1910.253(b)(5)(iii): OSHA rule
Key takeaways
- 1910.253(b)(5)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 5 times in the last 3 years, in 5 inspections, with $4,684 in current penalties.
- Related part: 1910.253(b) Cylinders and containers (902 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.253(b)(5)(iii) is one requirement inside 1910.253 Oxygen-fuel gas welding and cutting, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart Q). It includes 12 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
(iii) 5 citations
(A) Fuel-gas cylinders shall be placed with valve end up whenever they are in use. Liquefied gases shall be stored and shipped with the valve end up. Open (b)(5)(iii)(a) 1 citations
(B) Cylinders shall be handled carefully. Rough handling, knocks, or falls are liable to damage the cylinder, valve or safety devices and cause leakage. Open (b)(5)(iii)(b)
(C) Before connecting a regulator to a cylinder valve, the valve shall be opened slightly and closed immediately. The valve shall be opened while standing to one side of the outlet; never in front of it. Never crack a fuel-gas cylinder valve near other welding work or near sparks, flame, or other possible sources of ignition.
(D) Before a regulator is removed from a cylinder valve, the cylinder valve shall be closed and the gas released from the regulator.
(E) Nothing shall be placed on top of an acetylene cylinder when in use which may damage the safety device or interfere with the quick closing of the valve.
(F) If cylinders are found to have leaky valves or fittings which cannot be stopped by closing of the valve, the cylinders shall be taken outdoors away from sources of ignition and slowly emptied.
(G) A warning should be placed near cylinders having leaking fuse plugs or other leaking safety devices not to approach them with a lighted cigarette or other source of ignition. Such cylinders should be plainly tagged; the supplier should be promptly notified and his instructions followed as to their return.
(H) Safety devices shall not be tampered with. 1 citations
(I) Fuel-gas shall never be used from cylinders through torches or other devices equipped with shutoff valves without reducing the pressure through a suitable regulator attached to the cylinder valve or manifold. 1 citations
(J) The cylinder valve shall always be opened slowly.
(K) An acetylene cylinder valve shall not be opened more than one and one-half turns of the spindle, and preferably no more than three-fourths of a turn. 1 citations
(L) Where a special wrench is required it shall be left in position on the stem of the valve while the cylinder is in use so that the fuel-gas flow can be quickly turned off in case of emergency. In the case of manifolded or coupled cylinders at least one such wrench shall always be available for immediate use. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.253.
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.253(b)(5)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Safety of Compressed Gas Cylinders on Portable Carts (2021-11-18)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.253(b) Cylinders and containers 902 citations
- 1910.253(b)(4) Oxygen storage 563 citations
- 1910.253(b)(4)(iii) 470 citations
- 1910.253(b)(2) Storage of cylinders—general 313 citations
- 1910.253(b)(2)(ii) 200 citations
- 1910.253(b)(2)(iv) 105 citations
- 1910.253(b)(4)(i) 92 citations
- 1910.253(b)(5) Operating procedures 16 citations
- 1910.253(b)(5)(ii) 11 citations
- 1910.253(b)(1) Approval and marking 7 citations
- 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(D) 4 citations
- 1910.253(b)(5)(ii)(I) 3 citations
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About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.253 (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 2026-10-20
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.