26 Jul Welding Safety

Welding Safety

Welding operations can expose workers to a combination of serious safety and health hazards. Welding produces intense heat, sparks, fumes, gases, noise, and radiation and may expose workers to electrical shock, burns, fire, explosions, and hazardous atmospheres.

Whether performing electric arc welding or oxygen-fuel gas welding, follow these basic precautions.

General Welding Safety

• Weld only in designated or properly controlled work areas.
• Operate welding equipment only if you have been trained and authorized to use it.
• Identify the base metal, coatings, paints, primers, and other materials that may produce hazardous fumes when heated.
• Inspect welding equipment, leads, cables, hoses, connections, and protective devices before use.
• Keep the work area clean and free of unnecessary combustible materials.
• Protect nearby employees from welding arcs, sparks, spatter, fumes, and other hazards with appropriate screens or barriers.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Wear appropriate welding gloves and flame-resistant clothing that covers exposed skin.
• Keep protective clothing dry and free from oil, grease, excessive wear, holes, and other conditions that could increase fire or electrical hazards.
• Wear appropriate safety footwear that protects against sparks, slag, and hot metal.
• Use an approved welding helmet with the proper filter lens shade for the welding operation.
• Wear appropriate eye protection under the welding helmet when necessary for protection from flying particles and slag.
• Never look directly at a welding arc without appropriate eye and face protection.

Welding Fumes and Ventilation

Welding fumes can contain hazardous metals and gases depending on the base metal, filler material, coatings, and welding process.

• Keep your head out of the welding plume.
• Position yourself so fumes move away from your breathing zone.
• Use local exhaust ventilation or other appropriate ventilation to capture fumes as close to their source as practical.
• Do not assume an area is safe simply because welding fumes cannot be seen or smelled.
• Respiratory protection must be used when required by the exposure assessment and when engineering and work-practice controls cannot adequately control exposure.
• Employees required to wear respirators must comply with the company’s Respiratory Protection Program.

Never perform welding in a permit-required confined space unless the requirements of the company’s Confined Space Program have been satisfied, including atmospheric testing, ventilation, required respiratory protection, and other applicable entry controls.

Electrical Safety

• Keep welding equipment and electrical connections dry and in good condition.
• Never weld while wearing wet clothing or gloves or while standing in water unless appropriate controls have been established for the operation.
• Do not wrap electrode leads or welding cables around your body.
• Ensure welding equipment is properly installed and grounded in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable electrical requirements.
• Replace damaged electrode holders, cables, connectors, or insulation before use.
• Disconnect or de-energize equipment before performing maintenance when required.

Fire and Explosion Prevention

• Inspect the surrounding area before beginning welding.
• Remove combustible and flammable materials from the work area or protect them from sparks, slag, and heat.
• Never weld, cut, or perform other hot work on drums, tanks, barrels, or other containers that have contained flammable, combustible, or hazardous materials unless they have been properly prepared and verified safe for hot work.
• Follow the company’s hot-work permit requirements when applicable.
• Locate appropriate fire-extinguishing equipment before beginning work.
• Provide a trained fire watch when required.
• Inspect the work area during and after welding for smoldering materials, hot slag, sparks, or other potential ignition sources.
• Dispose of electrode stubs and hot scrap in appropriate containers.

Compressed Gas Safety

When gas cylinders and fuel-gas equipment are used:

• Secure cylinders upright and protect them from damage.
• Keep oxygen cylinders and equipment free from oil and grease.
• Inspect hoses, regulators, torches, and connections before use.
• Use an approved leak-detection method to check connections. Never use an open flame to locate a gas leak.
• Keep cylinders away from excessive heat, sparks, slag, and electrical circuits.
• Close cylinder valves when equipment is not in use and follow proper procedures for transporting and storing cylinders.

Protect Other Workers

Welding hazards can affect people who are not performing the welding.

• Use welding screens, curtains, or barriers to protect nearby workers from arc radiation and sparks.
• Warn others before striking an arc when necessary.
• Control welding fumes so they do not expose nearby employees.
• Barricade or restrict access to hot-work areas when necessary.

Remember

Welding can be performed safely when the hazards are identified before work begins and appropriate controls are maintained throughout the operation. Never bypass protective equipment or take shortcuts with ventilation, fire prevention, electrical safety, or PPE.