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ARC WELDING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. KEEP CHILDREN
AWAY. PACEMAKER WEARERS KEEP AWAY UNTIL CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR.
In welding, as in most jobs, exposure to certain hazards occurs. Welding is safe when precautions are taken. The
safety information given below is only a summary of the more complete safety information that will be found in the
Safety Standards listed on the next page. Read and follow all Safety Standards.
HAVE ALL INSTALLATION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ONLY BY
QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
ARC WELDING can be hazardous.
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.
Touching live electrical parts can cause fatal shocks
or severe burns. The electrode and work circuit is
electrically live whenever the output is on. The input
power circuit and machine internal circuits are also
live when power is on. In semiautomatic or automatic
wire welding, the wire, wire reel, drive roll housing, and
all metal parts touching the welding wire are
electrically live. Incorrectly installed or improperly
grounded equipment is a hazard.
1. Do not touch live electrical parts.
2. Wear dry, hole-free insulating gloves and body protection.
3. Insulate yourself from work and ground using dry insulating mats
or covers big enough to prevent any physical contact with the
work or ground.
4. Disconnect input power or stop engine before installing or
servicing this equipment. Lockout/tagout input power according
to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 (see Safety Standards).
5. Properly install and ground this equipment according to its
Owner’s Manual and national, state, and local codes.
6. Always verify the supply ground – check and be sure that input
power cord ground wire is properly connected to ground terminal
in disconnect box or that cord plug is connected to a properly
grounded receptacle outlet.
7. When making input connections, attach proper grounding
conductor first – double-check connections.
8. Frequently inspect input power cord for damage or bare wiring –
replace cord immediately if damaged – bare wiring can kill.
9. Turn off all equipment when not in use.
10. Do not use worn, damaged, undersized, or poorly spliced cables.
11. Do not drape cables over your body.
12. If earth grounding of the workpiece is required, ground it directly
with a separate cable – do not use work clamp or work cable.
13. Do not touch electrode if you are in contact with the work, ground,
or another electrode from a different machine.
14. Use only well-maintained equipment. Repair or replace
damaged parts at once. Maintain unit according to manual.
15. Wear a safety harness if working above floor level.
16. Keep all panels and covers securely in place.
17. Clamp work cable with good metal-to-metal contact to workpiece
or worktable as near the weld as practical.
ARC RAYS can burn eyes and skin;
NOISE can damage hearing; FLYING
SLAG OR SPARKS can injure eyes.
Arc rays from the welding process produce intense
visible and invisible (ultraviolet and infrared) rays that
can burn eyes and skin. Noise from some processes
can damage hearing. Chipping, grinding, and welds
cooling throw off pieces of metal or slag.
NOISE
1. Use approved ear plugs or ear muffs if noise level is high.
ARC RAYS
2. Wear a welding helmet fitted with a proper shade of filter to
protect your face and eyes when welding or watching (see ANSI
Z49.1 and Z87.1 listed in Safety Standards).
3. Wear approved safety glasses with side shields.
4. Use protective screens or barriers to protect others from flash
and glare; warn others not to watch the arc.
5. Wear protective clothing made from durable, flame-resistant
material (wool and leather) and foot protection.
FUMES AND GASES can be hazardous
to your health.
Welding produces fumes and gases. Breathing these
fumes and gases can be hazardous to your health.
1. Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe the fumes.
2. If inside, ventilate the area and/or use exhaust at the arc to
remove welding fumes and gases.
3. If ventilation is poor, use an approved air-supplied respirator.
4. Read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and the
manufacturer’s instruction for metals, consumables, coatings,
cleaners, and degreasers.
5. Work in a confined space only if it is well ventilated, or while
wearing an air-supplied respirator. Always have a trained
watchperson nearby. Welding fumes and gases can displace air
and lower the oxygen level causing injury or death. Be sure the
breathing air is safe.
6. Do not weld in locations near degreasing, cleaning, or spraying
operations. The heat and rays of the arc can react with vapors to
form highly toxic and irritating gases.
7. Do not weld on coated metals, such as galvanized, lead, or
cadmium plated steel, unless the coating is removed from the
weld area, the area is well ventilated, and if necessary, while
wearing an air-supplied respirator. The coatings and any metals
containing these elements can give off toxic fumes if welded.
CYLINDERS can explode if damaged.
Shielding gas cylinders contain gas under high
pressure. If damaged, a cylinder can explode. Since
gas cylinders are normally part of the welding
process, be sure to treat them carefully.
1. Protect compressed gas cylinders from excessive heat,
mechanical shocks, slag, open flames, sparks, and arcs.
2. Install cylinders in an upright position by securing to a stationary
support or cylinder rack to prevent falling or tipping.
3. Keep cylinders away from any welding or other electrical circuits.
4. Never drape a welding torch over a gas cylinder.
5. Never allow a welding electrode to touch any cylinder.
6. Never weld on a pressurized cylinder – explosion will result.
7. Use only correct shielding gas cylinders, regulators, hoses, and
fittings designed for the specific application; maintain them and
associated parts in good condition.
8. Turn face away from valve outlet when opening cylinder valve.
9. Keep protective cap in place over valve except when cylinder is
in use or connected for use.
10. Read and follow instructions on compressed gas cylinders,
associated equipment, and CGA publication P-1 listed in Safety
Standards.