By Bob Katzen

  Effective January 20, 2017, bill (H 4455) creates a special commission to study welding regulations in Massachusetts and report back to the Legislature with recommendations by June 1, 2017. 

   The law was prompted by the March 2014 deaths of firefighters Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy who perished while fighting a fire that was caused by welders, working without a city permit, on a building next door to the brownstone in which they died. The commission will study current regulations and recommend whether changes and new regulations are warranted.”

  “Today, an individual can purchase a welding unit and go into business for himself without any education or certification requirements.” says State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “Recommendations from this commission will be extremely helpful to public safety as to whether training and certification should be required, whether we can strengthen or improve existing regulations or should increase penalties for violations.”