Welding Safety

Types of Welding Hazards

Radiation exposure Can cause retinal burning and cataracts Proper lenses with the appropriate shading must always be worn UV radiation cannot be sensed by heat or brightness

Types of Welding Hazards

Electric shock Two kinds of electric shock: primary voltage shock and secondary voltage shock Primary voltage shock involves 230 or 460 volts and is caused by touching both the lead inside the welding equipment and the welding equipment case or other grounded metal while the equipment is powered ON

Types of Welding Hazards

Electric shock

Secondary voltage shock involves 60 to 100 watts and is caused by touching a part of the electrode circuit and the side of the welding circuit.

The basic arc-welding circuit

Types of Welding Hazards

Electric shock

Do the following to avoid electric shock:

Keep dry and wear dry gloves. Stand or lie on plywood, rubber mats or other insulation. Do not rest any part of the body on the workpiece. Keep electrodes and electrode holders in good condition. Do not touch electrodes or metal parts with either the skin or wet clothing.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fires and explosions
The welding process can produce extreme heat; however, fire hazards are not caused by the heat but by the effect of the heat on the workpiece, such as sparks and molten metal.
Keep the work area and all surrounding areas free of combustible items. Be cautious when working in dusty areas where sparks and dust particles can easily oxidize without warning, which can result in a flash fire or an explosion.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fires and explosions
Do the following to protect from fire and explosions:
Always know where the fire exits and fire extinguishers are located. If welding within 35 feet of a combustible object, utilize a fire watcher, who can watch for landing sparks.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fumes and gases
Fumes contain particles from base metal and base metal coating Effects from fumes are normally temporary Symptoms caused by short-term exposure to fumes can include burning eyes, burning skin, dizziness, nausea, and fever.
Long-term exposure to fumes can cause siderosis (which are iron deposits in the lungs) and can affect pulmonary function.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fumes and gases
Zinc fumes can cause metal fume fever, which is a temporary illness similar to the flu. Cadmium fumes can cause symptoms similar to metal fume fever; however, it can be fatal, even under brief exposure When shielding gases are released into the air, they can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death if clean oxygen is withheld for a long enough period.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fumes and gases
UV radiation forms gases when it hits the air, which can cause headaches, chest pains, eye irritation, and itchiness in the nose and throat.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fumes and gases
Do the following to protect from fume and gas exposure: Ensure adequate ventilation in the work area. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as a respirator. Read material safety data sheets before beginning work to learn what fumes can be potentially released. Familiarize yourself with the metals that are being used to determine if a paint or coating can cause toxic fumes or gases.

Types of Welding Hazards

Fumes and gases
Do the following to protect from fume and gas exposure:

If symptoms of dizziness, headache, or nausea occur, turn off the welding equipment, notify supervisors and co-workers, and get fresh air immediately.

Types of Welding Hazards

Confined spaces
Examples of confined spaces include a boiler, tank, or hold of a ship where all the welding hazards are amplified, such as insufficient ventilation, fume and gas exposure, and chances of fire or explosion.

Types of Welding Hazards

Confined spaces
Do the following to protect yourself when working in confined spaces: Make sure your body is insulated from the workpiece and ground. Wear dry gloves. Use only a well-insulated electrode holder. Verify that there is sufficient ventilation. Always make sure there is a trained person outside the confined space at all times to disconnect power and pull the welder out if a dangerous situation occurs.

Types of Welding Hazards

Loud noise
Can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss
Do the following to protect against noise: Reduce the sound level when possible. Wear ear muffs or ear plugs.

General Safety Rules

Follow the rules. Stay alert. Properly use all tools and other materials. Respond immediately and appropriately to all safety-related incidents.

Wear appropriate clothing.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Clothing
ShirtsWear heavy, long-sleeved shirts; remove pockets or tape them shut if they do not have pocket flaps; keep collar and sleeves buttoned to keep out sparks.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

PantsWear pants that are long enough to cover the top of your shoes or boots. Welding capWear a cap with a flexible bill that can be slipped around to cover either ear to keep sparks and metal splatter out of the ear opening.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

BootsWear steel-toed boots made of heavy leather with uppers that reach above the ankle.
GlovesWear heavy leather gloves with gauntlets; gauntlets may be short or extend to the shoulder.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Jackets and apronsWear leather jackets and aprons for additional protection, especially when welding in confined areas.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Eye protection
Safety glassesWear at all times in the welding area; include side protection when flying objects are possible.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Face shieldWear a face shield, along with safety glasses, when grinding, chipping, cutting, or shaping metal with any type of power tool.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

If you wear contact lenses, check with your doctor to see if the type of lens you wear requires any special precautions in the work area.
If your wear prescription lenses, either wear eye protection that incorporates that prescription into the lens or appropriate eye protection that can be worn over your existing lenses. Select the appropriate lens shade when wearing safety glasses, goggles, or a welding hood.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Welding hoods
Stationary filter lensContains a fixed lens housing with the shaded lens held in by a spring retainer from where a lens can be slipped out and replaced as welding requires.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Welding hoods
Flip-front filter lensContains a lens housing with a front side that can be flipped up so that it leaves a clear-glass lens that permits the hood to be worn while chipping.

