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raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

Dear all,

Welding is a job subject to many dangers. However, taking proper precautions, like wearing protective gear, maintaining safety procedures, and keeping equipment away from open flames, can decrease traumas and injuries on the job.



Welding Safety: Beyond the Shields and Gloves





All welders and most laymen know that a welder needs to wear a helmet/shield and gloves, however, there are many more safety precautions that a welder can take to ensure her own safety and the safety of anyone in her vicinity. Let’s look at the safety beyond the shields and gloves.



Other Protective Equipment



Other equipment is available to protect welders from harm. Clothing, shoes, goggles, and helmets with respirators are also protective equipment available and required to protect welders from injury. The following describes equipment available:
  • Clothing: The leather apron, sleeves, leg apron, coat, and cape and bib are protective clothing available. Certain clothing may be required, depending upon your job.
  • Shoes: Steel-toed work boots protect you from injury if anything should land on your toes.
  • Goggles: Chipper’s goggles are required whenever chipping and grinding. Electrical welding processes also require goggles because weld splatter can occasionally enter the mask and could get in a welder’s eyes if not protected.
  • Helmets with respirators (if required): During some operations, welders are required to wear helmets with respirators to protect them from hazardous gasses.
General Safety Procedures



Generally, there are some safety procedures that apply to all welding jobs. They include:
  • Never allow anyone to use your equipment if they are not authorized, especially if they are not experienced or trained.
  • Ensure the area is protected from fire hazards before cutting or welding. Since your visibility is greatly hindered by your face shield, have someone spot you while you weld, when possible, to watch for fires.
  • Protect yourself and others by screening or shielding everybody’s eyes from electric arcs and flashes. Placing a screen between workers, for example, can minimize eye injuries from direct eye contact with the arc.
  • Keep oxygen and fuel gas cylinders upright and protect them from falling.
  • Make sure drums, barrels, tanks, or other containers never contained flammable materials or were properly cleaned before welding. Properly washing includes washing with soap and water and purging with Argon.
  • Always use a spark lighter to light torches. Never use an open flame.
  • Completely de-pressurize and close valves on empty compressed gas cylinders. Remove leaky cylinders from service. Store cylinders away from grease and oil.
  • Always make sure ventilation is adequate for each job. A build-up of toxic gasses can not only harm you, but gasses can kill you without warning.
  • Never weld in water, because you risk electrocution. Ensure that the ground is dry and free of puddles before you lay on the ground to weld.
  • Do not keep a lighter in your pocket while you weld. Even a small spark can cause an explosion.



Dear all,

Please put on your inputs/points on this thread its help to us make good\best training to our employees. . .

From United States, Fpo
hansa vyas
198

Dear Raghu,
We can add,
Use of safety devices like NRV,ELCB in above points.
Use of only Certified welding & cutting sets.
Do Not leave your cutting Set inside Confined space.
Get atmosphere Tested again before entering confined space.
Get the surrounding inspected before doing any welding job for combustiable material.
Use of spark collectors.
Barricate the area if performing welding at height
earthing & bonding to be done wherever requried.
Keep source of water or Fire extinguishers near by.
Regards,
Hansa Vyas

From India, Udaipur
raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

And the top ten welding safety tips are.....

These are only Ten of the many many welding mistakes that can be fatal. I use a bit of coarse language here in an attempt to keep it fun and hopefully you will actually pay attention. It just gets ignored until there is a problem.

1. Hauling oxygen and acetylene cylinders in your trunk. A little leak here,,, a little leak there… a static spark…boom!! Your --- is Killed! This goes for truck tool boxes also. Throwing a set of pony bottles in your truck tool box can turn into a bomb and…you guessed it …………can Kill your ---!

2. Moving high pressure cylinders with no protective cap. The cylinder falls…the valve gets knocked off…2500 psi escapes out of a hole the size of a nickel and you have a missile….Oops! Your --- or someone else’s --- just got Killed!!

3. Making oxygen and acetylene balloon bombs. A little fuel gas like acetylene…a little oxygen…mixed together in a balloon so that you can impress the neighbors on July 4th…a static spark between the 5 balloons you so hid so cleverly in a plastic garbage bag…boom!! Your --- is Killed!

4. Welding inside a tank or any enclosed area with Mig or Tig. Both use Argon. Argon is an inert, colorless, odorless gas that is about twice as heavy as air. It is almost like an invisible liquid the way it can fill up an unventilated room. No air, no life. Breathing Air with no oxygen in it will kill Your ---. In fact it will often kill 2 ---. You and your working partner who comes to try to rescue Your ---.

5. Welding in Water Can Kill Your ---. Don’t get a mental picture of standing in a bucket of water. I am more thinking of lying underneath a pipe making a weld with a puddle of water on the concrete that you didn’t quite get dried up. Granted welding current is low voltage and high amperage but it can still kill your ---.

