Washington Administrative Code

[WSR 97-09-013, recodified as § 296-307-480, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. WSR 96-22-048, § 296-306A-480, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

(1) Explosive mixtures of fuel gases and air or oxygen must be guarded against. No accessory that allows air or oxygen to mix with flammable gases prior to use must be allowed unless approved for that purpose.Exception:Air or oxygen may mix with flammable gases at the burner or i…

All portable cylinders used for storing and shipping compressed gases must be constructed and maintained according to DOT regulations.(1) Compressed gas cylinders must be legibly marked with either the chemical or the trade name of the gas. The marking must be a permanent stencil…

(1) Cylinders must be kept away from radiators and other sources of heat.(2) Indoors, cylinders must be stored in a well-protected, well-ventilated, dry area, at least twenty feet from highly combustible materials such as oil or excelsior. Cylinders should be stored in assigned p…

Cylinders stored indoors, except those in use or attached ready for use, must be limited to a total gas capacity of 2,000 cubic feet or 300 pounds of LP-gas.(1) Cylinders in excess of 2,000 cubic feet total gas capacity or 300 pounds of LP-gas, must be stored in a separate room o…

(1) Oxygen cylinders must not be stored near highly combustible material, especially oil and grease; or near reserve stocks of carbide and acetylene or other fuel-gas cylinders, or near any other substance likely to cause or accelerate fire; or in an acetylene generator compartme…

(1) The numbers and markings stamped into cylinders must not be tampered with.(2) Cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings, regulators, hose, and apparatus must be kept free from oily or greasy substances. Oxygen cylinders or apparatus must not be handled with oily hands or gloves. …

(1) Valve-protection caps must not be used for lifting cylinders from one vertical position to another. Bars must not be used under valves or valve-protection caps to pry cylinders loose when frozen to the ground or otherwise fixed; we recommend using warm (not boiling) water. Va…

(1) When transporting cylinders by a crane or derrick, a cradle, boat, or suitable platform must be used. Slings or electric magnets are prohibited for this purpose. Valve-protection caps, where cylinder is designed to accept a cap, must always be in place.(2) Unless cylinders ar…

(1) Cylinders must not be dropped or struck or permitted to strike each other violently.(2) Cylinders must be handled carefully. Cylinders must not be subjected to rough handling, knocks, or falls that are liable to damage the cylinder, valve or safety devices and cause leakage.(…

(1) Cylinder valves must be closed before moving cylinders.(2) Cylinder valves must be closed when work is finished.(3) Valves of empty cylinders must be closed.(4) A hammer or wrench must not be used to open cylinder valves. If valves cannot be opened by hand, the supplier must …

(1) Unless connected to a manifold, oxygen from a cylinder must first have an oxygen regulator attached to the cylinder valve.(2) Before connecting a regulator to a cylinder valve, the valve must be opened slightly and closed immediately. The valve must be opened while standing t…

(1) Manifolds must be approved either separately for each component part or as an assembled unit.(2) Fuel-gas cylinders connected to one manifold inside a building must be limited to a maximum total capacity of 300 pounds of LP-gas or 3,000 cubic feet of other fuel-gas. More than…

This section applies to cylinders with a DOT service pressure above 200 psig.(1) Manifolds must be approved either separately for each component or as an assembled unit.(2) Oxygen manifolds must not be located in an acetylene generator room. Oxygen manifolds must be separated fro…

This section applies to cylinders with a maximum DOT service pressure of 200 psig.(1) Manifolds must be of substantial construction suitable for use with oxygen at a pressure of 250 psig. They must have a minimum bursting pressure of 1,000 psig and must be protected by a safety-r…

(1) Portable outlet headers must not be used indoors except for temporary service where the conditions preclude a direct supply from outlets located on the service piping system.(2) Each outlet on the service piping from which oxygen or fuel-gas is withdrawn to supply a portable …

(1) Cylinder manifolds must be installed under the supervision of someone familiar with the proper practices of construction and use.(2) All component parts used in the methods of manifolding described in WAC 296-307-48023 must have the materials, design and construction approved…

(1) Piping and fittings must comply with Section 2, Industrial Gas and Air Piping Systems, of the American National Standard Code for Pressure Piping, ANSI B 31.1-1967, if they do not conflict with subsections (2) and (3) of this section.(2) Pipe must be at least Schedule 40 and …

(1) Joints in steel or wrought iron piping must be welded, threaded or flanged. Fittings, such as ells, tees, couplings, and unions, must be rolled, forged or cast steel, malleable iron or nodular iron. Gray or white cast iron fittings are prohibited.(2) Joints in brass or copper…

(1) Distribution lines must be installed and maintained in a safe operating condition.(2) Piping may be above or below ground. All piping must be run as directly as practical, protected against physical damage, with an allowance for expansion and contraction, jarring and vibratio…

(1) Underground pipe and tubing and outdoor ferrous pipe and tubing must be covered or painted with a suitable material for protection against corrosion.(2) Aboveground piping systems must be marked according to the American National Standard Scheme for the Identification of Pipi…

(1) Piping systems must be tested and proved gastight at 1-1/2 times the maximum operating pressure, and must be thoroughly purged of air before being placed in service. The material used for testing oxygen lines must be oil free and noncombustible. Flames must not be used to det…

Equipment shall be installed and used only in the service for which it is approved and as recommended by the manufacturer.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-48043, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/20/20. WSR 97-09-013, r…

Service piping systems must be protected by pressure relief devices set to function at not more than the design pressure of the systems and discharging upwards to a safe location.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-48…

