Safety In WeldingAg Metals 1

Objectives

Describe the type of protection that should be worn for welding

Describe the proper methods of handling, storing and setting up cylinders

Discuss the proper way to ventilate a welding area

Explain how to avoid electrical shock Describe how to avoid possible health

hazards for welding Explain how to prevent fires in welding

Introduction Start Safe, Stay Safe! Safety is YOUR RESPONSABILITY There is no substitute for caution and

common sense! A safe job is no accident; it takes work to

keep the job safe. Welding has a number of potential hazards

and they don’t have to result in injury. Learning to work safely with hazards is just

as important as learning to be a skilled welder.

General Work Clothing

The Clothing of the Trade

Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Burns

Most common injury Causes

Ultraviolet light Contact

3 classes of burns 1st Degree 2nd Degree 3rd Degree

1st Degree Burns Surface of the skin is

Reddish in color Tender Painful No broken skin

Treat by Immediately putting the burned area under cold water

(not iced) or apply a cold compress until the pain decreases

Then cover the area with a sterile bandage or clean cloth DO NOT APPLY butter, any type of grease or other home

remedies.

1st Degree Burns

2nd Degree Burns Skin surface is severly

damaged Blisters Possible broken skin

Treatment Put under cold water (not

ice) or apply a cold compress until pain decreases

GENTLY pat the area dry with a clean towel and cover the area with a sterile bandage or clean cloth to prevent infection

Seek medical attention If burns occur in or around the

mouth or nose breathing problems may occur

DO NOT apply Home remedies Ointments Sprays Antiseptics

In Emergency situations Any cold liquid you drink

(tea, water, soda pop, etc) can be poured on the burn to reduce the skin temperture as quickly as possible.

2nd Degree Burns

3rd Degree Burns Surface of skin and possible the tissue below appears

white or charred Initial little pain Treatment

DO NOT remove clothes that are stuck to the burn Do not put ice water or ice on the burn—this can intensify the

shock reaction Do not apply ointments, sprays, antiseptics or home remedies

If the burn is on or around the face, neck or mouth Ensure the victim is breathing Place a cold cloth or cool (not iced) water on the burns (this is

for feet as well) Cover the areas with thick, sterile, nonfluffy dressing Call an ambulance immediately

3rd Degree Burns

Burns Caused by Light 3 types of light

Ultraviolet Infrared Visible

Light that causes burns Ultraviolet Infrared

Arc welding produces all 3 types of light Gas welding produced ultraviolet and infrared Reflected light from the welding process is

just as dangerous as the direct light

Reducing the Danger of Reflected Light Paint welding areas flat black Use welding curtins to absord

welding light NOTE:

USE WELDING CURTAINS AT ALL TIMES TO PROTECT OTHERS WHILE WORKING IN THE SHOP!!!!

Ultraviolet Light

Most dangerous Can cause 1st and 2nd degree burns

to the eyes or exposed skin May be so intense that a welders

eyes can receive FLASH BURN in seconds and skin can be burned in minutes

Ultraviolet light can pass through thin, lightly colored, damaged or poorly maintained welding helmets

Protecting Yourself Against Ultraviolet Light Always wear a welding mask that is in

good condition Check for cracks, loose lenses

Wear a shop coat Wear long pants

NO SHORTS Wear well fitting, close toed shoes

Leather is best. NO FLIP FLOPS or open toed shoes of any kind!

Wear leather welding gloves

Infrared Light

Light wave that gives off heat Easily felt Can cause burns but is easily

avoidable

Visible Light

Light we see Produced in varying quantities and

colors during welding Too much can cause temporary night

blindness Too little can cause eye strain Generally not hazardous

Eye & Ear Safety

Eye Protection

Eyes must be protected at ALL TIMES Can be done with

Safety glasses Goggles Full Face Shield Flash Glasses▪ Flash glasses are special lightly, tinted safety

glasses that provide both protection from flying debris and reflected light

Eye Protection

Excessive exposure to arc light is not noticed

Welding light damage is like a sunburn, that is felt the next day—after the damage is done

Eye Burns

2 types Burns to the Retina

Not painful May cause loss of eye sight

Burns to the white Very painful May cause eye infections Feels as though there is something in

your eye, or like there is sand in your eyes

Preventing Eye Injury

Wear safety glasses Use a quality helmet with the correct

lens shade Check helmets daily for cracks and

ultraviolet light leaks Utilize portable welding curtains

Ear Protection

Several forms Ear muffs Ear plugs

Ventilation

Ventilation Area needs to be well ventilated Natural ventilation is best Forced ventilation is required in small shops or areas where more than one

person is working Rules for our shop:

Open the overhead door Turn on the overhead fan in the welding booths

▪ If you are using the Plasma-CAM turn on the vent for it as well Forced ventilation is always required when welding on metals that contain the

following Zinc Lead Beryllium Cadium Mercury Copper Austenetic Maganese Or any material that gives off dangerous fumes

Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety

Electric shock can cause injuries or death

Most welding and cutting operations involve electricity

Most is powered by alternating current (AC) sources ranging from 115-460 Volts

Fatalaties however can occur with equipment operating at less than 80 volts.

