1. Oxy-Acetylene Cutting Safety in Agriculture OSHA Standard 1910.253
Produced by
Idaho State University
Office of Workforce Training

2. “This material was produced under grant SH22228SH1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.”

3. OSHA and Agriculture Not all farms fall under OSHA jurisdiction
Who is exempt: Farms that only employ immediate family members or farms with 10 employees or less (this exemption, however, does not apply if the operation has maintained a temporary labor camp within the last twelve months, OSHA directive CPL )
Additional state guidelines may apply

4. Personal Protective Equipment for Agriculture Applications (1 of 2)
Cotton pants (no polyester coveralls)
Cotton shirt, long sleeve, button up collar loose enough to button (no oil in fabric)
Gauntlet style leather gloves
ANSI approved safety glasses
Welding cap, ear plugs
Tapper’s jacket, leather jacket, or leather sleeves

5. PPE (2 of 2) Leather boots above the ankle
MSHA approved respirator if applicable
Housekeeping: flame circle, no combustibles in cutting area, HAZMAT cabinet, clean up junk or debris
Have an A, B, C rated fire extinguisher present
Always have a partner, use the buddy system
Cutting glasses with a minimum shade #5 lens

6. Fittings Brass construction Left hand threads for acetylene/notch
Right hand threads for oxygen/ no notch
Use no thread tape or pipe “dope”
Never repair hose damage with tape or other materials
Use “backup” wrench for a snug fit
Check for leaks with soapy water

7. Fittings

8. Gas hoses Red: acetylene Green: oxygen
Protect from heat, sparks, friction, or damage
Check for leaks with soapy water
Protect from weather
Use flashback arrestors, check valves

9. Cylinders: High Pressure Gas (1 of 2)
One piece construction, formed armor plate
Color of cylinder means nothing
ONLY the label will identify the gas OSHA (b) (1) (ii)
Valve is double seated: open all the way
Inspect cylinder for arc strikes, grinder marks, or other damage.
NEVER use cylinder as a roller or set heavy objects on. OSHA (b) (5) (ii) (I)

10. Read the Label OSHA 1910.253.(a) (2)

11. High Pressure Cylinders, cont.
Two person lift
Use a cart to move on concrete, rough, or flat surfaces
Cylinders MUST be chained in cart prior to movement
Gauges need protective covers or be removed and safely stored prior to transport
Cart and cylinders must be secured to move in a vehicle
High pressure cylinders need hydro-testing every 10 years—dates are stamped in to cylinder
Bursting disk on stem, safety device

12. How to Transport OSHA 1910.253.(b) (5) (iii) (A)

13. Gauges (1 of 3) Brass construction Delicate, yet rugged instruments
Left handed/right handed
Oxygen: green; Acetylene: red
Tighten gauge with 10 or 12” wrench
Connect hoses and torch body with cutting head
Blow out stem by (cracking) valve briefly prior to securing gauges with cylinders

14. Brass Oxygen Gauge

15. Gauges (2 of 3)
Back adjusting knob or “T” handle out prior to opening cylinder very gently, slowly
Stand to side of cylinder, use both hands to grasp valve handle, and gently open cylinder
Listen for gradual release and flow of product through gauge into hose
Once pressure has stabilized, turn adjusting knob or handle inward to set working pressure

16. Adjusting Screw

17. Gauges (3 of 3)
Gauge has two readings: one is working pressure and the other is what remains in the cylinder
Never use oil on gauges: NEVER
Protect gauges from damage during use and transportation
Never try to repair gauges yourself--settings need calibration
Never use compressed oxygen to blow dust out of clothes

18. A Little Oil Goes a Long Way

19. Low Pressure Acetylene (1 of 3)
Two piece construction, welded mild steel
Full of monolithic material (absorbent) for safety (looks like kitty litter) see example
Cylinder contains acetone to increase absorption and stabilization of acetylene
Avoid laying cylinder down
Safety plugs (e.g., fuse and melt)
Single seated valve: open ¼ turn

20. Low Pressure Acetylene, cont. (2 of 3)
NEVER set regulator above 15 psi
OSHA (a) (2)
Color of bottle means nothing: read label
Acetylene is sold by weight
Acetylene evolves off from liquid mixture in cylinder.
Acetone absorbs 50 times its own weight in acetylene and stabilizes it

21. Low Pressure Acetylene, cont.
Never pick up any cylinder by the cap (e.g., hook on a chain with bucket loader)
Secure cylinder with chains in bottle cart or transport in upright position, chained/secured to truck frame or rack. OSHA (c)(5)(vi)
Inspect cylinder for dents, scratches, or damage
Open valve on cylinder only ¼ turn in case of fire

22. Cutting Tips for Agriculture Repair
Every torch has a tip: cutting tips have pre-heat holes and a cutting jet orifice
Tips should be cleaned prior to use
Flat file for facing the tip
Tip drills or tip cleaners for orifice(s)
Tips should never touch the metal or be used to tap with

23. Lighting the Torch in the AG Shop or in the Field (1 of 2)
Create a “flame circle” wear all PPE OSHA (b) (5) (ii) (I)
Remove all unneeded personnel and flammable materials from the area
Adjust or re-check gauge settings
Turn/open acetylene knob on torch handle
Use a striker only to ignite acetylene gas, adjust flame: no cigarettes, lighter, or arc welder
Turn/open oxygen knob on torch handle
Adjust flame to neutral: re-check gauges

24. Lighting the Torch (2 of 2)
Neutral flame should not produce heavy black smoke, carburizing and oxidizing flames have other purposes (e.g., brazing, hard-facing)
Feather end should be apparent
Depress oxygen cutting valve and listen for a rushing, jet like sound
Pre-heat orifices should all be the same length
You are now ready to cut

25. Cutting Carbon Steel in Agricultural Applications
Select a cutting tip for suited to metal thickness
Light torch, obtain neutral flame
Hold torch tip an 1/8” to 3/16” from metal
Wait until metal begins to puddle or melt
Depress oxygen cutting lever
Wait for oxygen stream to push molten metal through, creating “kerf”
Look at puddle and listen to adjust cut speed

26. Helpful Cutting Techniques
Tip must be clean and proper size
Acetylene and oxygen levels must be set with flame lit (working pressures)
Metal needs to be as clean as possible
Neutral flame is a must: carburizing/oxidizing won’t produce a good cut
A good cut should not require grinding

27. Cutting Safety in the Shop or Breakdown in the Field
Have a fire watch
NEVER cut into a barrel, cylinder, or container without knowing what was or is in it
Zinc coating (galvanized) produces toxic fumes
Protect hoses, gauges, cylinders, yourself, and your equipment while cutting

28. Shutting down Turn off acetylene Turn off oxygen
Shut off both cylinder valves
Back adjusting screw “T” out on both cylinders
Bleed both lines
Roll up hoses
Store cart or secure cylinders with covers

29. Additional Safety Concerns
Store gauges, hoses, and cutting equipment in a safe, clean place.
Always secure bottles (with caps on) for transport
If you must lay acetylene bottle down in a truck for transport, it must be stood up an equal amount of time for acetone to settle
Absolutely no combustibles in the vicinity of cut

30. Questions? Review Practice setting up, cutting, shutting down torch
Hands on demonstration

31. Evaluation Produced by Idaho State University
Office of Workforce Training