(1) The fuel-gas and oxygen piping systems, including portable outlet headers must incorporate the protective equipment shown in Figures V-1, V-2, and V-3.When only a portion of a fuel-gas system is to be used with oxygen, only that portion must meet this requirement.(2) Approved…

(1) A check valve pressure regulator, hydraulic seal, or combination of these devices must be provided at each station outlet, including those on portable headers, to prevent backflow, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and designated as SF and SO.(2) When approved pipeline protecti…

(1) Hose for oxy-fuel gas service must meet the requirements of the Specification for Rubber Welding Hose, 1958, Compressed Gas Association and Rubber Manufacturers Association.(2) The generally recognized colors are red for acetylene and other fuel-gas hose, green for oxygen hos…

(1) Pressure-reducing regulators must be used only for the gas and pressures for which they are intended. The regulator inlet connections must meet the requirements of the Regulator Connection Standards, 1958, Compressed Gas Association.(2) When regulators or parts of regulators,…

[WSR 97-09-013, recodified as § 296-307-485, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. WSR 96-22-048, § 296-306A-485, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

(1) All equipment must be installed by a qualified electrician according to the requirements of chapter 296-307 WAC Part T. There must be a safety-type disconnecting switch or a circuit breaker or circuit interrupter to open each power circuit to the machine, conveniently located…

(1) All portable welding guns must have suitable counter-balanced devices for supporting the guns, including cables, unless the design of the gun or fixture makes counterbalancing impractical or unnecessary.(2) All portable welding guns, transformers, and related equipment that i…

(1) Flash welding machines must have a hood to control flying flash. In cases of high production, where materials may contain a film of oil and where toxic elements and metal fumes are given off, ventilation must be provided according to WAC 296-307-50009 through 296-307-50029.(2…

A qualified person must perform a job hazard analysis on the operations to be performed on each welding machine to determine the safeguards and personal protective equipment that must be used for each job.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. W…

Qualified maintenance personnel must periodically inspect the equipment and maintain records of the inspections. The operator must be instructed to report any equipment defects to the supervisor and the use of the equipment must be discontinued until safety repairs have been comp…

[WSR 97-09-013, recodified as § 296-307-490, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. WSR 96-22-048, § 296-306A-490, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

Note:The employer may ensure that equipment is designed for safety by choosing equipment that complies with the Requirements for Electric Arc-Welding Apparatus, NEMA EW-1-1962, National Electrical Manufacturers Association or the Safety Standard for Transformer-Type Arc-Welding M…

Open circuit (no load) voltages of arc welding and cutting machines should be as low as possible consistent with satisfactory welding or cutting being done. Following are the maximum limits:(1) For alternating-current machines:(a) Manual arc welding and cutting—80 volts.(b) Autom…

(1) A controller integrally mounted in an electric motor driven welder must be able to carry the rated motor current, must be able to make and interrupt stalled rotor current of the motor, and may serve as the running overcurrent device if provided with the number of over-current…

Arc welding equipment, including the power supply, must be installed according to the requirements of chapter 296-307 WAC Part T.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 20-21-091, § 296-307-49007, filed 10/20/20, effective 11/20/20. Statutory…

(1) The frame or case of the welding machine (except engine-driven machines) must be grounded according to the requirements of chapter 296-307 WAC Part T.(2) Conduits containing electrical conductors must not be used for completing a work-lead circuit. Pipelines must not be used …

(1) A disconnecting switch or controller must be provided at or near each welding machine without a switch or controller mounted as an integral part of the machine. The switch must meet the requirements of chapter 296-307 WAC Part T. Overcurrent protection must be provided as spe…

(1) Employees assigned to operate or maintain arc welding equipment must be acquainted with the requirements of WAC 296-307-490, 296-307-495, and 296-307-500; if doing gas-shielded arc welding, also Recommended Safe Practices for Gas-Shielded Arc Welding, A6.1-1966, American Weld…

(1) The operator should report any equipment defect or safety hazard to the supervisor and discontinue using the equipment until its safety is ensured. Repairs must be made only by qualified persons.(2) Machines that have become wet must be thoroughly dried and tested before bein…

[WSR 97-09-013, recodified as § 296-307-495, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. WSR 96-22-048, § 296-306A-495, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

For more information on these basic precautions and the special precautions of WAC 296-307-49503, including fire protection and prevention responsibilities of welders, cutters, their supervisors (including outside contractors), and management, see the Standard for Fire Prevention…

When the nature of the work to be performed falls within the scope of WAC 296-307-49501(2), certain additional precautions may be necessary:(1) Wherever there are floor openings or cracks in the flooring that cannot be closed, precautions must be taken so that no readily combusti…

(1) No welding, cutting, or other hot work may be performed on used drums, barrels, tanks or other containers until they have been cleaned thoroughly enough to be certain that there are no flammable materials present or any substances such as greases, tars, acids, or other materi…

(1) When arc welding work is stopped for a substantial time, such as during lunch or overnight, all electrodes must be removed from the holders and the holders carefully located so that accidental contact cannot occur and the machine be disconnected from the power source.(2) In o…

[WSR 97-09-013, recodified as § 296-307-500, filed 4/7/97, effective 4/7/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, [49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. WSR 96-22-048, § 296-306A-500, filed 10/31/96, effective 12/1/96.]

(1) Helmets or hand shields must be used during all arc welding or arc cutting operations, excluding submerged arc welding. Goggles should also be worn during arc welding or cutting operations to provide protection from injurious rays from adjacent work, and from flying objects. …