Welding equipment and supply for maximum safety

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Welding equipment and supply for maximum safety

Welding is a safe process when the right welding equipment and supply are used and sufficient measures are taken to protect the welder from potential hazards and when proper operating practices are followed.

Major hazards welders can encounter if these dangers are overlooked include fumes and gases, arc rays and sparks, and electric shock.

Fumes and Gases Are Silent Hazards

The fumes and gases that result from the welding process can cause acute or chronic health effects if the proper welding equipment and supply are not used and precautions are ignored. The fume plume contains solid particles from the consumables (electrodes), base metal, base metal coating and gases formed in the process, which include oxides of nitrogen and ozone. The gases used for shielding (argon, helium, and carbon dioxide) are non-toxic, but as they are released, they displace oxygen in breathing air. This can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death with longer exposures. Avoid exposure to fumes and gases whenever possible, and use ventilation equipment or a respirator when necessary.

Here are a few tips :

The right welding equipment and supply should use enough ventilation or exhaust to remove fumes and gases from the work area. Mechanical equipment should exhaust at least 2000 cfm of air for each welder, except where individual exhaust hoods, booths, or air-line respirators are used.

Natural ventilation may be used under certain conditions. For welding or cutting mild steel, natural ventilation is usually sufficient if a room has at least 10,000 cubic feet per welder, with a ceiling height of at least 16 feet. Cross-ventilation should not be blocked, and welding should not be done in a confined space.

The basic welding equipment and supply required for proper safety should include corrective lenses to help you maintain the proper distance, a smoke extractor-type welding gun for semi-automatic welding processes, face protection with a properly fitted welding helmet that is equipped with the correct grade of filter plate, body protection from welding spatter and arc flash with clothing made from durable, flame-resistant material.

Protect others from spatter, flash, and glare with non-flammable protective screens or curtains and be sure to wear safety glasses with side shields when in a welding area.

The hazards of electric shock are one of the most serious risks facing a welder. Contact with equipment or metal parts that are electrically "hot' can cause injury or death from the shock or from a fall that results from reaction to the shock. Primary voltage shock (i.e., 230, 460 volts) is the most serious danger because it is much greater than secondary voltage shock (i.e, 60 - 100 volts). Primary voltage shock comes from touching a lead inside the welding power source while you have your body or hand in contact with the welder case or other grounded metal. Turning the equipment's power switch "off" does not turn power off inside the case. Never remove panels without unplugging the input power cord or turning the power disconnect switch off. Secondary voltage shock comes from touching part of the welding circuit, such as a bare spot on the electrode cable, while also touching the grounded metal workpiece. Avoid touching both parts of a circuit at the same time.

Be sure you are insulated from the workpiece and ground, as well as other live electrical parts. Don't lean on the workpiece. Use plywood, rubber mats or other dry insulation to stand on, and wear dry, hole-free gloves. Stay dry, and do not weld when you are wet. Never dip the electrode in water to cool it. Check your welding equipment and supply to be sure it is properly grounded, in good repair, and installed according to prevailing codes. Be sure equipment is turned off when not in use. Electric current flowing through a conductor causes Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF), which can interfere with pacemakers and may effect health in other ways. Consult your physician before arc welding if you have a pacemaker. To avoid excessive exposure to EMF, keep the electrode and work cables together, never place your body between the two cables or coil the electrode lead around your body, and do not work directly next to the welding power source.