Oxy-Acetylene Cutting

Safety in Agriculture
OSHA Standard 1910.253
Produced by
Idaho State University
Office of WORKFORCE TRAINING

This material was produced under

grantSH22228SH1
from the Occupational Safety
grant
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 0200-51)
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
Tappers 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 yearsdates 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 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 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 wont 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