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Welding and fabrication · United States

JHA for oxy acetylene cutting

By SiteSortedBuilt from OSHA standards and guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for oxy acetylene cutting before you start.

A JHA breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards in each step and the controls that protect the crew, and the crew signs it. The main hazards are welding and cutting fumes, fire from hot works, flammable liquids and gases and fire and emergencies.

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JHA example: oxy acetylene cutting

This is a complete JHA 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.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Hot cutting with oxy-acetylene · Welding and fabrication · Example
Document JHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#Job stepHazardsRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Get 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 35 feet 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
2Check 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 point air at anyone or use it on clothes or skin. Air for cleaning must be under 30 psi with chip guarding (29 CFR 1926.302(b)(4)). Administrative
  • Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. PPE
Medium
3Cut 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, galvanizing 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
4Never 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
5Shut 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 35 feet 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 (NFPA 51B), longer if the permit says so. Administrative
  • Check for smoldering 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 goggles (ANSI Z87.1)Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413)CoverallsHalf-face respirator (P100 cartridges)Face shield (ANSI Z87.1)Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Welding helmet (ANSI Z87.1)

Plant and equipment

Oxy-acetylene torchHand tools

Permits and plans

Hot work permit (fire watch at least 60 minutes after, NFPA 51B)

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aid / cpr person for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this JHA.

Free JHA 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 JHA

Pre-start checklist for oxy acetylene cutting

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Get a hot work permit and clear combustibles
  2. Check hoses, regulators and flashback arrestors
  3. Cut with goggles, keeping sparks away from others
  4. Never cut drums or tanks that held fuel
  5. 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, asphalt, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.
Step 1, 2, 4Flammable liquids and gasesGasoline, solvents, thinners and propane catch fire or explode when vapor 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.
Almost certainLikelyPossibleUnlikelyRareHow bad it could be: First aid only to FatalityBA
Highest risk on oxy acetylene cutting: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United States 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):

  • Will anyone work 6 feet or more above a lower level?
  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Is there a skylight, fiberglass panel or other fragile roofing?
  • Will you use a scaffold or rolling tower?

Why JHAs get rejected

General contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

  • Generic steps such as "work safely" or "use PPE" with no task-specific hazards or controls.
  • No OSHA standards referenced for the hazards that have them, such as fall protection, ladders, scaffolds or silica.
  • No competent person named for fall protection, excavation, scaffolds or silica where those hazards exist.
  • Equipment listed without inspection requirements, and no training listed for the people using it.
  • Respirators listed with no respiratory protection program, medical clearance or fit test.
  • Controls rely only on PPE when engineering controls such as guardrails, wet cutting or extraction are feasible.
  • No crew sign-off, or no date and revision when the job has changed.

Questions

Do I need a JHA for oxy acetylene cutting?

OSHA expects employers to find and control hazards on every job, and many general contractors require a written JHA for oxy acetylene cutting before you start.

Who signs the JHA?

The supervisor or competent person who prepared it signs, and every crew member signs to show they were trained on the hazards and controls before the job starts. Many general contractors also sign to accept it.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this JHA on site during the job, and keep it with the training and inspection records for at least 1 year after the job (longer if your state plan or general contractor requires it). OSHA does not set a retention period for JHAs themselves.

What PPE is needed for oxy acetylene cutting?

Usually Welding gloves, Safety goggles (ANSI Z87.1), Safety-toe boots (ASTM F2413), Coveralls, Half-face respirator (P100 cartridges), Face shield (ANSI Z87.1), Safety glasses (ANSI Z87.1), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Welding helmet (ANSI Z87.1). The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Blank JHA template: free JHA templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United Kingdom (RAMS) · Canada (FLHA)

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