Welding and Cutting Safety

Welding and Cutting

Objectives

Describe welding safety requirements for:

Eye protection

Protective clothing

Fire Prevention Requirements

Ventilation Safety Requirements

Electrical Hazard Prevention Requirements

Hazard Statistics

An estimated 562,000 employees are at risk for

exposure to chemical and physical hazards of

welding, cutting and brazing.

For the construction industry, welders flash (burn

to the eyes) accounts for 5.6% of all

construction eye injuries (2).

Hazard Statistics

Fifty-eight deaths from welding and cutting

incidents, including explosions, electrocutions,

asphyxiation, falls and crushing injuries were

reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics every

year.

Health Hazards

There are numerous health hazards associated with exposure to fumes, gases and ionizing radiation formed or released during welding, cutting and brazing, including:

Heavy metal poisoning,

Lung cancer,

Metal fume fever,

Flash burns, and others.

Health Hazards

FUMES MAY PRODUCE

METAL FUME FEVER

SYMPTOMS:

Respiratory disturbances

Infection - Influenza

Fever - Acute Bronchitis

Pneumonia - Chills, Shivering,

Trembling, Nausea, Vomiting

Welding and Cutting General Requirements

Welders, cutters, and their supervisors shall be trained in the safe operation of the equipment, safe welding/cutting practices, and welding/cutting respiratory and fire protection.

10.A.01

Shielding

Arc welding and cutting operations shall be shielded by noncombustible or flameproof screens that will protect employees and other persons working in the vicinity from the direct rays of the arc, sparks, molten metal, spatter, and chipped slag.

10.A.04

Shielding

Is this an acceptable welding screen to protect workers, watchers and the public?

Use Protective Clothing and Equipment

Welders should consider using appropriate protective clothing which should include:

Shield or helmet with a filtered lens;

Fire resistant gloves; a leather apron;

Boots;

Leather spats;

Felt skull-cap or beret and preferably overalls.

Volatile combination of heat and gas

Before heat is applied to a drum, container, or

hollow structure, a vent or opening shall be

provided for the release of any built-up

pressure generated during the application of

heat.

10.A.08

Eye Safety Shield

Flameproof Skullcap

Helmet with Filter Lens

No Pockets

Full Sleeves Fire Protection Gauntlet Gloves

No Cuffs

Safety Shoes

Clean Fire Resistant Clothing

Collar Buttoned

Leather Apron or Shirt Outside Trousers

Welding and Cutting PPE

Protective Eye Equipment

Worn during all welding operations

Safety glasses and a head shield

Helmet equipped with a suitable filter glass to protect against the intense ultraviolet and infrared rays.

Arc-Welding

• Non-combustible welding screen to protect others in the vicinity of the welding

Welding and Cutting PPE

Welder wearing eye shield without a hard hat.

Non-compliant

Welding and Cutting PPE

Protective Clothing Woolen instead of cotton

Free from oil

Sleeve and collars buttoned

No cuffs on trousers

Capes or shoulder covers made of leather or other suitable materials

Flame-proof gloves

Welding in Confined Spaces

In confined spaces, local mechanical ventilation and personal respiratory protection sufficient to maintain exposures to within acceptable limits shall be used.

10.B.05.a

Fire Protection

Before welding or cutting operations, survey area for: Combustible

Materials

Potential Explosive Atmospheres

Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres

10.C.02

General ventilation to maintain welding smoke and fumes within safe limits

When welding in confined spaces mechanical ventilation or local exhaust

If ventilation blocks access/egress to confined space, air line and attendant required

Ventilation & Protection

When welding near

walls, partitions,

ceilings or roofs of

combustible

construction, fire

resistant guards

shall be provided to

prevent ignition.

Fire Protection

10.C.08

Before welding or cutting drums, tanks, or other

containers and equipment that have contained

hazardous materials, the containers shall be

thoroughly cleaned in accordance with NFPA 326

and ANSI/AWS F4.1.

Completely fill with water before

proceeding, or

Thoroughly clean, ventilate, and TEST!

Fire Protection

10.C.11

Hoses

Welding Hose

Not more than four of every twelve inches covered with tape for fuel and oxygen hoses taped together

Fuel hose inspected prior to each shift

Defective hose removed from service

Torches

Clogged tips cleaned

with suitable devices

Torches inspected prior

to each shift

Torches lit by strikers or

other approved methods

No matches!

Not off of hot work!

10.D.04

Arc Welding

Manual electrode holders must be designed for

that purpose and capable of carrying the

maximum rated electrode current

Only fully insulated holders to contact hands

10.E.02

Arc welding cables completely insulated and flexible type

Free of splice minimum ten feet from electrode cable end

Cables in need of repair not allowed

Arc Welding

10.E.03

Ground return cables must have sufficient

current carrying capacity for maximum voltage

No grounding on pipelines containing gasses or

flammable liquid

Arc Welding

Always shield operations with flameproof

screens to protect employees eyes

Arc Welding

10.E.12

Welding and Cutting

In summary Wear eye protection

Wear protective clothing

Fire Protection Controls

Provide ventilation in confined or enclosed spaces

Protect workers, watchers, and public from the electrical hazards of arc-welding