With welding being so common as well as potentially dangerous, it is important to have safety standards in place. These standards are common among all welders alike and should be practiced with absolute care. If followed, you and your crew can prevent injury and even death. Without further ado, here are some general guidelines to follow while welding.
Use Proper Gear When Performing Welding
When performing welding, you should always be equipped with the proper gear. This includes a helmet (auto-darkening is the best kind), gloves, and proper clothing. The use of safety glasses under your helmet is recommended to prevent arc flash while in between striking the arc and putting your helmet on. Burns are the most common form of welding injury. For that reason, plan to use the proper clothing to shield your skin from burns. Good welding gloves will protect your hands and arms from the intense heat.
If you are not performing the welding, it is best to avoid the immediate area. Always wear proper safety glasses that will protect your eyes from UV radiation to avoid arc flash. Using proper welding curtains can help to shield other workers and bystanders from the harmful UV radiation produced from welding.
Watch Out for the Spatter
The welding arc can reach temperatures of up to 10,000 degrees fahrenheit, but is not the main thing to be wary of. While the arc is the hottest point, the spatter created from welding can reach distances of up to 30 feet. It is important to inspect areas in the immediate surroundings before welding to ensure there is nothing that could catch on fire or even explode. Welding curtains will also help protect the spatter and debris from spreading.
Be Aware of the Fumes
Fumes and gases created from welding are very harmful to those who inhale them. Exhaust systems should be planned out carefully for this reason. The best possible prevention method is local exhaust. Place the hood of an exhaust fan as close to the weld as you can to keep fumes from rising into the air.
If local exhaust is not an option, use a combination of welding curtains, open doors and/or windows, and fans to circulate the fumes out of the facility. Pay special attention here so you don’t just spread the fumes throughout the facility. Also, it is highly recommended to avoid small, enclosed spaces while welding as this will trap the fumes and harm those exposed.
When standards are properly followed, welding can be a safe activity. Be sure to wear proper clothing and use the proper equipment, set up welding curtains to prevent the spread of spatter and debris and shield bystanders from the fumes and radiation, use an exhaust system to remove fumes from the facility, and always wear approved safety goggles. Following these procedures will help you and your crew to stay safe while welding.
Still have questions or concerns about the safety procedures needed for welding? Contact us and we’ll be sure to set you on the right path to keeping you and your crew safe.
