Safety Manual
Safety Manual
ELECTRIC SHOCK CAN KILL
- The electrode and work (or ground) circuits are electrically "hot" when the welder is on. Do not touch these "hot" parts with your bare skin or wet clothing. Wear dry, hole-free gloves to insulate hands.
- Always be sure that the work cable makes a good electrical connection with the metal being welded. The connection should be as close as possible to the area being welded.
- Maintain the electrode holder, work clamp, welding cable and welding machine in good, safe operating condition. Replace damaged insulation.
- Never dip the electrode in water for cooling.
- Never simultaneously touch, electrically "hot" parts of electrode holders connected to two welders because voltage between the two can be the total of the open circuit voltage of both welders.
ARC RAYS CAN BURN
- Use suitable clothing made from durable flame resistant material to protect your skin and that of your helpers from the arc rays.
- Protect other nearby personnel with suitable non- flammable screening and/or warn them not to expose themselves to the arc rays or to hot spatter or metal.
FUMES AND GASES CAB BE DANGEROUS
- Welding may produce fumes and gases hazardous to health. Avoid breathing these fumes and gases. When welding, keep your head out of the fume. Use enough ventilation and/or exhaust at the arc to keep fumes and gases away from the breathing zone.
- Do not weld in locations near chlorinated hydrocarbon vapours coming from degreasing, cleaning or spraying operations. The heat and rays of the arc can react with solvent vapours to form phosgene, a highly toxic gas, and other irritating products.
ELECTRIC SHOCK CAN KILL
- The electrode and work (or ground) circuits are electrically "hot" when the welder is on. Do not touch these "hot" parts with your bare skin or wet clothing. Wear dry, hole-free gloves to insulate hands.
- Always be sure that the work cable makes a good electrical connection with the metal being welded. The connection should be as close as possible to the area being welded.
- Maintain the electrode holder, work clamp, welding cable and welding machine in good, safe operating condition. Replace damaged insulation.
- Never dip the electrode in water for cooling.
WELDING SPARKS CAN CAUSE FIRE OR EXPLOSION
- Where compressed gases are to be used at the job site, special precautions should be used to prevent hazardous situations. Refer to "Safety in welding and cutting" (ANSI Standard Z 49.1) and the operating information for the equipment being used.
- When not welding, make sure that no part of the electrode circuit is touching the work or ground.
- Accidental contact can cause overheating and create a fire hazard.
- Do not heat, cut or weld tanks, drums or containers until the proper steps have been taken to ensure that such procedures will not cause flammable or toxic vapours from substances inside. They can cause an explosion even though they have been "cleaned". For information refer "Recommended Safe Practices for the Preparation for welding and cutting of Containers and Piping that have held hazardous Substances". AWS F 4.1 from the American Welding Society.
- Vent hollow casting or containers before heating, cutting or welding. They may explode.
- Sparks and spatter are thrown from the welding arc. Wear oil free protective garments such as leather gloves, heavy shirt, cuffless trousers, high shoes and a cap over your hair. Wear earplugs when welding out of position or in confined places. Always wear safety glasses with side shields when in a welding area.
- Connect the work cable to work as close to the welding area as practical. Work cables connected to the building framework or other locations away from the welding area increase the possibility of the welding current passing through lifting chains, crane cables or other alternate circuits. This can create fire hazards or overheat lifting chains or cables until they fail.
- Remove fire hazards from the welding areas. If this is not possible, cover them to prevent the welding sparks from starting a fire. Remember that welding sparks and hot materials from welding can easily go through small cracks and openings to adjacent areas.
- Avoid welding near hydraulic lines. Have a fire Extinguisher readily available.