Scope and Applicability. This standard shall be for the guidance of educators, operators, managers, and supervisors in the safe setup and use of welding and cutting equipment, and the safe performance of welding and cutting operations.

Beginning with the revision of 1983, the scope of ANSI Standard Z49.1 has been refocused towards those safe practices for performing welding, cutting, and allied processes, which are generally within the implementation control of the welder or the weld shop management. It is written in a manner suitable for issuance to the welder and shop management to give practical information to help them perform these functions safely. It also contains information useful to educators, industrial hygienists, engineers, and similar parties also responsible for safety and health in welding. With this refocused scope, some provisions which appeared in prior editions have been deleted. Those were provisions which dealt more in matter of building design and construction, facility pipelines, and electrical installations. Those provisions, of course, are still important and necessary and must be followed. They are not provisions usually under the immediate control of welding and cutting operations.

Specific provisions are included for oxyfuel gas and arc welding and cutting, resistance welding, electron beam welding, laser beam cutting and welding, and brazing and soldering. However, the requirements of this standard are generally applicable to the other welding processes such as submerged arc welding and allied processes shown in the American Welding Society Master Chart of Welding and Allied Processes, included in Annex D.

Purpose. This standard is for the protection of persons from injury and illness and the protection of property (including equipment) from damage by fire and explosions arising from welding, cutting, and allied processes.