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Gasoline use for underground construction welding

Summary A mining engineer asked whether gasoline could be used as welding gas in underground construction. OSHA pointed to the underground-construction hot-work and ventilation provisions and said gasoline's volatility led to its longstanding position that gasoline must not be carried, stored, or used underground.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1997-01-10
Date issued
January 10, 1997
Status
Active
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Underground Construction Flammable Liquids
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

January 10, 1997

Michael P. Sheridan, P.E.
Mining Engineer
Industrial and Electrical Safety Division
MSHA Denver Safety and Health Technology Center
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Sheridan:

This is in response to your telephone request for clarification of 29 CFR 1926.800(m)(5)(i) and the use of gasoline as a welding gas in underground construction. There are numerous restrictions and prohibitions to the use of gasoline in underground construction. 29 CFR 1926.800(m)(5)(ii) limits the type of gas used in welding, cutting and other hot work and references requirements for ventilation, fresh air supply, fire and explosion prevention. Due to the volatile properties of gasoline, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has always maintained that "gasoline shall not be carried, stored, or used underground."

If you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact Tony Brown, at (202) 219-8136 x 149.

Sincerely,

Russell B. Swanson, Director
Directorate of Construction

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