Best Welding Safety Tips to Shield You from Harm!

Permanently joining two or more pieces of metal – or welding - is very common in the construction, manufacturing, and shipyard industry. One of the main responsibilities as a welder is to ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes.

Although welding is commonly used, there still are many general hazards to be aware of. Some of the hazards and safety solutions are highlighted in Welding Express.

The general hazards of welding include:

Impact
Penetration
Harmful dust
Smoke
Fumes
Heat
Light radiation

The welding ‘smoke’ that is created is a mixture of very fine particles (fumes) and gases. Some of the ‘smoke’ can be toxic. The intense heat of welding and sparks can create serious burns. Without wearing the required PPE, the hot slag and metal chips can cause burns and eye damage. The welding process can cause electrical shock, cuts, and crushed toes and fingers.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has created possible solutions for the hazards caused by welding. Here are some additional safety tips to help shield you from serious welding-related injuries:

Educate yourself: Familiarize yourself with the welders operating manual so you know the recommended safety procedures. Also, complete any necessary welder training prior to starting the welding torch.
Dress appropriately: Any exposed skin is susceptible to the painful and damaging effects of ultraviolet and infrared rays. Take this, for example, if a spark is caught in your shirt pocket, it could catch fire and burn your skin. Avoid wearing cuffed pants, too, because sparks can get caught on your clothing. Wearing inappropriate clothing while welding would result in an expensive trip to the ER – it’s not worth the pain!
Wear the proper PPE: The American Welding Society (AWS), OSHA, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have specific requirements for PPE to be worn while welding. Requirements include details about eye and face protection, head and ear protection, foot protection, hand protection, body protection, and respiratory protection equipment.
Ventilation in small spaces: When working in a confined space, fumes and smoke from welding can pose serious health risks. It’s recommended to use an exhaust hood to remove fumes from the area to ensure enough clean air is available.
Avoid arc flash: It only takes a moment of exposure to a welding arc’s ray for unprotected eyes to experience a painful arc flash. Protect workers from arc flashes by installing welding screens in the work area. Post arc flash signs to inform all others about potential hazards.
Hot Work Precautions: Before welding outside of a designated area, a responsible individual must inspect the area and identify precautions and note them on a hot work permit. Additionally, keep fire extinguishers available for immediate use. A fire watch lasting at least 30 minutes after the welding or cutting operations is required if more than a minor fire might develop. All combustibles must be moved 35 feet away or protected or shielded.

Welding should never take place when: