1910.252(c)(1): Welding Ventilation and Health Protection
Employers must provide local exhaust or general ventilation to keep welding fumes, gases and dusts below the maximum allowable concentrations in 1910.1000. Screens around welding must not seriously restrict ventilation, and hazardous materials in fluxes, coatings, coverings and filler metals must be included in the hazard communication program with labels, safety data sheets and training.
Key takeaways
- 1910.252(c)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 33 times in the last 3 years, in 32 inspections, with $45,667 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (14), WI (4), MN (2).
- Related part: 1910.252(c) Health protection and ventilation (72 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.252(c)(1) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.252 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart Q). It includes 16 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) General — 33 citations
(i) Contamination. The requirements in this paragraph have been established on the basis of the following three factors in arc and gas welding which govern the amount of contamination to which welders may be exposed:
(A) Dimensions of space in which welding is to be done (with special regard to height of ceiling).
(B) Number of welders.
(C) Possible evolution of hazardous fumes, gases, or dust according to the metals involved.
(ii) Screens. When welding must be performed in a space entirely screened on all sides, the screens shall be so arranged that no serious restriction of ventilation exists. It is desirable to have the screens so mounted that they are about 2 feet (0.61 m) above the floor unless the work is performed at so low a level that the screen must be extended nearer to the floor to protect nearby workers from the glare of welding. 4 citations
(iii) Maximum allowable concentration. Local exhaust or general ventilating systems shall be provided and arranged to keep the amount of toxic fumes, gases, or dusts below the maximum allowable concentration as specified in § 1910.1000 of this part. 4 citations
(iv) Hazard communication. The employer shall include the potentially hazardous materials employed in fluxes, coatings, coverings, and filler metals, all of which are potentially used in welding and cutting, or are released to the atmosphere during welding and cutting, in the program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (§ 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of such materials and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of § 1910.1200. Potentially hazardous materials shall include but not be limited to the materials itemized in paragraphs (c)(5) through (c)(12) of this section. Open (c)(1)(iv) 25 citations
(v) Additional considerations for hazard communication in welding, cutting, and brazing.
(A) The suppliers shall determine and shall label in accordance with § 1910.1200 any hazards associated with the use of their materials in welding, cutting, and brazing.
(B) In addition to any requirements imposed by § 1910.1200, all filler metals and fusible granular materials shall carry the following notice, as a minimum, on tags, boxes, or other containers:
Do not use in areas without adequate ventilation. See ANSI Z49.1-1967 Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes published by the American Welding Society.
(C) Where brazing (welding) filler metals contain cadmium in significant amounts, the labels shall indicate the hazards associated with cadmium including cancer, lung and kidney effects, and acute toxicity effects.
(D) Where brazing and gas welding fluxes contain fluorine compounds, the labels shall indicate the hazards associated with fluorine compounds including eye and respiratory tract effects.
(vi) Prior to June 1, 2015, employers may include the following information on labels in lieu of the labeling requirements in paragraph (c)(1)(v) of this section:
(A) All filler metals and fusible granular materials shall carry the following notice, as a minimum, on tags, boxes, or other containers:
CAUTION
Welding may produce fumes and gases hazardous to health. Avoid breathing these fumes and gases. Use adequate ventilation. See ANSI Z49.1-1967 Safety in Welding and Cutting published by the American Welding Society.
(B) Brazing (welding) filler metals containing cadmium in significant amounts shall carry the following notice on tags, boxes, or other containers:
WARNING
CONTAINS CADMIUM—POISONOUS FUMES MAY BE FORMED ON HEATING
Do not breathe fumes. Use only with adequate ventilation such as fume collectors, exhaust ventilators, or air-supplied respirators. See ANSI Z49.1-1967. If chest pain, cough, or fever develops after use call physician immediately.
(C) Brazing and gas welding fluxes containing fluorine compounds shall have a cautionary wording to indicate that they contain fluorine compounds. One such cautionary wording recommended by the American Welding Society for brazing and gas welding fluxes reads as follows:
CAUTION
CONTAINS FLUORIDES
This flux when heated gives off fumes that may irritate eyes, nose and throat.
1. Avoid fumes—use only in well-ventilated spaces.
2. Avoid contact of flux with eyes or skin.
3. Do not take internally.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.252.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 7 |
Top states: MI (14), WI (4), MN (2), TX (2), NM (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DIAMOND C TRAILER, LLC | MOUNT PLEASANT, TX | $6,620 |
| RED EARTH CASINO | THERMAL, CA | $4,839 |
| RAVELING COMPANIES, LLC | AMERY, WI | $4,610 |
| DYNAMIC FITNESS & STRENGTH, LLC. | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $4,552 |
| 66864 - LONDON BURIAL VAULTS LLC | TUTTLE, KY | $3,185 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.252(c)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.252(c)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.252(c) Health protection and ventilation 72 citations
- 1910.252(c)(1)(iv) Hazard communication 25 citations
- 1910.252(c)(2) Ventilation for general welding and cutting 17 citations
- 1910.252(c)(2)(i) General 14 citations
- 1910.252(c)(6)(ii) Indoors 13 citations
- 1910.252(c)(6) Zinc 13 citations
- 1910.252(c)(4) Ventilation in confined spaces 4 citations
- 1910.252(c)(11)(i) Manufacturer's instructions 3 citations
- 1910.252(c)(11) Cleaning compounds 3 citations
- 1910.252(c)(10) Mercury
- 1910.252(c)(9) Cadmium
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What ventilation is required for welding?
Local exhaust or general ventilation arranged to keep toxic fumes, gases or dusts below the maximum allowable concentration in 1910.1000.
What factors affect welder exposure?
The size of the space, especially ceiling height, the number of welders, and the hazardous fumes, gases or dust the metals may produce.
Must welding materials be in the HazCom program?
Yes. Hazardous materials in fluxes, coatings, coverings and filler metals must be included.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.252 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-24
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.