Reporting Period: October 2024 – September 2025
This report summarizes the enforcement activity for 29 CFR 1910.252, which covers general requirements for welding, cutting, and brazing. The data reflects current penalty amounts and identifies the economic sectors most frequently cited.
Executive Summary
During the specified period, OSHA issued 160 citations across 115 inspections, resulting in $687,200 in current penalties. The manufacturing sector remains the primary driver of enforcement of this standard, accounting for the vast majority of citations and nearly 52% of total penalties.
Data Breakdown by Economic Sector (NAICS 2-Digit)
| NAICS Sector | Citations | Inspections | Total Penalties |
| Total for All Industries | 160 | 115 | $687,200 |
| 33 / Manufacturing (Part 3 of 3) | 107 | 81 | $359,403 |
| 23 / Construction | 14 | 6 | $110,593 |
| 42 / Wholesale Trade | 13 | 8 | $67,378 |
| 81 / Other Services | 9 | 6 | $61,895 |
| 32 / Manufacturing (Part 2 of 3) | 6 | 4 | $22,886 |
| 56 / Admin, Support, Waste Management | 5 | 4 | $28,020 |
| 22 / Utilities | 2 | 2 | $13,878 |
| 21 / Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction | 2 | 2 | $2,979 |
| 48 / Transportation and Warehousing | 1 | 1 | $12,059 |
| 44 / Retail Trade | 1 | 1 | $8,110 |
Key Observations
- Manufacturing Dominance: Combined (Sectors 32 and 33), the manufacturing industry accounts for 113 out of 160 citations (70%). This suggests that welding and cutting safety remains a critical compliance focus in production environments.
- High-Impact Inspections: While the Construction sector had significantly fewer citations (14) than Manufacturing, its average penalty per citation is notably higher (approx. $7,899 per citation vs. Manufacturing’s $3,358 per citation). This may indicate more “Serious” or “Willful” classifications within construction-related welding tasks.
- Safety Focus: Standard 1910.252 focuses on fire prevention, protection of personnel (eye protection/ventilation), and the handling of cylinders. The high penalty totals across diverse sectors like Wholesale Trade and “Other Services” indicate that OSHA is actively inspecting maintenance and repair operations, not just primary production lines.
Note: Penalties shown reflect the current status of the citations as of the report generation date and may differ from the initial amounts proposed at the time of the inspection due to informal settlements or legal contested proceedings.