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SECTION
1-SAFETY
RULES
FOR
OPERATION
OF
ARC
WELDING
POWER
SOURCE
1-1.
INTRODUCTION
1-2.
A.
We
learn
by
experience.
Learning
safety
through
personal
experience,
like
a
child
touching
a
hot
stove
is
harmful,
wasteful,
and
unwise.
Let
the
experience
of
others
teach
you.
Safe
practices
developed
from
experience
in
the
use
of
weld
ing
and
cutting
are
described
in
this
manual.
Research,
devel
opment,
and
field
experience
have
evolved
reliable
equipment
and
safe
installation,
operation,
and
servicing
practices.
Acci
dents
occur
when
equipment
is
improperly
used
or
main
tained.
The
reason
for
the
safe
practices
may
not
always
be
given.
Some
are
based
on
common
sense,
others
may
require
technical
volumes
to
explain.
It
is
wiser
to
follow
the
rules.
Read
and
understand
these
safe
practices
before
attempting
to
install,
operate,
or
service
the
equipment.
Comply
with
these
procedures
as
applicable
to
the
particular
equipment
used
and
their
instruction
manuals,
for
personal
safety
and
for
the
safety
of
others.
Failure
to
observe
these
safe
practices
may
cause
serious
in
jury
or
death.
When
safety
becomes
a
habit,
the
equipment
can
be
used
with
confidence.
These
safe
practices
are
divided
into
two
Sections:
1
-
General
Precautions,
common
to
arc
welding
and
cutting;
and
2
-
Arc
Welding
(and
Cutting)
(only).
Reference
standards:
Published
Standards
on
safety
are
also
available
for
additional
and
more
complete
procedures
than
those
given
in
this
manual.
They
are
listed
in
the
Standards
Index
in
this
manual.
ANSI
Z49.1
is
the
most
complete.
The
National
Electrical
Code,
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Administration,
local
industrial
codes,
and
local
in
spection
requirements
also
provide
a
basis
for
equipment
in
stallation,
use,
and
service.
GENERAL
PRECAUTIONS
Burn
Prevention
Wear
protective
clothing
-
leather
(or
asbestos)
gauntlet
gloves,
hat,
and
high
safety-toe
shoes.
Button
shirt
collar
and
pocket
flaps,
and
wear
cuffless
trousers
to
avoid
entry
of
sparks
and
slag.
Wear
helmet
with
safety
goggles
or
glasses
with
side
shields
underneath,
appropriate
filter
lenses
or
plates
(protected
by
clear
cover
glass).
This
is
a
MUST
for
welding
or
cutting,
(and
chipping)
to
protect
the
eyes
from
radiant
energy
and
flying
metal.
Replace
cover
glass
when
broken,
pitted,
or
spattered.
See
1-3A.2.
Avoid
Oily
or
greasy
clothing.
A
spark
may
ignite
them.
Hot
metal
such
as
electrode
stubs
and
workpieces
should
never
be
ha,dled
without
gloves.
Medical
first
aid
and
eye
treatment.
First
aid
facilities
and
a
qualified
first
aid
person
should
be
available
for
each
shift
unless
medical
facilities
are
close
by
for
immediate
treatment
of
flash
burns
of
the
eves
and
skin
burns.
Ear
plugs
should
be
worn
when
working
on
overhead
or
in
a
confined
space.
A
hard
hat
should
be
worn
when
others
work
overhead.
Flammable
hair
preparations
should
not
be
used
by
persons
intending
to
weld
or
cut.
B.
Toxic
Fume
Prevention
Adequate
ventilation.
Severe
discomfort,
illness
or
death
can
result
from
fumes,
vapors,
heat,
or
oxygen
enrichment
or
depletion
that
welding
(or
cutting)
may
produce.
Prevent
them
with
adequate
ventilation
as
described
in
ANSI Stan
dard
Z49.1
listed
1
in
Standards
index.
NEVER
ventilate
with
oxygen.
Lead
-,
cadmium
-.
zinc
-.
mercury
-,
and
beryllium
-
bearing
and
similar
materials,
when
welded
(Or
cut)
may
produce
harmful
concentrations
of
toxic
fumes.
Adequate
local
exhaust
ventilation
must
be
used,
or
each
person
in
the
area
as
well
as
the
operator
must
wear
an
air-supplied
respirator.