How Electrical Accidents Happen Most electrical shock does not

happen by coming in contact with electrode holders

However, it is accidental contact with bare or poorly insulated conductors

Electrical Resistance

Lowered in the presence of mouisture or water

This includes presperation

Grounding

Workpieces being welded and the frame or chassis of all electrically powered machines must be grounded

Electrical Connections

Must be tight Terminals for leads and cables must

be shielded from contact by persons or metal

Cables

Must be used within their current carrying capacity and duty cycle capabilities If not they will overheat and breakdown

rapidly Connectors for lengthening leads

must be insulated Check periodically for fraying

Preventing Electrical Hazards Do not allow the metal parts of electrodes or

electrode holders to touch your skin or wet coverings on the body

Wear dry gloves in good condition Rubber soled shoes are also a good idea When working in cramped kneeling, sitting or

lying positions take care to protect yourself from accidental contact with bare conducting surfaces. Insulated mats or dry wooden boards are

desirable protection from Earth.

When Leaving Your Work Station Turn off all circuits If working on a welder, leads,

electrode holder, torches, wire feeder, gun or other parts turn off and tag out the main power supply until you are finished working

Wear dry gloves when changing coated electrodes

Gas Cylinders

General Precautions

Use warm water to loosen cylinders that are frozen to the ground

Mark and report to the supplier any cylinder that leaks, has a bad valve, or gas damaged threads

If the cylinder has a leak that can’t be stopped by closing the valve, move it to an open area, post a warning sign and allow the pressure to be released slowly

Acetylene Cylinders Cylinders that have been lying on their side must

stand upright for 4 or more hours before use Acetylene is absorbed in acetone and the

acetone is absorbed in a filler. This filler does not allow the liquid to settle back from the valve very quickly

If the cylinder has been in a horizontal position, using it too soon after placing it in a vertical position will draw the acetone out.

Acetone lowers flame temperture and can damage regulator and torch valve settings.

Handling & Storage

Store oxygen and gas cylinders seperatly WHY??

Storage areas must by 20 ft or by a wall 15 ft high with at least a ½ hour burn rating

Empty cylinders should be stored seperately from full cylinders

Must be stored vertically Must have protective caps screwed

on firmly

Securing Gas Cylinders

Must be secured with chain or some other device so that they cannon be knocked over accidently

Storage Areas

Locate away from halls, stairwells and exits

Locate away from heat, radiators, furnaces and welding areas

Location should be secure to prevent unauthorized people from tampering with the cylinders

Warning signs should be posted Ex: “Danger-No Smoking, Matches or

Open Light”

Valve Protection Caps

Must be in place when cylinders are not in use

Prevents the cylinder valve from being broken off if the cylinder is knocked over

Never lift the cylinder by the cap or valve

Caps must be in place when the cylinders are moved

Fire Protection

Fire Protection

Fire is a constant hazzard Possibility can not be removed but

can be minimized Highly combustible materials should

not be in the welding area When that is not possible a fire

watch is needed

Fire Watch

We should all be on fire watch and know what to do in the case of a fire.

Review the fire drill handout provided.

Fire Extinquishers

4 classes A B C D

Location of Fire Extinguishers

SHOP

Sink

ToolRoom

Overhead Door

Welding

Hood

FE

FE

Exit

ExIt

Type A Extinguishers

Used for combustible solids such as paper, wood, and cloth.

A

Type B Extinguishers

Used for combustible liquids such as oil, gas, and paint thinner.

B

Type C Extinguishers

Used for electrical fires. For example, fires involving fuse boxes, motors and welding machines.

C

Type D Extinguishers

Used on fires involving combustible metals such as zinc, magnesium and titanium.

D

Using a Fire Extinguisher Works by breaking the fire triangle Most both cool the fire and remove

the oxygen See handout on how to use the fire

extinguisher correctly.

Review

Safety starts with YOU!! PPE 3 Degrees of burns Burns caused by light Eye and Ear Protection Gas Cylinder Safety Fire Protection Using a Fire Extinguisher