safety in welding
DESCRIPTION
Ag Metals 1. Safety In Welding. Objectives. Describe the type of protection that should be worn for welding Describe the proper methods of handling, storing and setting up cylinders Discuss the proper way to ventilate a welding area Explain how to avoid electrical shock - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Safety In WeldingAg Metals 1
Objectives
Describe the type of protection that should be worn for welding
Describe the proper methods of handling, storing and setting up cylinders
Discuss the proper way to ventilate a welding area
Explain how to avoid electrical shock Describe how to avoid possible health
hazards for welding Explain how to prevent fires in welding
Introduction Start Safe, Stay Safe! Safety is YOUR RESPONSABILITY There is no substitute for caution and
common sense! A safe job is no accident; it takes work to
keep the job safe. Welding has a number of potential hazards
and they don’t have to result in injury. Learning to work safely with hazards is just
as important as learning to be a skilled welder.
General Work Clothing
The Clothing of the Trade
Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Burns
Most common injury Causes
Ultraviolet light Contact
3 classes of burns 1st Degree 2nd Degree 3rd Degree
1st Degree Burns Surface of the skin is
Reddish in color Tender Painful No broken skin
Treat by Immediately putting the burned area under cold water
(not iced) or apply a cold compress until the pain decreases
Then cover the area with a sterile bandage or clean cloth DO NOT APPLY butter, any type of grease or other home
remedies.
1st Degree Burns
2nd Degree Burns Skin surface is severly
damaged Blisters Possible broken skin
Treatment Put under cold water (not
ice) or apply a cold compress until pain decreases
GENTLY pat the area dry with a clean towel and cover the area with a sterile bandage or clean cloth to prevent infection
Seek medical attention If burns occur in or around the
mouth or nose breathing problems may occur
DO NOT apply Home remedies Ointments Sprays Antiseptics
In Emergency situations Any cold liquid you drink
(tea, water, soda pop, etc) can be poured on the burn to reduce the skin temperture as quickly as possible.
2nd Degree Burns
3rd Degree Burns Surface of skin and possible the tissue below appears
white or charred Initial little pain Treatment
DO NOT remove clothes that are stuck to the burn Do not put ice water or ice on the burn—this can intensify the
shock reaction Do not apply ointments, sprays, antiseptics or home remedies
If the burn is on or around the face, neck or mouth Ensure the victim is breathing Place a cold cloth or cool (not iced) water on the burns (this is
for feet as well) Cover the areas with thick, sterile, nonfluffy dressing Call an ambulance immediately
3rd Degree Burns
Burns Caused by Light 3 types of light
Ultraviolet Infrared Visible
Light that causes burns Ultraviolet Infrared
Arc welding produces all 3 types of light Gas welding produced ultraviolet and infrared Reflected light from the welding process is
just as dangerous as the direct light
Reducing the Danger of Reflected Light Paint welding areas flat black Use welding curtins to absord
welding light NOTE:
USE WELDING CURTAINS AT ALL TIMES TO PROTECT OTHERS WHILE WORKING IN THE SHOP!!!!
Ultraviolet Light
Most dangerous Can cause 1st and 2nd degree burns
to the eyes or exposed skin May be so intense that a welders
eyes can receive FLASH BURN in seconds and skin can be burned in minutes
Ultraviolet light can pass through thin, lightly colored, damaged or poorly maintained welding helmets
Protecting Yourself Against Ultraviolet Light Always wear a welding mask that is in
good condition Check for cracks, loose lenses
Wear a shop coat Wear long pants
NO SHORTS Wear well fitting, close toed shoes
Leather is best. NO FLIP FLOPS or open toed shoes of any kind!
Wear leather welding gloves
Infrared Light
Light wave that gives off heat Easily felt Can cause burns but is easily
avoidable
Visible Light
Light we see Produced in varying quantities and
colors during welding Too much can cause temporary night
blindness Too little can cause eye strain Generally not hazardous
Eye & Ear Safety
Eye Protection
Eyes must be protected at ALL TIMES Can be done with
Safety glasses Goggles Full Face Shield Flash Glasses▪ Flash glasses are special lightly, tinted safety
glasses that provide both protection from flying debris and reflected light
Eye Protection
Excessive exposure to arc light is not noticed
Welding light damage is like a sunburn, that is felt the next day—after the damage is done
Eye Burns
2 types Burns to the Retina
Not painful May cause loss of eye sight
Burns to the white Very painful May cause eye infections Feels as though there is something in
your eye, or like there is sand in your eyes
Preventing Eye Injury
Wear safety glasses Use a quality helmet with the correct
lens shade Check helmets daily for cracks and
ultraviolet light leaks Utilize portable welding curtains
Ear Protection
Several forms Ear muffs Ear plugs
Ventilation
Ventilation Area needs to be well ventilated Natural ventilation is best Forced ventilation is required in small shops or areas where more than one
person is working Rules for our shop:
Open the overhead door Turn on the overhead fan in the welding booths
▪ If you are using the Plasma-CAM turn on the vent for it as well Forced ventilation is always required when welding on metals that contain the
following Zinc Lead Beryllium Cadium Mercury Copper Austenetic Maganese Or any material that gives off dangerous fumes
Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety
Electric shock can cause injuries or death
Most welding and cutting operations involve electricity
Most is powered by alternating current (AC) sources ranging from 115-460 Volts
Fatalaties however can occur with equipment operating at less than 80 volts.
