BEST PRACTICES

WELDING & CUTTING

Hazards
 Coming in contact with current carrying parts of welding machine / cable / electrode holder
 Overcurrent
 Generation of fume during welding & Cutting
 Arc rays and Spatter
 Radiation from ultraviolet ray & infra-red rays
 Flash back
 Fire/burns resulting from misuse of oxygen
 Burns from contact with the flame or hot metal and slag
 Crushing or impact injuries when handling and transporting cylinders
 Presence of combustible material in vicinity of hot job

Safety Precautionary Measures

  Permit to be taken from concerned authority prior to commencing hot works.
 Ensure the competency of the workmen performing the hot works.
 Double body earthing to be provided at Welding Machine.
 Inspected and safety tagged welding and cutting machines prior to commencing the work.
 Daily inspection of welding machine, cable, electrode holder to be conducted.
 Fire extinguisher to be kept in vicinity of the area where hot job will be executed.
 Trained fire watcher to be available. Maintain fire watch for 30 minutes after hot work finishes
 Tray/ fire blanket to be used to arrest the spatter.
 Welding machine should be routed through ELCB / RCCB & MCB.
 Electrode shall be removed from holder when not in use.
 Don’t put the cutting nozzle too close the job during gas cutting, back fire may happen.
 A fuel gas cylinder valve shall never be cracked near the other welding job, flame, sparks or other
possible source of ignition.
 Before a regulator removed from the cylinder, the cylinder valve shall always be closed and the
gas released from the regulator.
 Protect nearby combustible materials that cannot be moved. Use suitable guards or covers such
as metal sheeting, mineral fibre boards or fire-retardant blankets
 Use a proprietary leak detecting spray or solution suitable for use with oxy/fuel systems. Do not
use soapy water or solutions containing grease or oils on oxygen systems. Never look for gas leaks
with a naked flame.
 Turn the gas supply off at the cylinder when the job is finished or before the cylinders are moved
or transported; isolate and purge or remove hoses and equipment from enclosed or poorly
ventilated spaces when there is a break in work.
 Keep hoses away from sharp edges and abrasive surfaces or where vehicles can run over them; do
not allow hot metal or spatter to fall on hoses;
 Make sure the blowpipe is fitted with spring-loaded non-return valves
 Flashback arrestors must be installed on the outlets of both regulators, and/or torch inlets.
 Compressed gas cylinders to be properly secured with caps and stored as per MSDS.
 close the cylinder valves when the equipment is not in use; always provide adequate ventilation
during welding and cutting operations.
 Mandatory PPE Like hard hats, High-Visibility Jackets, high ankle safety shoes, hand gloves, Safety
glasses must be worn. Face shields, welding aprons, Double eye protection, welding gloves, RPE
shall be adhered to basing on the Site PPE matrix.
 Workers to be trained regarding the Potential hazards and the control measures.