Welding and fabrication · Canada

FLHA for oxy acetylene cutting

By SiteSortedBuilt from provincial OHS law and CCOHS guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated November 9, 2026

Provincial OHS law requires hazards to be assessed and controlled before work starts. A field level hazard assessment (FLHA) for oxy acetylene cutting is done on site at the start of the shift and again whenever conditions change.

It lists the tasks, hazards and controls, and every worker signs on before starting and signs off at the end of the shift. The main hazards are welding and cutting fumes, fire from hot works, flammable liquids and gases and fire and emergencies.

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FLHA example: oxy acetylene cutting

This is a complete FLHA for oxy acetylene cutting, with 5 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)

Hot cutting with oxy-acetylene · Welding and fabrication · Example

Document FLHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Get a hot work permit and clear combustibles	Fire from hot works Flammable liquids and gases	Critical	Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Elimination Move anything that can burn at least 10 metres away, or cover it with fire blankets. Engineering (guarding) Fire from hot works: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative Use non-flammable or water-based products where you can. Substitution Keep ignition sources away: no smoking, no hot work and no running engines near flammables. Engineering (guarding) Store fuels and solvents in approved, closed containers in a ventilated area away from the work. Engineering Refuel equipment outdoors with the engine off and cool. Administrative Keep only what you need for the day on site. Administrative Store gas cylinders upright, secured and outdoors. Administrative Keep a suitable fire extinguisher where flammables are used or stored. Administrative Wear chemical gloves and safety glasses when pouring or mixing. PPE	Medium
2	Check hoses, regulators and flashback arrestors	Flammable liquids and gases Compressed air	High	Flammable liquids and gases: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative Fit whip checks (safety cables) on hose joints and check hoses before use. Engineering Fit a pressure regulator and keep pressure to the tool's rating. Engineering Turn off and bleed the line before disconnecting. Administrative Never use compressed air to clean clothes or skin, or point it at anyone. Administrative Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. PPE	Medium
3	Cut with goggles, keeping sparks away from others	Burns from hot surfaces Eye injuries Welding and cutting fumes	Critical	Isolate heating systems and let parts cool before you touch them. Elimination Fit guards or insulation on hot pipes and equipment. Engineering Mark hot items with chalk or a "HOT" sign so others know. Administrative Keep a first aid kit and cool running water nearby for burns. Administrative Wear heat-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative Wear safety glasses at all times, goggles for dust and chemicals, and a face shield for grinding. PPE Remove paint, galvanising and coatings from the weld area first, or use a process that makes less fume. Substitution Use fume extraction (local exhaust ventilation) close to the weld. Engineering Weld outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, and keep your head out of the fume plume. Engineering Never weld or cut in a confined space without testing the air and using forced ventilation. Administrative Wear a powered air respirator or fitted respirator when extraction is not enough. PPE	Medium
4	Never cut drums or tanks that held fuel	Flammable liquids and gases Fire and emergencies	High	Flammable liquids and gases: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative Provide fire extinguishers suited to the site, checked and easy to reach. Engineering Keep exits and escape routes clear and signed. Engineering Have a site emergency plan: alarm, exits, assembly point and emergency contacts. Administrative Keep a stocked first aid kit and at least one trained first aider on site. Administrative Know the site address and how emergency services get in. Call 911. Administrative Go through the emergency plan with every worker and visitor at induction. Administrative Keep flammable materials and rubbish away from exits and escape routes. Administrative	Medium
5	Shut down bottles and fire watch after	Fire from hot works	Critical	Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Elimination Move anything that can burn at least 10 metres away, or cover it with fire blankets. Engineering (guarding) Use fire-resistant screens to stop sparks reaching people or gaps in walls and floors. Engineering Get a hot work permit before starting. Administrative Keep a charged fire extinguisher and fire blanket at the work spot. Administrative Keep a fire watch during the work and for at least 60 minutes after you finish. Administrative Check for smouldering behind walls, in ceilings and under floors before you leave. Administrative Wear flame-resistant clothing, welding gloves and eye or face protection. PPE	Medium

PPE

Welding glovesSafety gogglesCSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195)CoverallsRespirator fit tested to CSA Z94.4 (P100 for dust, or the type the air test calls for)Face shieldSafety glasses (CSA Z94.3)Hearing protectionWelding helmet (CSA Z94.3)

Plant and equipment

Oxy-acetylene torchHand tools

Permits and plans

Hot work permit

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the muster point and the first aid attendant for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this FLHA, then sign off at the end of the shift.

Free FLHA template for oxy acetylene cutting

Word (.docx) and PDF, Letter landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this FLHA

Pre-start checklist for oxy acetylene cutting

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

FLHA read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
First aid attendant, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: welding gloves, safety goggles, CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), coveralls

The safe sequence of work

Get a hot work permit and clear combustibles
Check hoses, regulators and flashback arrestors
Cut with goggles, keeping sparks away from others
Never cut drums or tanks that held fuel
Shut down bottles and fire watch after

Hazards to watch on oxy acetylene cutting

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 2Compressed airAn air hose whips when a fitting fails, or air blown at skin or eyes drives dirt in and causes injury.