How Electrical Accidents Happen Most electrical shock does not
happen by coming in contact with electrode holders
However, it is accidental contact with bare or poorly insulated conductors
Electrical Resistance
Lowered in the presence of mouisture or water
This includes presperation
Grounding
Workpieces being welded and the frame or chassis of all electrically powered machines must be grounded
Electrical Connections
Must be tight Terminals for leads and cables must
be shielded from contact by persons or metal
Cables
Must be used within their current carrying capacity and duty cycle capabilities If not they will overheat and breakdown
rapidly Connectors for lengthening leads
must be insulated Check periodically for fraying
Preventing Electrical Hazards Do not allow the metal parts of electrodes or
electrode holders to touch your skin or wet coverings on the body
Wear dry gloves in good condition Rubber soled shoes are also a good idea When working in cramped kneeling, sitting or
lying positions take care to protect yourself from accidental contact with bare conducting surfaces. Insulated mats or dry wooden boards are
desirable protection from Earth.
When Leaving Your Work Station Turn off all circuits If working on a welder, leads,
electrode holder, torches, wire feeder, gun or other parts turn off and tag out the main power supply until you are finished working
Wear dry gloves when changing coated electrodes
Gas Cylinders
General Precautions
Use warm water to loosen cylinders that are frozen to the ground
Mark and report to the supplier any cylinder that leaks, has a bad valve, or gas damaged threads
If the cylinder has a leak that can’t be stopped by closing the valve, move it to an open area, post a warning sign and allow the pressure to be released slowly
Acetylene Cylinders Cylinders that have been lying on their side must
stand upright for 4 or more hours before use Acetylene is absorbed in acetone and the
acetone is absorbed in a filler. This filler does not allow the liquid to settle back from the valve very quickly
If the cylinder has been in a horizontal position, using it too soon after placing it in a vertical position will draw the acetone out.
Acetone lowers flame temperture and can damage regulator and torch valve settings.
Handling & Storage
Store oxygen and gas cylinders seperatly WHY??
Storage areas must by 20 ft or by a wall 15 ft high with at least a ½ hour burn rating
Empty cylinders should be stored seperately from full cylinders
Must be stored vertically Must have protective caps screwed
on firmly
Securing Gas Cylinders
Must be secured with chain or some other device so that they cannon be knocked over accidently
Storage Areas
Locate away from halls, stairwells and exits
Locate away from heat, radiators, furnaces and welding areas
Location should be secure to prevent unauthorized people from tampering with the cylinders
Warning signs should be posted Ex: “Danger-No Smoking, Matches or
Open Light”
Valve Protection Caps
Must be in place when cylinders are not in use
Prevents the cylinder valve from being broken off if the cylinder is knocked over
Never lift the cylinder by the cap or valve
Caps must be in place when the cylinders are moved
Fire Protection
Fire Protection
Fire is a constant hazzard Possibility can not be removed but
can be minimized Highly combustible materials should
not be in the welding area When that is not possible a fire
watch is needed
Fire Watch
We should all be on fire watch and know what to do in the case of a fire.
Review the fire drill handout provided.
Fire Extinquishers
4 classes A B C D
Location of Fire Extinguishers
SHOP
Sink
ToolRoom
Overhead Door
Welding
Hood
FE
FE
Exit
ExIt
Type A Extinguishers
Used for combustible solids such as paper, wood, and cloth.
A
Type B Extinguishers
Used for combustible liquids such as oil, gas, and paint thinner.
B
Type C Extinguishers
Used for electrical fires. For example, fires involving fuse boxes, motors and welding machines.
C
Type D Extinguishers
Used on fires involving combustible metals such as zinc, magnesium and titanium.
D
Using a Fire Extinguisher Works by breaking the fire triangle Most both cool the fire and remove
the oxygen See handout on how to use the fire
extinguisher correctly.
Review
Safety starts with YOU!! PPE 3 Degrees of burns Burns caused by light Eye and Ear Protection Gas Cylinder Safety Fire Protection Using a Fire Extinguisher