6. Welding without a fire watch when there is stuff around you that can catch on fire. Welding requires skill. Skill requires focus and attention. Put that together with the fact that you’re wearing a welding helmet and can’t see what might be catching on fire and you have a situation that could definitely Kill your ---.

7. Welding a gas tank or any container that held something flammable. Special precautions can be taken that can actually make it pretty safe (like washing the tank with soap and water and then purging with argon) but if you are not thorough enough or forget something or don’t purge well enough……You guessed it…It can totally Kill your ---.

8. Blowing off your clothes with oxygen from a cutting torch can turn you into a roman candle and you guessed it…Can Kill Your ---.!

9. Inflating a tire with Oxygen is a really bad idea and can be a lot worse than having a under inflated or flat tire. Why? I am glad you asked. Because it can explode and Kill your ---!

10. Keeping a Bic Lighter in your shirt pocket while welding is like playing Russian roulette. One little spark and you get to experience what its like to have an eighth of a stick of dynamite explode a few inches from your heart. Uh...I mean...I am no Doctor... but I am pretty sure this could Kill your --- too?

keep on share your expertise with us. . .

From United States, Fpo
raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND HAZARDS - WELDING AND FLAME CUTTING FUMES





What are the health hazards of flame cutting?

Welding and flame cutting is so dangerous that there is a whole section dedicated to welding in the Occupational Health and Safety Act's General Safety Regulations.

Welding is not a straight forward hazard since there are many chemicals to consider when dealing with welding. For instance, the question need to be asked: on what am I going to weld? Is the object that I am going to weld on made of copper, aluminium, steel, etc? With what is the object that I am going to weld on, coated? For example, it can be coated with paint, lead, tar, etc. The type of gasses used during the welding process, like nitrogen oxide, propane, carbon monoxide, etc. are also dangerous towards the welders health. All this cause different health hazards when melted during the welding process as it is breathed into the lungs. The radiation generated during the welding process also needs to be considered.

Why is welding and flame cutting so dangerous towards my health?

When metal is melted above melting point, it starts to condensate in the air. During the condensation period is forms small dust particles that are so small that it is breathed into the deeper parts of your lungs. The welding fumes my compose particles that contains chromium, copper, manganese, iron, etc. depended on what the welder is welding.

Exposure to welding fumes over many years my cause a metallic taste in the mouth, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and a tight feeling of the chest.

Work related disease (occupational disease) like occupational asthma or pneumoconiosis (a dusty lung) may develop over many years of exposure to welding fumes.

Metal fumes may also cause the welder to get "metal fume fever" or also called "Monday fever". Typical symptoms of metal fume fever are nausea, headache, painful limbs and thirst. It usually occurs when the welder was weekend off and when he returns to work on a Monday he is re-exposed to these fumes. From there the name "Monday fever".

Most of the gasses used during the welding process are asphyxiants (causing suffocation). Asphyxiants dilute atmospheric oxygen to below the required levels to maintain the oxygen levels in a person's body. Therefore it is important that welding must take place in a well ventilated area to prevent suffocation of the welder. This is also the reason why welders mostly complain of tiredness because their oxygen levels in their bodies are suppressed by the gasses they use during the welding process. Welding on ferrous alloys create carbon monoxide that binds with your red blood cells preventing the oxygen to be transferred from your blood to your body cells. Repeated exposure to carbon monoxide could affect your central nervous system causing you to get dizzy, irritated and impair your memory.

Arc welding emits radiation that causes the surface of your eyes to get ultra-violet burns that is just like sunburn to your eyes. Ultra violet production is doubled during gas shielded argon welding. The typical name under welders for this condition of the eye's is "arc eyes".

Welding in confined spaces or enclosed area's can be fatally dangerous and the welder need to establish if there is any toxic substances in the air before he start with the welding process. If any toxic substances are present the welder must ensure that the air is decontaminated from the substance and stay's decontaminated during the welding process. A competent person must give the welder a permit that declares the confined space safe from toxic substances and/or explosives before he can commence welding.

What must my employer do to protect my health and safety during welding or flame cutting?

1. Your employer must establish safe work procedures and ensure that you are trained in it.

2. You must be provided with a face mask that is specifically designed to protect your breathing area from NOT breathing in these fumes. A general dust mask will NOT give you protection. The masks must be provided free of charge.

3. Your employer must have the air tested by an approved person according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act to determine to what levels of metal fumes you are exposed to.

4. Your employer must supply you with the following protective clothing free of charge: Body protection, hand protection, eye protection, face protection, foot protection, and protection of your breathing area. This is stipulated in the General Safety Regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

5. Your employer must have a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and must show it to you on request.

6. If you are a production welder, your employer can install an exhaust ventilation system in the area where you are welding and as close as possible to the source of welding to extract the fumes away from you.

