1910.252(a)(2)(iii): Fire Watch for Welding and Cutting
Employers must post fire watchers when welding or cutting is done where more than a minor fire could start, such as with appreciable combustibles closer than 35 feet. Fire watchers must have extinguishing equipment and training, know how to sound the alarm, and keep watching for at least a half hour after the work ends.
Key takeaways
- 1910.252(a)(2)(iii) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 13 times in the last 3 years, in 13 inspections, with $65,934 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TX (4), KY (2), NJ (1).
- Related part: 1910.252(a) Fire prevention and protection (192 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.252(a)(2)(iii) ("Fire watch") is one requirement inside 1910.252 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart Q). It includes 2 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) Fire watch. 13 citations
(A) Fire watchers shall be required whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where other than a minor fire might develop, or any of the following conditions exist: Open (a)(2)(iii)(a) 9 citations
(1) Appreciable combustible material, in building construction or contents, closer than 35 feet (10.7 m) to the point of operation.
(2) Appreciable combustibles are more than 35 feet (10.7 m) away but are easily ignited by sparks.
(3) Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot (10.7 m) radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas including concealed spaces in walls or floors.
(4) Combustible materials are adjacent to the opposite side of metal partitions, walls, ceilings, or roofs and are likely to be ignited by conduction or radiation.
(B) Fire watchers shall have fire extinguishing equipment readily available and be trained in its use. They shall be familiar with facilities for sounding an alarm in the event of a fire. They shall watch for fires in all exposed areas, try to extinguish them only when obviously within the capacity of the equipment available, or otherwise sound the alarm. A fire watch shall be maintained for at least a half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations to detect and extinguish possible smoldering fires. 4 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.252.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.252(a)(2)(iii).
At 4:00 p.m. on October 22, 2024, an employee working as a machine maintenance technician was on an inclined conveyor preparing to maintain its gearbox. The employee was on top of the "naturals" conveyor (#C8) associated with the Colorbiotics mulch dye machine while a coworker…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: TX (4), KY (2), NJ (1), OH (1), OR (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FOSS ENERGY SERVICES, INC. | BIG SPRING, TX | $14,895 |
| RESOURCE RECYCLING, INC. | LIMA, OH | $9,799 |
| BECK MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL | CONVERSE, TX | $7,448 |
| CRAFT MACHINE WORKS INC | HAMPTON, VA | $6,710 |
| 68964 - DESHAZO LLC | WINCHESTER, KY | $5,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.252(a)(2)(iii), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.252(a)(2)(iii).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.252(a) Fire prevention and protection 192 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2) Special precautions 138 citations
- 1910.252(a)(3) Welding or cutting containers 40 citations
- 1910.252(a)(3)(i) Used containers 33 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(vii) Relocation of combustibles 28 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(xiii) Management 28 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(vi) Prohibited areas 20 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(vi)(C) 19 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(xiii)(C) 16 citations
- 1910.252(a)(1) Basic precautions 14 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(iv) Authorization 13 citations
- 1910.252(a)(2)(ii) Fire extinquishers 10 citations
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
When is a fire watch required for hot work?
Whenever welding or cutting is done where other than a minor fire might develop, or when listed conditions exist, such as appreciable combustible material closer than 35 feet to the work.
How long must the fire watch continue after welding stops?
For at least a half hour after completion of welding or cutting operations.
What must a fire watcher have?
Fire extinguishing equipment readily available, training in its use, and knowledge of how to sound an alarm.
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 2026-10-21
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.