Safety in Welding

Need to knows to keep you safe

**Change from yesterday**

• Oxygen = RED TANK and GREEN HOSE

• Acetylene = BLACK TANK and RED HOSE

Rationale• A good worker is a safe worker• Most accidents are caused by a lax attitude

or behavior• Welding can be a hazardous occupation if

you are an unsafe worker• Consider your safety as well as your co-

worker

Welding Dangers

• Burns• Metal shards (cuts)• Eyes (Flashes)• Noise• Ventilation• Fire• MSDS

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Eye Protection

• Dangers:

Basic:–Metal, debris, dust, dirt, etc. in eye–Material shoot into eye– Harm and damage eye and vision

Eye Protection: PPD

• Personal Protective Devices/ Equipment:– Safety goggles and safety masks are two really

important devises in welding.– Safety goggles protect from debris and metal

shards while the mask protects from light flashes that can cause blindness. Together they save your eyes a lot of trouble

Eye Protection: PPD

UNDER

Eye Protection

• Dangers:Radiant Energy:-Some of the most serious hazards of the welding process are the harmful light rays emitted from the

arc.

- Radiant energy can be divide into three types:

Eye Protection

• Dangers:Radiant Energy three types:1)Visible light

2) Ultraviolet rays and

3) Infrared rays

Eye Protection: PPD

1) Visible Light:

• Visible light rays are those that you can see.• May be reflected off of shiny surfaces.• This light can cause eye strain or in extreme

cases, temporary or permanent blindness.

Eye Protection: PPD

2) Ultraviolet Light:• Ultraviolet rays are invisible.• Cause burns to exposed skin.• Arc flash• Sunburns

Eye Protection: PPD

3) Infrared Light:• Also invisible• Penetrate deeply • Cause temperature increases and burns to

exposed skin• Rays may also penetrate the interior of the

eyes and cause retina damage.• Infrared rays can cause cataracts.

Eye Protection: PPD

X-rays and Gamma rays:• X-rays and gamma rays are used in non

destructive testing of welds and exposure may result in cancer to body tissues.

• Distance is the best protection..

Welding Helmets

• Worn when welding or grinding to protect your eyes and facial area from harmful rays and flying particles

• Protects your face from light, heat, spatter and slag.

Filter Lens

• Filter plates absorb most of the harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays, as well as a large amount of visible light.

• No one shade is suitable for all types of welding or cutting.

• The objective is to select a filter that eliminates glare, but allows you to see the work distinctly

©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta by the Minister of Learning. 1999

Figure 4 - Welding lenses.

Filter Lens

• General rule, if after a few minutes of welding you lift your helmet and see light spots, your lens is probably to light, if dark spots , your lens is probably to dark

©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta by the Minister of Learning. 1999

Figure 4 - Welding lenses.

Protective Equipment

• Wear a cap or beanie to protect your hair.• Do not use hair spray.• Shirt or coat pockets should have flaps.• Do not keep matches or disposable lighters in

your pockets.• Pant legs should cover the top of your

footwear and not have cuffs

Welding Gloves

• Gauntlet style gloves provide the best protection.

• Do not attempt to handle very hot material with gloves.

• Make sure gloves are in good condition, with no holes in them

Foot Wear

• CSA approved ,high top leather safety boots• Electrically non-conductive soles• In wet conditions ,rubber boots and dry socks

offer the best protection against electrical shock.

• Rubber boots also protect against chemicals coming in contact with your feet

Burns

Two types of burns are:• Surface or minor burns, only the outer layers

of the skin are damaged, may be red in color and may blister.(1st degree)

• Major burns ( second or third degree burns) are deep burns with all layers of the skin destroyed and underlying fat and muscle damaged to varying depths.

If you are burned:

• Immediately cool the effected area by immersing in cool, still water until the pain is relieved, remove jewelry and loosen tight clothing before swelling occurs.

• Cooling the burned area prevents further tissue damage.

• Cut away clothing around the burn do not remove cloth adhered to the burn

General Rule:

• In and around welding shops all metal should be treated as hot

If you do catch fire:• STOP moving- don’t run• DROP to the ground• ROLL several times to put the flames out.

Noise Hazards

• Noise is defined as unwanted sound• major contributors to hearing loss are.• Work site overall noise level• frequency and duration.• Time distribution of noise level.• Susceptibility of the individual.

Noise Hazards Warnings:

• If you have to raise your voice to a person who is less than a meter away .

• Develop a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears.

• Maximum noise level in 8 hours is 85 dBA

Noise PPD

©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of Alberta by the Minister of Learning. 1999

Figure 6 - Ear plugs and ear muffs.

Sparks and Slag

• Slag gathers heat from the arc and molten metal, and may be propelled towards the welder by exploding off the weld bead or during slag removal

Welding Apron

Electrical Shock Hazards

• TYPE OF CURRENT- AC can cause you to tighten your grip, DC may throe you away.

• VOLTAGE-200V-250V can be deadly, will not throw you away.

• FREQUENCY-low frequency is more dangerous than high frequency, will not throw you away,where as high frequency will throw you away.

Electrical Shock Protection

• GFC’S- ground faults senses current flow and breaks the current in about 1/40 of a second.

• CLOTHING-wet clothing can reduce the bodies ability to resist shocks.

• ELECTRODE HOLDERS- never allow their metal parts to touch your skin.

Electrical Shock Rescue

• Electrical shock can cause cardiac arrest.• Alert proper authorities and type of accident• act quickly, seconds make the difference• use insulation if the conductor must be moved.• Take care victims don’t fall from heights.• Remember in confined spaces ,the walls and

floor may be conductors.

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