7. If you are a maintenance welder, your risk is much higher since your environment is constantly changing and your employer must expect from you to do a hazard/risk assessment before you start welding.

8. Your employer must send you for medical examinations.

What must I do to protect my health and safety when working with welding or flame cutting?

1. You must look after your personal protective clothing and ensure that you where all of it during the welding process.

2. You must ask your health and safety representative to show you the correct why to apply the mask to your face.

3. You must always do a risk/hazard assessment before commence welding in a new environment.

4. Never commence welding in a confined space without the permit issued by a competent person.

5. Always go for your medical examinations when you are scheduled to do so. Remember, the Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires you to undergo a medical surveillance program if exposed to significant levels of welding fumes!

6. Make sure that you know the contents of the safe work procedures.

What type of medical examinations must I get when I am a welder or flame cutter?

1. Before (or within the first 30 days after starting at a new company) you start working at a company you must get an "entry" medical examination. This examination must include a chest x-ray as well as a lung function test. The chest x-ray to determine possible dusty lung and the lung function to determine possible damage to the normal ventilation of your lungs, like in the case of occupational asthma. This is also your proof of the status of your health before you start working at the company and is therefore also called your "Baseline" medical.

2. Then you need to get a chest x-ray and a lung function test every year to detect early deterioration of your lungs. This is important since lung disease is mostly irreversible. Your eyes and skin also needs to be checked since welding poses a radiation risk on you.

3. If you are exposed to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, fluorides or carbon monoxide Biological monitoring needs to be done on you. This means that either a blood or urine sample must be collected from you and send of to a laboratory to determine if there is any damage done by these substances to your body.

4. When you leave the service of the company, an exit medical examination needs to be done for the same reasons that the entry medical examination was done.

Hope its helps. . .

From United States, Fpo
raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

Dear All, Please see the attached Welding Cutting Brazing Safety training Presentation with Quiz. . . Hope its helps. . . Keep on sharing
From United States, Fpo
Attached Files (Download Requires Membership)
File Type: ppt Welding Cutting Brazing Safety.ppt (1.54 MB, 3245 views)

dipil
713

Dear Raghu
Great contribution and effort... I am sure a lot members in the forum get beneficted from this thread... Nice writ ups and presentations... Thanks for sharing...
Now just sharing a photograph related to welding as my contribution to the thread...
Request to all other members, please come forward with your contribution/questions/suggetions regarding the subject...

From India
Attached Files (Download Requires Membership)
File Type: pdf Welding.pdf (94.7 KB, 1962 views)

raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

Dear all, Please take a look on attached Welding, Cutting and Brazing safety presentation. . . Hope its helps. . .
From United States, Fpo
Attached Files (Download Requires Membership)
File Type: ppt Welding, Cutting and Brazing.....ppt (1.02 MB, 1578 views)

raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

Fire Safety in Welding & Gas Cutting Operations



Welding and Cutting are common industrial/construction operations. The associated hazards are Fire and Explosion, Electric Shock, Burns, Exposure to Radiation and Toxic Fumes and Gases. Operations are required to be fully conversent with all safe practices.



Safe Practices


OXY-ACETYLENEWELDING/CUTTING:

Equipment Check

Ensure that the tip of the torch is free from dirt metal and

Move out any leaking cylinder immediately.

Check leaks around regulators, hoses/fittings & nozzle with soap solution. Faulty equipment should be changed immediately.

Equipment Set-up

Use trolley for oxygen & acetylene cylinder and chain them.

Arrange hoses to avoid tripping hazards.

Always use red hose for acetylene and other fuel gases and black for oxygen and exure that both are in equal length.

Before attaching regulator to the cylinder, it is necessary to shift the valve to blow out foreign particles from the valve seat.

Never use copper fittings on acetylene lines.

Attach flashback arresters to each regulator.

Select the proper welding/cutting nozzles.

Non-return valve should be installed in fuel gas line.

Precautions

Always stand back from the regulator when opening the cylinder valve. Turn valve slowly to avoid bursting the regulator.

Leave key wrenches on cylinders in use, so they can be closed quickly.

Do not use an acetylene pressure greater than 9 p.s.i.g.

Use only a friction/spark lighter to light the torch. Never use matches, hot metal or welding arc.

When leaving a confined space (even if it is only for a break or lunch), shut off the gas supply.

If you run out of gas, extinguish the flame and connect the hose to the new cylinder. Purge the line before reigniting the torch.

Purge regulators after welding work is over and then turn off.

Electrical Arc Welding: Equipment check

Make sure that splices are atleast 3m away from the holder

Regularly inspect insulation on electrode holder, cables and accessories, replace worn & damaged cables immediatly.

