Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a)
(1)
Acetylene cylinders shall not be taken below the main deck into the deck houses
or confined spaces aboard ship.
(2)
If a fuel gas cylinder is found to leak at a fuse plug or other safety device,
or at valves or fittings which cannot be stopped by closing the valve, it shall
be properly tagged and removed from the vessel.
NOTE: If a regulator attached to a cylinder valve will
effectively stop a leak through the valve seat, the cylinder need not be
removed from the vessel.
(b) Welding, Cutting and Heating of Coated
Metals.
(1) Before welding, cutting or heating
is commenced on any surface covered by a preservative coating of unknown
flammability and toxicity, a test shall be made to determine its flammability
and toxicity.
(2) Precautions shall
be taken to prevent ignition of highly flammable hardened preservative coatings
and when coatings are determined to be highly flammable, they shall be stripped
from the area to be heated to prevent ignition.
(3) In enclosed spaces, all surfaces covered
with toxic preservatives, including coatings which generate toxic substances
upon heating, shall be stripped for a distance of at least four (4) inches from
the area of heat application, or employees shall be required to use
supplied-air respirators in accordance with Section
5144 of the General Industry Safety
Orders or the provisions of Section
5150(b) and (c) of
the General Industry Safety Orders shall apply.
(4) Flame or heat shall not be used to remove
soft and greasy preservative coatings.
(c) Welding, Cutting and Heating of Coated
Metals in Enclosed Spaces.
(1) Before welding,
cutting, or heating is commenced in enclosed spaces on metals covered by soft
and greasy preservatives, the following precautions shall be taken:
(A) A designated competent person shall test
the atmosphere in the space to ensure that it does not contain explosive vapors
in excess of 10 percent of the Lower Explosive Limit. If the concentration
exceeds 10 percent of the Lower Explosive Limit, the requirement of Section
8355(c)(3) shall
apply.
(B) The preservative
coatings shall be removed for a sufficient distance from the area to be heated
to ensure that the temperature of the unstripped metal will not be appreciably
raised. Artificial cooling of the metal surrounding the heated area may be used
to limit the size of the area required to be cleaned.
(2) Immediately after welding, cutting or
heating is commenced in enclosed spaces on metal covered by soft and greasy
preservatives, and at frequent intervals thereafter, a competent person shall
make tests to ensure that no flammable vapors are being produced by the
coatings. If such vapors are determined to be present, the operation shall be
stopped immediately and shall not be resumed until such additional precautions
have been taken as are necessary to ensure that the operation can be resumed
safely.
(d) Welding,
Cutting and Heating of Hollow-Metal Containers and Structures.
(1) Drums, containers, or hollow structures
which have contained flammable substances shall, before welding, cutting or
heating is undertaken on them, either be filled with water or thoroughly
cleaned of such substances and ventilated and tested.
(2) Before heat is applied to a drum,
container, or hollow structure, a vent or opening shall be provided for the
release of any built-up pressure during the application of heat.
(3) Before welding, cutting, heating or
brazing is begun on structural voids such as skegs, bilge keels, fair waters,
masts, booms, support stanchions, pipe stanchions, or railings, a competent
person shall inspect the object and, if necessary, test it for the presence of
flammable liquids or vapors. If flammable liquids or vapors are present, the
requirements of (1) of this section shall apply.
(4) Objects such as those listed in paragraph
(3) of this section shall also be inspected to determine whether water or other
nonflammable liquids are present which, when heated, would build up excessive
pressure. If such liquids are determined to be present, the object shall be
vented, cooled, or otherwise made safe during the application of
heat.
(5) Jacketed vessels shall be
vented before and during welding, cutting or heating operations in order to
release any pressure which may build up during the application of
heat.
(e) Arc Welder
Ground Return Circuit.
Structures or pipe lines, except pipe lines containing
flammable gases or liquids or conduits containing electrical circuits, shall be
permitted to be used as part of the ground return circuit of arc welding or
cutting units provided that the pipe or structure has a current-carrying
capacity equal to or exceeding the total specified maximum output capacities of
all the units which it services.
1.
Renumbering from Section
8396 filed 2-14-73; effective
thirtieth day thereafter (Register 73, No. 7).
2. Amendment filed
10-31-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No.
44).
3. Amendment filed 1-22-88; operative 2-21-88 (Register 88, No.
6).
Note: Authority cited: Section
142.3, Labor
Code. Reference: Section
142.3, Labor
Code.
