Release Number: 09-1421-NAT
Nov. 16, 2009
Contact: Diana Petterson
Phone: 202-693-1898

US Department of Labor’s OSHA issues final rule, revises acetylene standard

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised its acetylene standard. A final rule replaces references to outdated industry standards with updated references reflecting current industry practices.

“This final rule incorporates current technology that enhances OSHA’s acetylene standard for improving industry work practices and providing safer workplaces,” said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. “It exemplifies our mission of providing strong and effective regulations that protect the safety and health of working men and women.”

The revised standard requires that in-plant transfer, handling, storage and use of acetylene cylinders comply with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1-2003, titled Acetylene. The revised standard also updates references for the provisions addressing piping systems, as well as acetylene generators and filling acetylene cylinders.

Acetylene is a colorless gas that can become explosive if liquefied, heated, compressed or mixed with air. It is commonly used in certain plastics and as fuel for welding and metal cutting.

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How long can you store your oxygen and acetylene cylinders on a welding cart or “special truck” before you must disconnect them from the regulator, cap, secure, and store according to OSHA requirements? 

Do the requirements differ if you are at a construction site versus general industry? 

The General Industry and Construction Standards only specify the requirements for storage and use, but not how long it sits idle before it’s considered in “storage”.  Twenty-four hours of inactivity is the answer that I frequently hear.  But is this assumption correct? 

What about the wear and tear on the regulator and tank threads by removing them from tanks so frequently?  Doesn’t this create a greater hazard?  What about the hazard of transporting the tanks so frequently?  Moving these cylinders is a hazard in itself? 

OSHA has issued several Standard Interpretations related to this subject under 1910.253 General Industry and 1926.350 Construction.  In the Construction Standard, OHSA has interpreted that cylinders must be placed into storage when it is reasonably anticipated that gas will not be drawn from the cylinder within 24 hours.  In General Industry however, the frequency at which the cylinders are used is not the main consideration for determining storage versus use.  The language of the General Industry standard requires using the storage regulations when the cylinders are not in use or connected to use.  OSHA attempts to “harmonize” the two requirements by stating that failure to comply with the storage requirements under either the General Industry or Construction Standard would be considered de minimis regardless of the period of time in which the cylinders are on the cart if the following parameters are met:

1. No more than a single acetylene cylinder and a single oxygen cylinder are on a cylinder cart. The cylinder cart must be specifically designed to hold/carry oxygen and acetylene cylinders in the upright position. The cylinders must be securely held to the cart (such as by straps, chains or other securing device).
2. The cart is on a firm, level surface.
3. The cart is not in an area where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of being struck by vehicles, equipment, or materials (such as in a pathway for vehicles on a construction site).
4. Both cylinders either have valves closed with protection caps on or are connected to a properly functioning regulator.

For more information guidelines on this subject refer to the 1926.350 and 1910.253 standards and the Standard Interpretations below.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25356

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=22674

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=25371

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=21261