Oxy-Acetylene Cutting

Safety in Agriculture

OSHA Standard 1910.253

Produced by
Idaho State University
Office of WORKFORCE TRAINING
 “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.”
 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
02-00-51)
• Additional state guidelines may apply
 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
 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
 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
Fittings
 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
 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
1910.253(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 1910.253 (b) (5) (ii) (I)
 Read the Label
OSHA 1910.253.(a) (2)
 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
 How to Transport
OSHA 1910.253.(b) (5) (iii) (A)
 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
Brass Oxygen Gauge
 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
Adjusting Screw
 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
A Little Oil Goes a Long Way
 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
 Low Pressure Acetylene, cont.
(2 of 3)

• NEVER set regulator above 15 psi

• OSHA 1910.253 (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
 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 1910.253.(c)(5)(vi)
• Inspect cylinder for dents, scratches, or damage
• Open valve on cylinder only ¼ turn in case of fire
 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
Lighting the Torch in the AG Shop or in the Field
(1 of 2)
• Create a “flame circle” wear all PPE OSHA
1910.253 (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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 Questions?
• Review
• Practice setting up, cutting, shutting down
torch
• Hands on demonstration
 Evaluation

Produced by
Idaho State University
Office of Workforce Training