For
beryllium,
both
must
be
used.
Metals
coated
with
or
containing
materials
that
emit
toxic
fumes
should
not
be
heated
unless
coating
is
removed
from
the
work
surface,
the
area
is
well
ventilated,
or
the
operator
wears
an
air-suppied
respirator.
Work
in
a
confined
space
only
while
it
is
being
ventilated
and,
if
necessary,
while
wearing
an
air-supplied
respirator.
Gas
leaks
in
a
confined
space
should
be
avoided.
Leaked
gas
in
large
quantities
can
change
oxygen
concentration
danger
ously.
Do
not
bring
gas
cylinders
into
a
confined
space.
Leaving
confined
space,
shut
OFF
gas
supply
at
source
to
prevent
possible
accumulation
of
gases
in
the
space
if
down
stream
valves
have
been
accidently
opened
or
left
open.
Check
to
be
sure
that
the
space
is
safe
before
re-entering
it.
Vapors
from
chlorinated
solvents
can
be
decomposed
by
the
heat
of
the
arc
(or
flame)
to
form
PI-IOSGENE,
a
highly
toxic
gas,
and
other
lung
and
eye
irritating
products.
The
ultra
violet
(radiant)
energy
of
the
arc
can
also
decompose
tn
chloroethylene
and
perchloroethylene
vapors
to
form
phos
gene.
DO
NOT
WELD
or
cut
where
solvent
vapors
can
be
drawn
into
the
welding
or
cutting
atmosphere
or
where
the
radiant
energy
can
penetrate
to
atmospheres
containing
even
minute
amounts
of
trichloroethylene
or
perchloroethylene.
C.
Fire
and
Explosion
Prevention
Causes
of
fire
and
explosion
are:
combustibles
reached
by
the
arc,
flame,
flying
sparks,
hot
slag
or
heated
material;
misuse
of
compressed
gases
and
cylinders;
and
short
circuits.
BE
AWARE
THAT
flying
sparks
or
falling
slag
can
pass
through
cracks,
along
pipes,
through
windows
or
doors,
and
through
wall
or
floor
openings,
Out
of
sight
of
the
goggled
operator.
Sparks
and
slag
can
fly
35
feet.
To
prevent
fires
and
explosion:
Keep
equipment
clean
and
operable,
free
of
oil,
grease,
and
(in
electrical
parts)
of
metallic
particles
that
can
cause
short
circuits.
If
combustibles
are
in
area,
do
NOT
weld
or
cut.
Move
the
work
if
practicable,
to
an
area
free
of
combustibles.
Avoid
paint
spray
rooms,
dip
tanks,
storage
areas,
ventilators.
If
the
work
cannot
be
moved,
move
combustibles
at
least
35
feet
away
Out
of
reach
of
sparks
and
heat;
or
protect
against
ignition
with
suitable
and
snug-fitting,
fire-resistant
covers
or
shields.
Walls
touching
combustibles
on
opposite
sides
should
not
be
welded
on
(or
cut).
Walls,
ceilings,
and
floor
near
work
should
be
protected
by
heat-resistant
covers
or
shields.
Fire
watcher
must
be
standing
by
with
suitable
fire
ex
tinguishing
equipment
during
and
for
some
time
after
weld
ing
or
cutting
if:
a.
appreciable
combustibles
(including
building
construc
tion)
are
within
35
feet
b.
appreciable
combustibles
are
further
than
35
feet
but
can
be
ignited
by
sparks
c.
openings
(concealed
or
visible)
in
floors
or
walls
within
35
feet
may
expose
combustibles
to
sparks
d.
combustibles
adjacent
to
walls,
ceilings,
roofs,
or
metal
partitions
can
be
ignited
by
radiant
or
conducted
heat.
Hot
work
permit
should
be
obtained
before
operation
to
ensure
supervisors
approval
that
adequate
precautions
have
been
taken.
After
work
is
done,
check
that
area
is
free
of
sparks,
glowing
embers,
and
flames.
-
An
empty
container
that
held
combustibles,
or
that
can
pro
duce
flammable
or
toxic
vapors
when
heated,
must
never
be
welded
on
or
cut,
unless
container
has
first
been
cleaned
as
described
in
AWS
Standard
A6.O,
listed
3
in
Standards
index.
OM-457
Page
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