745 Welding, Cutting, and Brazing Safety

Ventilation Requirements for Covered Metals

The following metals are covered by OSHA 1910.252(c):

Hazards of Fluorine Compounds: Welding materials that contain fluorine compounds can release harmful fumes, so proper ventilation must be used. If welding on stainless steel or other fluorine-containing metals, air samples should be tested to ensure exposure levels remain safe.

Welding with Zinc-Coated Materials: Zinc-coated materials can produce harmful fumes, so welding in confined spaces requires proper ventilation. When welding indoors, exhaust ventilation must be used to protect workers from exposure.

Lead Welding Safety: Welding with lead-based materials releases dangerous lead fumes. Indoors and in confined spaces, local exhaust ventilation or respirators must be used. Outdoors, workers must wear approved respirators to prevent exposure.

Beryllium Exposure Control: Beryllium is highly toxic, and welding or cutting metals that contain beryllium requires local exhaust ventilation and airline respirators. Workers nearby must also be protected from exposure. Welding or cutting indoors, outdoors, or in confined spaces involving base or filler metals containing beryllium must be done using local exhaust ventilation and airline respirators. For more information on Beryllium, see OSHA's Topics Page.

Cadmium Hazards: Welding on materials containing cadmium can release toxic fumes that can cause serious health problems. In confined spaces or indoors, welding or cutting operations involving cadmium-bearing or cadmium-coated base metals must be done using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators.

• When work is performed outdoors, NIOSH-approved fume respirators in accordance with 42 CFR part 84.
• If work is performed in a confined space, welding (brazing) involving cadmium-bearing filler metals must be done using local exhaust ventilation, airline respirators, or self-contained units.

For more information on Cadmium, see OSHA's Topics Page.

Mercury Precautions: Mercury-coated materials must be welded using local exhaust ventilation or airline respirators when working indoors or in confined spaces. Outdoor work also requires NIOSH-approved respirators.

Cleaning Compounds and Welding Safety: Certain cleaning chemicals used before welding can be toxic or flammable. These chemicals must be used in well-ventilated areas to prevent dangerous vapors from being drawn into welding zones.

Cutting Stainless Steel: When cutting stainless steel using oxygen, chemical flux, or gas-shielded arc cutting, mechanical ventilation must be used to remove harmful fumes. Workers should always have fresh air to breathe.

Welding on Lead- or Cadmium-Bearing Metals: When welding or cutting on lead-bearing steels, lead-coated or cadmium-coated metals, or metal covered with paint containing lead or cadmium, you should wear an airline mask even if you are doing the work in the open air or in a well-ventilated space.

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