what are some safe work procedures for welding
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Published by SALUSWelding operations involve several hazards, including exposure to welding fumes and gases, UV radiation, burns, eye damage, electrical shock, cuts, and the risk of fires and explosions. A job hazard analysis conducted by qualified personnel is essential to determine the necessary safeguards and PPE for each welding task. [1] [3]
Risk control involves elimination and substitution (e.g., using lower fume-generating welding processes), engineering controls (e.g., local exhaust ventilation), work practices (e.g., removing coatings before welding and worker training), and PPE (e.g., respiratory protection). [1]
Appropriate protective clothing for welding operations varies with the work's size, nature, and location and should comply with relevant safety standards. [2]
General requirements include:
- Wearing flameproof gauntlet gloves, except when engaged in light work.
- Using flameproof aprons made of leather, asbestos, or other suitable material for protection against radiated heat and sparks.
- Preferably wearing woolen clothing over cotton, or chemically treating cotton clothing to reduce combustibility; outer clothing should be free from oil or grease.
- Keeping sleeves and collars buttoned, removing pockets from the front of overalls and aprons, and avoiding turned-up trousers or overalls to prevent sparks from lodging in clothing.
- Using fire-resistant leggings, high boots, or other equivalent means for heavy work.
- Using a sheet metal screen for leg protection in production work.
- Wearing capes or shoulder covers made of leather or other suitable materials.
- Using leather skull caps under helmets to prevent head burns during overhead welding or cutting.
- Using ear protection for overhead welding/cutting or in confined spaces.
- Using hard hats or head protectors where there is a risk of sharp or heavy falling objects or bumping in confined spaces.
Eye protection is critical. Use helmets or hand shields during all arc welding or arc cutting operations (except submerged arc welding). Goggles should also be worn for protection from adjacent work and flying objects. Helpers and attendants require proper eye protection. For gas welding or oxygen cutting, use goggles or other suitable eye protection. Transparent face shields or goggles are necessary for resistance welding or brazing. Select filter lenses meeting ANSI Z 87\.1-1968 standards for radiant energy transmission. [2] [5] [5] [5]
For confined spaces, ventilation is essential. Gas cylinders and welding machines should remain outside the space, and heavy portable equipment must be securely blocked to prevent movement. Where entering through small openings, provide a means for quick removal in emergencies, such as safety belts and lifelines, with an attendant stationed outside. Remove electrodes from holders when arc welding is suspended and shut off gas supply when the torch is not in use. [4] [4] [4] [4] [4]
Sources used for this answer
[1] Welding - Overview of Types and Hazards
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# Welding - Overview of Types and Hazards (cont.) ## Is there more than one type of welding process? There are over 70 different welding processes. The type of welding process used is related to the specific application. The most common processes are: - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as Manual Metal Arc Welding, MMAW. - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) or Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding. - Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW). - Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding or hard wire welding. - Plasma Arc Welding (PAW), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) and Gouging - Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) - Resistance Spot Welding (RSW) or spot welding. - Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A) and Air Carbon Arc Gouging (CAG) - Oxyfuel Gas Welding (OFG), Cutting and Heating (oxygen-acetylene [oxyacetylene] (OAW) or oxygen-propane [oxy-propane] mixtures are the most common fuel mixtures used). ## What, in general, are the hazards associated with welding? Health hazards associated with welding, cutting, and brazing operations will depend on the composition and exposure level to welding fumes and gases, and to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Health risks include respiratory irritation, metal fume fever, lung cancer, skin cancer, damage to the nervous system, asphyxiation, and other health risks. Safety hazards associated with these processes include burns, eye damage, electrical shock, cuts, injury to toes and fingers. Fires and explosions may also occur. Many of these hazards can be controlled with elimination and substitution controls (e.g., eliminate need for welding or using a using lower fume-generating welding process), engineering controls (e.g., local exhaust ventilation), work practices (e.g., remove coatings before welding, and worker training), and personal protective equipment (PPE)(e.g., respiratory protection). Risk assessments and occupational hygiene air sampling can be performed to determine health and safety risks and worker exp…
[2] Safety Standards for General Safety and Health Standards (Chapter 296-24 WAC)
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# WAC 296-24-685 Application, installation, and operation of arc welding and cutting equipment. (cont.) ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Confined spaces. (cont.) Chapter 296-24 WAC General Safety and Health Standards Part I Welding, Cutting, and Brazing hour or overnight. Where practicable, you must also remove the torch and hose from the confined space. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050, and .060. 15-24-100 (Order 15-04), $ 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 12/01/2015, effective 01/05/2016. Order 73-5, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/7/73.] ## WAC 296-24-700 Protection of employees. [Order 73-5, 296-24-700, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-700, filed 5/7/73.] <table><tr><th>You must meet the requirements</th><th>in this section</th></tr><tr><td>General</td><td>WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code]</td></tr><tr><td>Eye protection</td><td>WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code]</td></tr><tr><td>Protective clothing</td><td>WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code]</td></tr><tr><td>Work in confined spaces</td><td>WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code]</td></tr></table> ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] General. (1) Railing. You must protect a welder or helper working on platforms, scaffolds, or runways against falling. This may be accomplished by the use of railings, safety belts, life lines, or some other equally effective safeguards. (2) Welding cable. Welders must place welding cable and other equipment so that is clear of passageways, ladders, and stairways. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050, and .060. 15-24-100 (Order 15-04), $ 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 12/01/2015, effective 01/05/2016. Order 73-5, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/7/73.] ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Eye protection. (1) Selection. (a) You must use helmets or hand shields during all arc welding or arc cutting operati…
