Introduction; General Precautions; Arc Welding - Miller Electric AUTO ARC MW 4150 Owner's Manual

SECTION
1
SAFETY RULES FOR OPERATION OF ARC WELDING POWER SOURCE
1-1. INTRODUCTION
We learn
by experience. Learning safety through
per
sonal
experience, like
a
child touching
a
hot stove is
harmful, wasteful,
and unwise. Let the
experience
of oth
ers
teach you.
Safe
practices developed from
experience in the
use
of
welding and cutting
are
described in this manual. Re
search, development, and field
experience have
evolved reliable
equipment
and safe installation,
opera
tion, and servicing
practices.
Accidents
occur
when
equipment is
improperly used
or
maintained. The
rea
son
for the safe
practices
may
not always be
given.
Some
are
based
on common
sense,
others may
require
technical volumes
to
explain. It is wiser
to
follow the
rules.
Read and understand these safe
practices before
at
tempting
to
install, operate,
or
service the equipment.
Comply
with these procedures
as
applicable to the par
ticular
equipment used and their instruction
manuals,
for
personal safety and for the
safety of others.
Failure
to observe these safe
practices
may cause
seri
ous
injury
or
death. When
safety becomes
a
habit, the
equipment
can
be used with confidence.
These safe
practices
are
divided into
two
Sections:
1-General Precautions,
common
to
arc
welding and
cut
ting; and 2-Arc Welding
(and
Cutting) (only).
Reference standards:
Published Standards
on
safety
are
also available for additional and
more
complete
pro
cedures than those
given
in this manual.
They
are
listed
in the Standards Index
in this manual. ANSI
Z49.1 is the
most
complete.
The National Electrical
Code, Occupational Safety
and
Health
Administration, local industrial codes,
and local
inspection requirements also provide
a
basis for
equip
ment installation,
use,
and service.
1-2. GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
Difterent
arc
welding processes, electrode
alloys,
and fluxes
can
produce difterent fumes,
gases, and
radiation levels. In addition
to
the information
in this
manual, be
sure
to
consult flux and electrode
manu
facturers Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS5)
for
specific technical data and precautionary
measures
concerning
their material.
A. Burn Prevention
Wear
protective clothing-gauntlet gloves designed for
use
in welding,
hat,
and
high safety-toe shoes. Button
shirt collar and
pocket flaps, and
wear
cuffless
trousers
to avoid
entry
of
sparks and
slag.
Wear helmet with
safety goggles and glasses with side
shields
underneath, appropriate filter lenses
or
plates
(protected by clear
cover
glass).
This is
a
MUST for
welding
or
cutting, (and chipping) to
protect
the eyes
from radiant energy and flying metal.
Replace
cover
glass when broken, pitted,
or
spattered. See 1
-3A.2.
Avoid oily
or greasy
clothing. A spark
may
ignite them.
Hot metal such
as
electrode stubs and
workpieces
should
never
be handled without
gloves.
Medical first aid
and
eye
treatment. First aid facilities
and
a
qualified first aid person should be available for each
shift unless medical facilities
are
close by for immediate
treatment
of flash
burns
of
the eyes and skin burns.
Ear
plugs
should be
worn
when
working
on
overhead
or
in
a
confined space. A hard hat should be
worn
when
others work overhead.
Flammable hair
preparations
should
not
be used
by
per
sons
intending
to
weld
or
cut.
B. Toxic Fume Prevention
Severe
discomfort, illness
or
death
can
result from
fumes,
vapors,
heat,
or
oxygen enrichment
or
depletion
that
welding (or cutting)
may
produce.
Prevent them
with
adequate ventilation
as
described in ANSI Standard
Z49.1 listed in
Standards
Index. NEVER ventilate with
oxygen.
Lead
-,
cadmium -,zinc-, mercury-, and beryllium-bear
ing
and similar materials, when welded (or cut)
may pro
duce harmful concentrations of toxic fumes.
Adequate
local exhaust ventilation
must be used,
or
each person in
the
area as
well
as
the
operator
must
wear an
air-sup
plied respirator. For beryllium, both
must
be used.
Metals coated with
or
containing
materials that emit toxic
fumes should not be heated unless
coating is removed
from the work surface, the
area
is well ventilated
and, if
necessary, while wearing
an
air-supplied respirator.
Work in
a
confined space
only
while it is
being ventilated
and,
if necessary, while
wearing
an
air-supplied respira
tor.
Gas leaks
in
a
confined space should be avoided.
Leaked
gas
in
large
quantities
can
change
oxygen con
centration dangerously.
Do
not bring
gas
cylinders into
a
confined space.
Leaving
confined space, shut
OFF gas
supply
at
source
to
prevent possible accumulation of gases in the space if
downstream valves have been
accidentally opened
or
left open. Check
to be
sure
that the space is safe before
re-entering it.
Vapors
from chlorinated solvents
can
be
decomposed
by
the heat of the
arc
(or flame) to form PHOSGENE,
a
highly toxic gas, and other lung and
eye
irritating
prod
ucts.
The ultraviolet (radiant) energy of the
arc can
also
decompose trichloroethylene
and
perchloroethylene
va
pors
to
form phosgene.
DO NOT WELD
or
cut
where sol
vent vapors
can
be drawn into the
welding
or
cutting at
mosphere
or
where the radiant energy
can
penetrate to
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