparatus shall be kept free from oil, grease and other
flammable or explosive substances. Oxygen cylinders or
apparatus shall not be handled with oily hands or gloves.
10.3.2 Prohibited Uses for Oxygen. Oxygen shall not
be used as a substitute for compressed air. Oxygen shall
not be used in pneumatic tools, in oil preheating burners,
to start internal combustion engines, to blow out pipelines,
to dust clothing or work, or to create pressure for ventilation
or similar applications. Jets of oxygen shall not be
permitted to strike an oily surface, greasy clothing, or enter
fuel oil or other storage tanks.
10.3.3 Oxygen Equipment. Oxygen cylinders, equipment,
pipelines, or apparatus shall not be used interchangeably
with any other gas.
10.4 Attachments for Gas Mixing. No device or attachment
facilitating or permitting mixtures of air or oxygen
with flammable gases prior to consumption, except at a
burner or in a torch, shall be allowed unless approved for
the purpose.
10.5 Torches
10.5.1 Approval. Only approved torches, as defined
in 2.1, shall be used.
10.5.2 Operation
10.5.2.1 Leak Testing Connections. Connections
shall be checked for leaks after assembly and before lighting
the torch. Flames shall not be used.
E10.1 Note that this applies to USERS, not manufacturers
of equipment (see 1.3).
E10.2.1 Use of this proper name will decrease the probability
of misuse.
E10.2.2 Proper identity is needed to determine the correct
hazards.
E10.3.1 Oxygen will not burn, but vigorously supports
and accelerates combustion, causing materials to burn with
great intensity. Oil or grease in the presence of oxygen
may ignite readily and burn violently.
E10.3.2 These prohibitions decrease the possibility of
a raging oxygen-fed fire occurring. Oxygen is not flammable,
but vigorously supports combustion. Oxygen can
be adsorbed by clothing. A slight spark can result in severe
burns.
E10.3.3 Contamination of oxygen equipment with combustible
substances may lead to spontaneous combustion
or explosion in oxygen.
E10.4 This prevents the accumulation of explosive
mixtures.
E10.5.1 For additional information on torches, see CGA
E-5, Torch Standard for Welding and Cutting.
E10.5.2.1 Leak test solutions for use on oxygen connections
are commercially available and are recommended.
Leak testing should be repeated after the equipment has
been used in a manner that could cause leaks.
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