1910.252(c)(2): Ventilation for General Welding and Cutting
Employers must provide mechanical ventilation for welding or cutting on metals not covered in (c)(5) through (c)(12) when work is in a space of less than 10,000 cubic feet per welder, a room with a ceiling under 16 feet, or confined spaces or areas where structures block cross ventilation. The minimum rate is 2,000 cubic feet per minute per welder unless local exhaust or approved airline respirators are provided.
Key takeaways
- 1910.252(c)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart Q).
- OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 16 inspections, with $46,320 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (4), VA (2), 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)(2) ("Ventilation for general welding and cutting") is one requirement inside 1910.252 General requirements, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart Q). It includes 5 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
(2) Ventilation for general welding and cutting — 17 citations
(i) General. Mechanical ventilation shall be provided when welding or cutting is done on metals not covered in paragraphs (c)(5) through (c)(12) of this section. (For specific materials, see the ventilation requirements of paragraphs (c)(5) through (c)(12) of this section.) Open (c)(2)(i) 14 citations
(A) In a space of less than 10,000 cubic feet (284 m3) per welder. 1 citations
(B) In a room having a ceiling height of less than 16 feet (5 m). 2 citations
(C) In confined spaces or where the welding space contains partitions, balconies, or other structural barriers to the extent that they significantly obstruct cross ventilation. 2 citations
(ii) Minimum rate. Such ventilation shall be at the minimum rate of 2,000 cubic feet (57 m3) per minute per welder, except where local exhaust hoods and booths as per paragraph (c)(3) of this section, or airline respirators approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, pursuant to the provisions of 30 CFR part 11, are provided. Natural ventilation is considered sufficient for welding or cutting operations where the restrictions in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section are not present. 3 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.252.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Top states: MI (4), VA (2), MN (2), RI (2), NY (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| EMI ACQUISITION COMPANY INC. | CRANSTON, RI | $11,585 |
| LUCAS-MILHAUPT WARWICK LLC | WARWICK, RI | $8,863 |
| 108636 - STILLWELL INC | BURNSVILLE, MN | $8,000 |
| WATSON MCDANIEL COMPANY | POTTSTOWN, PA | $5,554 |
| AMERICAN MARITIME SERVICES OF NJ INC. | FAIRBURN, GA | $5,162 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.252(c)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.252(c)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.252(c) Health protection and ventilation 72 citations
- 1910.252(c)(1) General 33 citations
- 1910.252(c)(1)(iv) Hazard communication 25 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
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Frequently asked questions
When is mechanical ventilation needed for welding?
In a space of less than 10,000 cubic feet per welder, a room with a ceiling height of less than 16 feet, or confined spaces or areas where structural barriers significantly obstruct cross ventilation.
What is the minimum ventilation rate?
2,000 cubic feet per minute per welder, unless local exhaust hoods and booths or approved airline respirators are provided.
When is natural ventilation enough?
When none of the restrictions listed in paragraph (c)(2)(i) are present.
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.