Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

Safety
 Welding and Cutting

 Objectives
 Describe welding safety requirements for:
 Eye protection
 Protective clothing
 Fire Prevention Requirements
 Ventilation Safety Requirements
 Electrical Hazard Prevention Requirements
 Hazard Statistics

 An estimated 562,000 employees are at risk for

exposure to chemical and physical hazards of
welding, cutting and brazing.
 For the construction industry, welders flash (burn
to the eyes) accounts for 5.6% of all construction
eye injuries (2).
 Hazard Statistics

 Fifty-eight deaths from welding and cutting

incidents, including explosions, electrocutions,

asphyxiation, falls and crushing injuries were
reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics every
year.
 Health Hazards

 There are numerous health hazards

associated with exposure to fumes, gases
and ionizing radiation formed or released
during welding, cutting and brazing,
including:
 Heavy metal poisoning,
 Lung cancer,
 Metal fume fever,
 Flash burns, and others.
 Health Hazards

 FUMES MAY PRODUCE

 METAL FUME FEVER

 SYMPTOMS:
 Respiratory disturbances
 Infection - Influenza
 Fever - Acute Bronchitis
 Pneumonia - Chills, Shivering,
 Trembling, Nausea, Vomiting
Welding and Cutting General
Requirements
 Welders, cutters, and their supervisors
shall be trained in the safe operation of
the equipment, safe welding/cutting
practices, and welding/cutting
respiratory and fire protection.

10.A.01
Shielding

 Workers, watchers,
and the public shall
be shielded from
welding rays,
flashes, sparks,
molten metal, and
slag.

10.A.04
Shielding

 Is this an
acceptable welding
screen to protect
workers, watchers
and the public?
 Use Protective Clothing and
Equipment
 Welders should consider using
appropriate protective clothing which
should include:
 Shield or helmet with a filtered lens;
 Fire resistant gloves; a leather apron;
 Boots;
 Leather spats;
 Felt skull-cap or beret and preferably
overalls.
 Volatile combination of heat
and gas
 Fatalities have resulted where drums and other
containers have exploded as a result of some
welding or cutting work.
 The nature of the previous contents should be
established to ensure that any heating does
not liberate toxic fumes or
cause an explosion.
 Flameproof Skullcap
Eye Safety Shield Helmet with Filter Lens

No Pockets
Collar Buttoned
Full Sleeves Fire Protection
Gauntlet Gloves
Leather Apron or
Shirt Outside Trousers

Clean Fire Resistant

No Cuffs Clothing

Safety Shoes
 Welding and Cutting PPE

 Protective Eye Equipment

 Worn during all welding
operations
 Safety glasses and a head
shield
 Helmet equipped with a
suitable filter glass to protect
against the intense ultraviolet
and infrared rays.
 Arc-Welding
• Non-combustible welding
screen to protect others
in the vicinity of the
welding
Welding and Cutting PPE

 Welder
wearing
eye shield
without a
hard hat.
 Non-
compliant
Welding and Cutting PPE

 Protective Clothing
 Woolen instead of cotton

 
 Free from oil
 Sleeve and collars buttoned
 No cuffs on trousers
                          
 Capes or shoulder covers
made of leather or other
suitable materials
 Flame-proof gloves
 Welding in Confined Spaces

Local mechanical exhaust ventilation or

personal respiratory protection shall be
used when performing welding, cutting or
heating operations in a confined space.
 

10.B.05.a
 Fire Protection

 Before welding or
cutting operations,
survey area for:
 Combustible
Materials
 Potential Explosive
Atmospheres
 Oxygen Enriched
Atmospheres

10.C.02
 Ventilation & Protection
 General ventilation to maintain welding smoke
and fumes within safe limits
 When welding in confined spaces mechanical
ventilation or local exhaust
 If ventilation blocks access/egress to confined
space, air line and attendant required
Fire Protection

 When welding near

walls, partitions,
ceilings or roofs of
combustible
construction fire
resistant guards shall
be provided.

10.C.08
 Fire Protection

 Before welding on drums or hollow structures which

have contained toxic or flammable materials either:
 Completely fill with water before proceeding, or
 Thoroughly clean, ventilate, and TEST!

Before applying heat to any container

drum, or hollow structure a vent or
opening must be provided
10.C.11
 Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders
 Cylinders in storage shall be
separated from flammable or
combustible liquids and from
easily ignitable materials
(wood, paper, packaging
materials, oil, and grease) at
least 40 ft or by a fire
resistive partition having at
least 1 hr rating. 20.D.03.c
 Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders
 Separation of 20 feet for storage of
oxygen/fuel cylinders

20.D.03.d
Never take OXYGEN or ACETELYNE
cylinders into
confined spaces!

Safe g
din
Wel
20.D.06
Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders

 When work is
finished, when
cylinders are empty,
or when cylinders
are moved at any
time, the cylinder
valve shall be
closed.
20.D.07.a
 Compressed gas cylinders

  All compressed gas

cylinders in service
shall be secured in
substantial fixed or
portable racks or
hand trucks.

20.D.08
 Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders

 Cylinders secured in
upright position at all
times
 Except for hoisting or
carrying

20.D.10
Hoses
 Welding Hose

 Not more than four of every twelve inches covered with

tape for fuel and oxygen hoses taped together
 Fuel hose inspected prior to each shift
 Defective hose removed from service
Torches

 Clogged tips cleaned

with suitable devices
 Torches inspected prior
to each shift
 Torches lit by strikers or
other approved methods
 No matches!
 Not off of hot work!

10.D.04
 Arc Welding
 Manual electrode holders must be designed for
that purpose and capable of carrying the
maximum rated electrode current
 Only fully insulated holders to contact hands

10.E.02
 Arc Welding
 Arc welding cables completely insulated and
flexible type
 Free of splice minimum ten feet from electrode
cable end
 Cables in need of repair not allowed

10.E.03
 Arc Welding

 Ground return cables must have sufficient

current carrying capacity for maximum voltage
 No grounding on pipelines containing gasses or
flammable liquid
 Arc Welding

 Always shield operations with flameproof

screens to protect employees eyes

10.E.12
 Welding and Cutting

 In summary
 Wear eye protection
 Wear protective clothing
 Fire Protection Controls
 Provide ventilation in confined or
enclosed spaces
 Protect workers, watchers, and public
from the electrical hazards of arc-
welding