Ensure cable and power source are free from dirt/grease. Equipment Set-up

Ground the work piece separately from the welding return connection. Never attach the ground cable to pipes containing flammable liquids or gases.

Arrange cables so that they do not create tripping hazards.

Cover the lug terminals to prevent shorting out by a metal object.

Precautions

Use the current for which the cable is designed.

Place electrode stubs in containers.

Burn electrodes to not less than 38 to 50 mm in length. Burning them further damages the electrode holder.

When job is finished, disconnect the welding machine from the power source and remove the electrode from its holder. Store the electrode holder in a safe place.

General

Remove combustible materials from work area or cover them with fire-resistant blankets, before starting the welding operations.

For work in a confined space, fasten cylinders/welding machine securely outside and provide proper ventilation.

Use welder's screen of correct specification.

Use all necessary personal protective equipment.

From United States, Fpo
raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

Fire Safety in Welding & Gas Cutting Operations



Welding and Cutting are common industrial operations. The associated hazards are Fire and Explosion, Electric Shock, Burns, Exposure to Radiation and Toxic Fumes and Gases. Operations are required to be fully conversent with all safe practices.



Safe Practices


OXY-ACETYLENEWELDING/CUTTING:

Equipment Check

Ensure that the tip of the torch is free from dirt metal and

Move out any leaking cylinder immediately.

Check leaks around regulators, hoses/fittings & nozzle with soap solution. Faulty equipment should be changed immediately.

Equipment Set-up

Use trolley for oxygen & acetylene cylinder and chain them.

Arrange hoses to avoid tripping hazards.

Always use red hose for acetylene and other fuel gases and black for oxygen and exure that both are in equal length.

Before attaching regulator to the cylinder, it is necessary to shift the valve to blow out foreign particles from the valve seat.

Never use copper fittings on acetylene lines.

Attach flashback arresters to each regulator.

Select the proper welding/cutting nozzles.

Non-return valve should be installed in fuel gas line.

Precautions

Always stand back from the regulator when opening the cylinder valve. Turn valve slowly to avoid bursting the regulator.

Leave key wrenches on cylinders in use, so they can be closed quickly.

Do not use an acetylene pressure greater than 9 p.s.i.g.

Use only a friction/spark lighter to light the torch. Never use matches, hot metal or welding arc.

When leaving a confined space (even if it is only for a break or lunch), shut off the gas supply.

If you run out of gas, extinguish the flame and connect the hose to the new cylinder. Purge the line before reigniting the torch.

Purge regulators after welding work is over and then turn off.

Electrical Arc Welding: Equipment check

Make sure that splices are atleast 3m away from the holder

Regularly inspect insulation on electrode holder, cables and accessories, replace worn & damaged cables immediatly.

Ensure cable and power source are free from dirt/grease. Equipment Set-up

Ground the work piece separately from the welding return connection. Never attach the ground cable to pipes containing flammable liquids or gases.

Arrange cables so that they do not create tripping hazards.

Cover the lug terminals to prevent shorting out by a metal object.

Precautions

Use the current for which the cable is designed.

Place electrode stubs in containers.

Burn electrodes to not less than 38 to 50 mm in length. Burning them further damages the electrode holder.

When job is finished, disconnect the welding machine from the power source and remove the electrode from its holder. Store the electrode holder in a safe place.

General

Remove combustible materials from work area or cover them with fire-resistant blankets, before starting the welding operations.

For work in a confined space, fasten cylinders/welding machine securely outside and provide proper ventilation.

Use welder's screen of correct specification.

Use all necessary personal protective equipment.

From United States, Fpo
raghuvaran chakkaravarthy
497

General Safety Precautions for Gas Welding

Before starting gas welding or cutting remove from the neighbourhood any combustible material or anything that might be damaged by heat or sparks which are often thrown a long distance. Containers which had held combustionable or inflammable materials should be welded only after exercising proper precautions.

Fire extinguishers or sand should be available at hand. Do not weld in confined spaces without adequate ventilation or individual respiratory equipment. When welding inside boilers or other confined spaces, the gas cylinders must be kept outside and the hose and its attachments thoroughly inspected for leakage. Gas flame should not be allowed to play even momentarily on the cylinders or their attachments. Do not pick up hot jobs or objects.



Use goggles with nonflammable lenses and frames. Never do any chipping or grinding without suitable goggles. Do not weld painted or galvanized surfaces in a badly ventilated space. Do not use matches for lighting torches.

This may result in hand burns. Never attempt to relight a blow pipe that has blown out without first closing both valves and relighting in the proper manner.

If welding or cutting is to be stopped temporarily, release the pressure adjusting screws of the regulators by turning them to the left.

If welding or cutting is to be stopped for a long time, close the cylinder valves and then release all gas pressures from the regulators and hose by opening the torch valves momentarily. Close the torch valves and release the pressure adjusting screws

From United States, Fpo
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