OSHA 1910.212 / SMACNA Safety Manual

OSHA 1910.147(c)(2)

OSHA 1910.147 requires an energy isolating device capable of being locked out to be LOCKED out. A tag alone is a warning, not a control — it stops nobody who does not read it. Proximity to the crew is not a substitute; the rule exists precisely because the person who re-energizes equipment usually does not know anyone is working on it.

OSHA 1910.147(d)(6)

OSHA 1910.147(d)(6) requires the authorized employee to VERIFY that isolation and de-energization have actually been accomplished before starting work — by testing for absence of voltage and attempting a normal start. A handle position is an indication, not a verification. Handles break, contacts weld, and the disconnect you opened is not always the one feeding the equipment.

OSHA 1910.147(e)(3)

OSHA 1910.147 requires each lock to be removed by the employee who applied it. Removal by anyone else is permitted only under a specific documented procedure that includes verifying the employee is not in the facility and informing them before they return to work. A master key kept for convenience defeats the single guarantee the standard provides — that your lock is the only thing that can start that machine while you are inside it.

OSHA 1910.252 / AWS Z49.1

Plasma cutting produces intense UV/IR radiation and bright arc flash that causes eye damage (arc eye) and skin burns. A welding screen or curtain must be deployed around the cutting area to protect the operator and nearby workers.

OSHA 1910.252(c) / ACGIH TLV Guidelines

OSHA 1910.252(c) requires adequate ventilation for all welding operations. In confined or enclosed spaces, mechanical ventilation must provide a minimum of 2,000 CFM per welder. Welding fumes contain hexavalent chromium, manganese, and other toxic metals that exceed OSHA PELs without proper exhaust ventilation.

OSHA 1926.251 / ASME B30.9 — Slings

Nylon slings in contact with sharp edges must have corner protectors (softeners) to prevent the sling from being cut under load. A sling failure under a 2,000 lb load is a fatal hazard. OSHA and ASME B30.9 require edge protection whenever a sling contacts a sharp radius.