Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
WAlkIng/WorkIng surFAces (29 cFr 1910.21 And 1910.22)
Slips,. trips,. and. falls. constitute. the. majority. of. general. industry. accidents.. They.
cause.15.percent.of.all.accidental.deaths,.and.are.second.only.to.motor.vehicles.as.a.
cause.of.fatalities..The.OSHA.standards.for.walking.and.working.surfaces.apply.to.
all.permanent.places.of.employment,.except.where.only.domestic,.mining,.or.agri-
cultural.work.is.performed.
Wet.working/walking.surfaces.must.be.covered.with.nonslip.materials..All.spilled.
materials.must.be.cleaned.up.immediately..Any.holes.in.the.loor,.sidewalk,.or.other.
walking.surface,.before.being.repaired.properly,.must.be.covered.or.otherwise.made.
safe..All.aisles.and.passageways.must.be.kept.clear.and.marked.as.appropriate..There.
must. be. safe. clearance. for. walking. in. aisles. where. motorized. or. mechanical. han-
dling.equipment.is.being.operated.
Materials.or.equipment.should.be.stored.in.such.a.way.that.sharp.projections.will.
not.interfere.with.the.walkway..Changes.of.direction.or.elevations.should.be.readily.
identiiable.. There. should. be. adequate. headroom. provided. for. the. entire. length. of.
any.aisle.or.walkway.
WeldIng, cuttIng, And BrAzIng (29 cFr 1910.251,
1910.252, 1910.253, 1910.254, And 1910.255)
Welding,. cutting,. and. brazing. are. hazardous. activities. that. pose. a. unique. com-
bination. of. both. safety. and. health. risks. to. more. than. 500,000. workers. in. a. wide.
.variety.of.industries..The.risk.from.fatal.injuries.alone.is.more.than.four.deaths.per.
thousand.workers.over.a.working.lifetime..An.estimated.562,000.employees.are.at.
risk.of.exposure.to.chemical.and.physical.hazards.of.welding,.cutting,.and.brazing..
Fifty-eight.deaths.from.welding.and.cutting.incidents,.including.explosions,.electro-
cutions,.asphyxiation,.falls,.and.crushing.injuries,.were.reported.by.the.Bureau.of.
Labor.Statistics.in.1993.
There.are.numerous.health.hazards.associated.with.exposure.to.fumes,.gases,.and.
ionizing.radiation.formed.or.released.during.welding,.cutting,.and.brazing,.including.
heavy.metal.poisoning,.lung.cancer,.metal.fume.fever,.lash.burns,.and.others..These.
risks.vary,.depending.upon.the.type.of.welding.materials.and.welding.surfaces.
Only.authorized.and.trained.personnel.are.permitted.to.use.welding,.cutting,.or.
brazing.equipment..Operators.must.have.a.copy.of.the.appropriate.operating.instruc-
tions,.which.they.are.directed.to.follow..Only.approved.apparati.(e.g.,.torches,.regu-
lators,.pressure.reducing.valves,.acetylene.generators,.and.manifolds).can.be.used.
Compressed. gas. cylinders. must. be. regularly. examined. for. obvious. signs. of.
defects,.such.as.deep.rusting.or.leakage,.and.care.should.be.used.in.handling.and.
storing. .cylinders,. safety. valves,. and. relief. valves. to. prevent. damage.. Precautions.
must.be.taken.to.prevent.the.mixture.of.air.or.oxygen.with.lammable.gases,.except.
at.a.burner.or.in.a.standard.torch..Cylinders.must.be.kept.away.from.sources.of.heat..
Cylinders. must. be. kept. away. from. elevators,. stairs,. and. gangways.. Cylinders. are.
prohibited.from.being.used.as.rollers.or.supports..Empty.cylinders.must.be.appropri-
ately.marked,.and.their.valves.closed..Signs.reading.“DANGER—NO.SMOKING,.
MATCHES,. OR. OPEN. LIGHTS”. or. the. equivalent. shall. be. posted.. Cylinders,.