Appropriate Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment

Welding hoods
Auto darkening lensUsed in helmets specifically designed for auto darkening lenses; contains sensors that automatically change the shade from clear to dark in a fraction of a second when you start to weld and gradually changes back to clear when you stop welding; can be manually adjusted for a variety of shades.

Hazards Caused by Fumes and Gases

Hazards Caused by Fumes and Gases

Hazards Caused by Fumes and Gases

Hazards Caused by Fumes and Gases

(continued)

Hazards Caused by Fumes and Gases

Information Included on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Chemical Identity Hazardous Ingredients Physical and Chemical Characteristics Fire and Explosion Hazard Data Reactivity Data Health Hazard Data Precautions for Safe Handling and Use Control Measures

Common Safety Signs

Common Safety Signs

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Class A Ordinary combustibles like wood, paper and cloth

Class B Flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, paints and oil

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Class C Energized electrical equipment like motors, switches, and computers

Class D Combustible metals like titanium, sodium, and magnesium

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

Class K Oils or fats used with cooking appliances

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Cuts Stop the bleeding by applying gentle, continuous pressure with a clean cloth or bandage. Clean the wound with clear water. Apply an antibiotic to the wound to keep it moist. Cover the wound with a bandage to keep it clean and protected.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Cuts
Change the dressing at least once a day or when it becomes wet or dirty. Get stitches for deep wounds. Be alert to signs of infection. Get a tetanus shot within 48 hours if your wound is severely dirty, more than five years have passed since your last tetanus shot, and it is recommended by your physician.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Burns
Determine the type of burn. Apply appropriate treatment. Chemicals in the eye Use clean, lukewarm water to flush the eye for at least 20 minutes. Thoroughly wash the hands with soap and water.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Chemicals in the eye
Remove contact lenses if they do not fall out while flushing the eye with water. Seek medical assistance if necessary.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Traumatic shock
Identify the symptoms of traumatic shock:
Early stages Late stages

Lay the victim down. Elevate the legs slightly. Cover the body with a blanket to prevent loss of heat.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Electrical accident
Do not provide any medical aid until the electrical current has been shut off. Administer CPR if necessary, if you have the proper training. Treat for traumatic shock and electrical burns.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Choking
Recognize the signs of choking. Perform the Heimlich maneuver.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Head injury
Keep the person still and lying down, with the head and shoulders slightly elevated. Do not move the person unless necessary. Apply light pressure with a sterile gauze to stop any bleeding. If the person stops breathing, perform CPR if you are properly trained.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Heat exhaustion
Recognize the symptoms:
Extreme perspiration Pale, clammy skin Rapid, weak pulse Rapid shallow breathing

Immediately move the victim to a cool place. Lay victim flat and elevate the feet slightly.

First Aid Procedures for Various Emergency Situations

Heat exhaustion
Remove as much of the victims clothing as possible. Sponge the skin with cool water.

Guidelines for Proper Lifting

Check the box or item for nails, splinters, rough areas, grease, or slippery surfaces.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

Plan your route before you lift

Check your path of travel and remove any obstructions from your path.

Guidelines for Proper Lifting

Make sure you can handle the weight of the load by yourself before trying to lift it. Place your feet close to the object and about shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees and grip the object securely. Using your leg muscles, push up with your legs, keeping your back straight.

Guidelines for Proper Lifting

Keep the load close to your body as you travel. Turn your feet to turn your body. Lower the load by bending your knees, again making sure to keep your back straight. Carefully set the load down, being careful to watch your fingers.

Proper Use of a Ladder

Inspect the ladder before each use

Verify that the ladder has no defects.

Verify that the steps or rungs are clean and not damaged.

Proper Use of a Ladder

Properly set up the ladder

Follow the one-to-four ratio rule for extension ladders. Verify the ladder is standing on firm, dry ground. Verify that an extension ladder is leaning against a solid structure. Fasten an extension ladder to the structure it is leaning against when accessing high places.

Proper Use of a Ladder

Properly set up the ladder

Verify that a stepladder is fully open and the divider locked. Place the top of extension or straight ladders at least three rungs above the work. If using a ladder in front of a door, lock the door before ascending the ladder. Set up a ladder as far away as possible from electrical lines.

Proper Use of a Ladder

Be cautious to avoid accidents

Do not climb higher than the third rung on extension ladders or second tread from the top of stepladders. When working with both hands, lock one leg around a rung. Do not overreach. Keep your belt buckle between the rails. Do not put one foot on the ladder and the other on an adjacent surface.

Proper Use of a Ladder

Be cautious to avoid accidents

Never stand on the braces, extension arms, or paint shelf. Use a ladder only for the purpose of reaching places you can not reach from the ground. Do not work in windy conditions. Do not leave a ladder unattended.

Lockout/Tagout Policy
Locking

Obtain permission from a supervisor before you plan to lockout a piece of equipment. Shut off the equipment. Place the locks on the switches and valves. Try to start the equipment or open the valves. Begin working.
When the work is completed, verify that all employees are cleared of the equipment before removing the locks and tags.

Lockout/Tagout Policy
Tagging

Write a brief message on the tag, if necessary. Write your name and the date.
Attach the tag in a visible location.

Thank you.