[3] Safety Standards for General Safety and Health Standards (Chapter 296-24 WAC)
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# WAC 296-24-685 Application, installation, and operation of arc welding and cutting equipment. (cont.) ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Protective clothing. (cont.) Chapter 296-24 WAC General Safety and Health Standards Part I Welding, Cutting, and Brazing during overhead welding or cutting operations. Leather skull caps may be worn under helmets to prevent head burns. (g) For overhead welding and cutting, or welding and cutting in extremely confined spaces, ear protection is sometimes desirable. (h) Where there is exposure to sharp or heavy falling objects, or a hazard of bumping in confined spaces, hard hats or head protectors must be used. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050, and .060. 15-24-100 (Order 15-04), $ 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 12/01/2015, effective 01/05/2016. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050. 01-11-038 (Order 99-36), $ 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 05/09/01, effective 09/01/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-20-057 (Order 94-16), 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 9/30/94, effective 11/20/94; Order 73-5, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/7/73.] ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Work in confined spaces. (1) General. As used herein confined space is intended to mean a relatively small or restricted space such as a tank, boiler, pressure vessel, or small compartment of a ship. (2) Ventilation. Ventilation is a prerequisite to work in confined spaces. For ventilation requirements see WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] through 296-24-[redacted postal code]. (3) Securing cylinders and machinery. When welding or cutting is being performed in any confined spaces you must leave the gas cylinders and welding machines on the outside. Before operations are started, you must securely block heavy portable equipment mounted on wheels to prevent accidental movement. (4) Lifelines. Where a welder must enter a confined space thro…
[4] Safety Standards for General Safety and Health Standards (Chapter 296-24 WAC)
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# WAC 296-24-685 Application, installation, and operation of arc welding and cutting equipment. (cont.) ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Eye protection. (cont.) Chapter 296-24 WAC General Safety and Health Standards Part I Welding, Cutting, and Brazing Note: In gas welding or oxygen cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, is not desirable to use a filter or lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible light of the operation. (j) All filter lenses and plates must meet the test for transmission of radiant energy prescribed in ANSI Z 87.1-1968--American National Standard Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection. (3) Protection from arc welding rays. Where the work permits, the welder should be enclosed in an individual booth painted with a finish of low-reflectivity such as zinc oxide (an important factor for absorbing ultraviolet radiations) and lamp black, or must be enclosed with noncombustible screens similarly painted. Booths and screens must permit circulation of air at floor level. You must protect workers or other persons adjacent to the welding areas from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields or they must be required to wear appropriate goggles. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050, and .060. 15-24-100 (Order 15-04), $ 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 12/01/2015, effective 01/05/2016. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050. 01-11-038 (Order 99-36), $ 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 05/09/01, effective 09/01/01. Statutory Authority: Order 73-5, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, 296-24-[redacted postal code], filed 5/7/73.] ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Protective clothing. (1) General requirements. You must protect employees exposed to the hazards created by welding, cutting, or brazing operations by personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements of chapter 296-24 WAC, Part I, and WAC [redacted i…
[5] Safety Standards for General Safety and Health Standards (Chapter 296-24 WAC)
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Open source documentSource excerpt
# WAC 296-24-685 Application, installation, and operation of arc welding and cutting equipment. (cont.) ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Spot and seam welding machines (nonportable). (cont.) Chapter 296-24 WAC General Safety and Health Standards Part I Welding, Cutting, and Brazing ## WAC 296-24-[redacted postal code] Portable welding machines. (1) Counter-balance. All portable welding guns must have suitable counter-balanced devices for supporting the guns, including cables, unless the design of the gun or fixture makes counterbalancing impractical or unnecessary. (2) Safety chains. All portable welding guns, transformers and related equipment that is suspended from overhead structures, eye beams, trolleys, etc., must be equipped with safety chains or cables. Safety chains or cables must be capable of supporting the total shock load in the event of failure of any component of the supporting system. (3) Clevis. When trolleys are used to support portable welding equipment, they must be equipped with suitable forged steel clevis for the attachment of safety chains. Each clevis must be capable of supporting the total shock load of the suspended equipment in the event of trolley failure. (4) Switch guards. All initiating switches, including retraction and dual schedule switches, located on the portable welding gun must be equipped with suitable guards capable of preventing accidental initiation through contact with fixturing, operator's clothing, etc. Initiating switch voltage must not exceed 24 volts. (5) Moving holder. The movable holder, where it enters the gun frame, must have sufficient clearance to prevent the shearing of fingers carelessly placed on the operating movable holder. (6) Grounding. The secondary and case of all portable welding transformers must be grounded. Secondary grounding may be by center tapped secondary or by a center tapped grounding reactor connected across the secondary. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050, and .0…
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