Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".
 

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment [related topic page]
  • Appendix B, Non-mandatory compliance guidelines for hazard assessment and personal protective equipment selection
• 1910 Subpart Q, Welding, cutting, and brazing
  • 1910.251, Definitions
  • 1910.252, General requirements
  • 1910.253, Oxygen-fuel gas welding and cutting
  • 1910.254, Arc welding and cutting
  • 1910.255, Resistance welding
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1026, Chromium (VI)

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart D, Welding, cutting and heating
  • 1915.51, Ventilation and protection in welding, cutting and heating
  • 1915.52, Fire prevention. This section has been superseded by 1915 Subpart P, Fire protection in shipyard employment (see below).
  • 1915.53, Welding, cutting and heating in way of preservative coatings
  • 1915.54, Welding, cutting and heating of hollow metal containers and structures not covered by 29 CFR 1915.12
  • 1915.55, Gas welding and cutting
  • 1915.56, Arc welding and cutting
  • 1915.57, Use of fissionable material in ship repairing and shipbuilding
• 1915 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment
  • Appendix A, Non-mandatory guidelines for hazard assessment, personal protective equipment (PPE) selection, and PPE training program
• 1915 Subpart P, Fire protection in shipyard employment
  • 1915.501, General provisions
  • 1915.502, Fire safety plan
  • 1915.503, Precautions for hot work
  • 1915.504, Fire watches
  • 1915.505, Fire response
  • 1915.506, Hazards of fixed extinguishing systems on board vessels and vessel sections
  • 1915.507, Land-side fire protection systems
  • 1915.508, Training
  • 1915.509, Definitions applicable to this subpart
• 1915 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1915.1026, Chromium (VI)

Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)

• 1917 Subpart G, Related terminal operations and equipment
  • 1917.152, Welding, cutting and heating (hot work). See also 29 CFR 1917.2, definition of hazardous cargo, materials, substance or atmosphere)

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart J, Welding and cutting
  • 1926.350, Gas welding and cutting
  • 1926.351, Arc welding and cutting
  • 1926.352, Fire prevention
  • 1926.353, Ventilation and protection in welding, cutting, and heating
  • 1926.354, Welding, cutting, and heating in way of preservative coatings
• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1126, Chromium (VI)
  • 1926.1127, Cadmium

• Air Contaminants (1989)
• Cadmium (1992)
• Personal Protective Equipment for General Industry (1994)
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

Federal Registers

• Welding, Cutting and Brazing; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Aproval of Information-Collection (Paperwork) Requirements. Notice 66:29599-29601, (2001, May 31).
• Safety Standards in Shipyard Employment for Scaffolds; Welding, Cutting, and Heating; Access and Egress; and Fall Protection. Proposed Rules 67:13117, (2002, March 31).
• Search all available Federal Registers.

Directives

• Shipyard Employment "Tool Bag" Directive. CPL 02-00-142, (2006, August 3). Provides the tools needed to support shipyard employment industry intervention and inspection programs.
• Application of the Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS) Standards, 29 CFR 1910.146. CPL 02-00-100 [CPL 2.100], (1995, May 5). Establishes enforcement policy and provides explanation of 29 CFR 1910.146 to ensure uniform enforcement.
• 29 CFR 1926.451(w) and 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(18) as Applied to Welding Required on Float or Ship Scaffolds. STD 03-10-006 [STD 3-10.6], (1982, August 16). Clarifies the application of 29 CFR 1926.451 to welding on float or ship scaffolds.
• 29 CFR 1926.350(a)(9) Securing of Compressed Gas Cylinders. STD 03-08-002 [STD 3-8.2], (1981, March 11). Emphasizes that 29 CFR 1926.350(a)(9) applies to transporting, moving and storing compressed gas cylinders at construction sites only.
• Replacement Welding Tips. STD 01-14-001 [STD 1-14.1], (1978, October 30). The use of replacement tips will not nullify the "approved apparatus" status of a torch, if the replacement tips are made to the same specifications as the original tip.
• Welding, Cutting or Heating of Metals Coated with Lead-Bearing Paint. STD 03-08-001 [STD 3-8.1], (1978, October 30). Explains the requirements imposed by 29 CFR 1926.353(c)(2)(i) and 29 CFR 1926.354(c)(1) when welding, cutting or heating is performed in an enclosed space on metals coated with lead-bearing paint.
• Search all available directives.

• Removal of regulators and use of valve protection caps when hoisting compressed gas cylinders. (2004, March 30).
• Employer's responsibility to protect employees from workplace hazards through appropriate hazard control methods. (2003, June 5).
• Welder electrical safety training. (1998, March 12).
• Conflict between requirements of 1910.252 and 1910.146. (1993, July 30).
• Welding and noise in confined space. (1992, January 6).
• Wearing of contact lenses while welding. (1982, October 22).
• Methylacetylene-propadiene (MAPP), stabilized, by definition, is not a liquefied petroleum gas, but is considered a fuel gas. (1976, April 16).
• Search all available standard interpretations.