Thomas Industrial Library

Safety

What is the authoritative source of welding safety information?

Consult the ANSI standard Safety in Welding and Cutting, Z49.1.

What safety issues must we remember with SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW?

• Protection of face and eyes from sparks and radiation with a helmet and lens of appropriate density number (darkness).

• Protection of all skin from arc and weld material radiation by covering it with cotton or wool garments; ultra violet radiation is carcinogenic.

• Personnel in the welding area must be protected from the welding arc and sparks by protective screens.

• Beware of hazards from gases and insure adequate ventilation; inert shielding gases may cause suffocation in confined areas and welding processes can produce deadly carbon monoxide.

• Provide adequate ventilation from welding process smoke and the metal vapors, particularly heavy metals like zinc and cadmium that are toxic; keep your head out of the welding plume.

• Leather skins must be worn when welding vertically or overhead to protect the weldor from the falling stream of molten metal.

• A weldor’s hat will prevent both radiation burns to the head and molten metal burns.

• High-top boots can prevent hot sparks and slag from getting in shoes; trousers without cuffs prevent sparks from igniting them.

• Make sure your welding gloves are dry and have no holes.

• Keep hands and body insulated from both the work and the metal electrode holder.

• Do not change the polarity switch position while the machine is under welding current load.

• Welding machines must be turned off when not attended and should be disconnected from their power source.

• Weldors must not stand on a wet surface when welding to prevent electric shock.

• Welding cables and electrode holders must be inspected for breaks in insulation regularly to prevent electric shock.

• Welding power supplies on AC lines must be properly grounded and emergency shut-off switch location known and accessible.

• Welding area must be dry and free of flammable materials.

• Protect your ears from welding and grinding noise with ear plugs or ear protectors.

• Any compressed gas cylinders must be properly secured and out of the spark stream.

• Weldors must avoid wrapping welding cable around their arms or bodies in case a vehicle snags the cables.

• Never cut or weld on containers without taking precautions, see

Chapter 1, Safety.

• SMAW weldors must plan for disposal of electrode stubs: they are hot enough to cause burns and to start fires and must not be dropped from heights because of the hazard to others.