# Hot work: welding, cutting, torches

URL: https://hardhatbinder.com/en/toolbox-talks/hot-work
Last updated: 2026-10-23

This week we have welding, cutting, and torch work on the job. Sparks and slag can travel far and start a fire you don't see until it's too late. A few minutes of setup before you strike an arc or light a torch keeps everyone safe.

## Key points

1. Before you start, look around the work area and move anything that can burn: wood, cardboard, rags, trash, fuel cans. If you can't move it, cover it with a fire blanket or shield it.
2. Have a charged fire extinguisher right next to you, ready to use, every time you do hot work.
3. Check for openings, cracks, and holes in floors and walls where sparks can fall to the level below. Cover them or put a fire watch on the other side.
4. When there's a real fire risk nearby, assign a fire watch who stays during the work and keeps watching for a while after you finish, because things can smolder and catch later.
5. Keep gas cylinders upright and chained or secured so they can't fall. Keep valve caps on when the cylinders are not in use or being moved.
6. Store oxygen cylinders away from fuel gas cylinders like acetylene, separated by distance or a fire-resistant barrier. Keep oil and grease off oxygen fittings.
7. Inspect hoses, regulators, and torches before each use. Replace damaged hoses, don't tape them, and close the cylinder valves when you're done.

## Talk it over

- Where on our site right now are there materials that could catch a spark from hot work?
- Who is going to be fire watch on today's hot work, and where is the closest extinguisher?
- How are our gas cylinders stored and secured right now, and is anything we need to fix?

> **Remember:** Clear it, cover it, watch it: no hot work without a fire extinguisher and a clean area.

## Official sources

- [29 CFR 1926.352](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.352) — Fire prevention (welding and cutting)
- [29 CFR 1926.350](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-1926.350) — Gas welding and cutting (cylinders)

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Source: HardHat Binder, operated by Leadspire LLC. Templates to be reviewed by a competent person before use; not legal advice; not affiliated with OSHA.