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SECTION
1
-
SAFETY RULES FOR OPERATION OF ARC WELDING POWER
SOURCE.
1.-i. INTRODUCTION
-
We
learn
by
exper!ence.
Learning safety through personal exp~riance,
liLe
a
child
touching
a
hot
stove
is
harmful, wasteful,
arid
un
wise. Let the
experience
of others teach you.
Safe
practices developed
from
experience
in the
use
of
welding
and
cutting
are
described
in
this
manual.
Research,
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
reason
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
serious
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
cutting;
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
A.
Burn Prevention
Wear
protective
clothing
-
leather
(or
asbestos)
gauntlet gloves, hat,
and
high
safety-toe
shoes. Button
shirt collar and
pocket
flaps,
and
wear
cuff less
trousers
to
avoid
entry
of
sparks
and
slag.
Wear helmet with
safety goggles
or
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 with~iut
gloves.
Medical first aid and
eye
treatment.
First aid
facilities
and
a
qualified
fir~t
aid
person
should be available for
each shift unless medical
facilities
are
close
by
for im
mediate
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
Adequate
ventilation.
Severe
discomfort,
illness
or
death
can
result from
fumes,
vapors,
heat,
or
oxygen
enrichment
or
depletion
that
welding
(or
cutting)
may
pi~duce.
Prevent them with
adequate
ventilation
as
described in ANSI Standard Z49.1 listed 1 in Standards
index. NEVER ventilate with oxygen.
Lead
-,
cadmium
-.
zinc
-,
mercury
-,
and
beryllium
-
bearing
and similar
materials,
when welded
(or cut)
may
produce
harmful concentrations of toxic
fumes.
Ade
quate local exhaust ventilation
must
be
used,
or
each
person in the
area as
well
as
the
operator
must wear
an
air-supplied respirator.
For
beryllium,
both
must
be
us
ed.
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
ven
tilated,
or
the
operator
wears an
air-supplied respirator.
Work in
a
confined
space
only
while it is
being
ven
tilated
and,
if
necessary,
while
wearing
an
air-supplied
respirator.
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
accidently 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
pro
ducts. The ultraviolet
(radiant)
energy of the
arc can
also
decompose
trichloroethylene
and
per
chloroethylene
vapors
to
form
phosgene.
DO NOT
WELD
or
cut
where solvent vapors
can
be
drawn into
the
welding
or
cutting atmosphere
or
where the radiant
energy
can
penetrate
to
atmospheres containing
even
minute
amounts
of
trichioroethylene
or
per
chloroethylene.
OM-254
Page
1
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