Step 3Welding and cutting fumesWelding, cutting and brazing give off metal fumes and gases that damage the lungs and can cause cancer.

Step 3Burns from hot surfacesTouching hot pipes, tools, bitumen, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.

Step 1, 2, 4Flammable liquids and gasesGasoline, solvents, thinners and propane catch fire or explode when vapour reaches a spark, flame or hot surface.

Step 4Fire and emergenciesA fire, injury or other emergency happens and workers cannot get out, raise the alarm or get first aid in time.

Step 1, 5Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.

Highest risk on oxy acetylene cutting: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Canada 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and serious injury becomes unlikely and serious injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Could anyone fall 3 metres or more, or fall any distance into machinery, water, a hazardous substance or through an opening?
Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Why FLHAs get rejected

Prime contractors and COR auditors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

End of shift boxes already say "None" when the form was signed at the start of the shift.
One FLHA reused for days or weeks, or a "review by" date a month away, when the work and conditions change daily.
No time of assessment and no record of any revision, which Alberta s.7(3) requires.
Workers signed that they "read" it, but nothing shows they took part, which Alberta s.8(1) requires.
Work at height with no fall protection plan where the province requires one, or no written rescue procedure for workers using fall arrest.
Permits or locates required on site but no permit or ticket numbers recorded.
No re-assessment entry after an obvious change such as weather, a new task or a new crew member.

Rules by province for oxy acetylene cutting

Province or territory	Key local rule	Regulator
Ontario	Fall protection (O. Reg. 213/91 s.26) applies at a fall of more than 3 m, more than 1.2 m where the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment, and at any height into operating machinery, water or other liquid, a hazardous substance, or through an opening.	Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
British Columbia	Fall protection is required where a fall of 3 m or more may occur (s.11.2). A written fall protection plan is required at 7.5 m or more where there are no permanent guardrails (s.11.3).	WorkSafeBC
Alberta	A hazard assessment must be done before work begins, and before a new work site is built (OHS Code s.7(1)). The results must be written down with the controls (s.7(2)).	Alberta Occupational Health and Safety
Quebec	Guardrails (Safety Code s.2.9.1, as amended by Decret 63-2025) are needed where a worker could fall into liquid or a hazardous substance, onto moving parts or dangerous equipment, 1.2 m or more when using a vehicle, 1.5 m or more when handling a load, and more than 3 m in all other cases.	CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail)
Manitoba	A prime contractor is required whenever more than one employer or self employed person works on the site at the same time (Act s.7).	Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Branch
Saskatchewan	An occupational health committee is required at 10 or more workers of one employer (Act s.3-22).	Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, OHS Division
Nova Scotia	Workers must be trained in fall protection before using it or working in, supervising or planning work in a fall protection area, with a refresher at least every 3 years (WHSR s.21.19).	Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Branch (OHS)
New Brunswick	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above water or the nearest permanent safe level (Reg 91-191 s.49(1)(a)(i)).	WorkSafeNB
Newfoundland and Labrador	Give written notice to the minister before starting a construction project that will last 30 days or more, with the site, location, type of work and number of workers (Regs s.8).	Government Services, Occupational Health and Safety Division
Prince Edward Island	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above the nearest safe surface or water (Fall Protection Regulations s.2(1)(a)).	Workers Compensation Board of PEI, OHS Division
Yukon	Every employer must do hazard assessments with the committee, representative or workers, and redo them after significant changes or incidents (Regs s.1.03.01).	Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board
Northwest Territories	Fall protection is needed from 3 m, or lower if there is a risk of injury (s.119(1)). Guardrails are needed for falls of 1.2 m to 3 m at permanent work sites (s.119(2)).	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
Nunavut	No 911. To reach the RCMP in an emergency, dial your community's first three digits then 1111 (Iqaluit: 979-1111). Put the local fire, ambulance and RCMP numbers on every FLHA.	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)

Questions

Do I need an FLHA for oxy acetylene cutting?

Who signs the FLHA?

The supervisor and every worker take part in the assessment and sign on before work starts, then sign off at the end of the shift. Review it and re-sign whenever the task or conditions change.

How long do I keep it?

Keep completed hazard assessments for at least 3 years (COR auditors sample the last 12 months). Review this FLHA and re-sign whenever the task, crew or conditions change.

What PPE is needed for oxy acetylene cutting?

Usually Welding gloves, Safety goggles, CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), Coveralls, Respirator fit tested to CSA Z94.4 (P100 for dust, or the type the air test calls for), Face shield, Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3), Hearing protection, Welding helmet (CSA Z94.3). The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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