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1-3.
ARC WELDING
Comply
with
precautions
in
1-1,
1
-2,
and this section.
Arc
Welding, properly
done,
is
a
safe
process,
but
a
careless
operator
invites trouble. The
equipment
carries
high
currents at
significant voltages.
The
arc
is very
bright
and hot.
Sparks fly,
fumes
rise,
ultraviolet
and in
frared energy
radiates,
weidments
are
hot,
and
com
pressed
gases may
be used. The wise
operator
avoids
unnecessary risks and
protects
himself and others from
accidents. Precautions
are
described here and in
stan
dards referenced in index.
A.
Burn
Protection
Comply
with
precautions
in 1-2.
The
welding
arc
is intense and
visibly bright.
Its radiation
can
damage
eyes,
penetrate
lightweight clothing,
reflect
from
light-colored
surfaces,
and burn the skin and eyes.
Skin
burns resemble acute
sunburn,
those from gas-
shielded
arcs are more severe
and
painful.
DONT
GET
BURNED;
COMPLY
WITH
PRECAUTIONS.
1.
Protective
Clothing
Wear
long-sleeve clothing (particularly
for
gas-shielded
arc)
in
addition
to
gloves,
hat,
and shoes
(1 -2A).
As
nec
essary,
use
additional
protective clothing
such
as
leather
jacket
or
sleeves,
flame-proof
apron, and fire-re
sistant
leggings.
Avoid
outer
garments
of untreated
cot
ton.
Bare skin
protection.
Wear
dark,
substantial
clothing.
Button
collar
to
protect
chest and neck and button
pock
ets to
prevent entry
of
sparks.
2.
Eye
and Head Protection
Protect eyes from exposure
to
arc.
NEVER look
at
an
electric
arc
without
protection.
Welding
helmet
or
shield
containing
a
filter
plate
shade
no.
12
ordenser
must
be used when
welding.
Place
over
face before
striking
arc.
Protect filter
plate
with
a
clear
cover
plate.
Cracked
or
broken helmet
or
shield should NOT be
worn;
radiation
can
pass
through
to
cause
burns.
Cracked, broken,
or
loose filter
plates
must
be
replaced
IMMEDIATELY.
Replace
clear
cover
plate
when bro
ken,
pitted,
or
spattered.
Flash
goggles
with side
shields MUST be
worn
under
the helmet
to
give
some
protection
to the
eyes should
the helmet
not
be lowered
over
the face before
an arc
is
struck.
Looking
at
an arc
momentanly
with
unprotected
eyes
(particularly
a
high intensity gas-shielded
arc)
can
cause
a
retinal burn
that
may
leave
a
permanent
dark
area
in the
field of vision.
3.
Protection of
Nearby
Personnel
Enclosed
welding
area.
For
production welding,
a
sepa
rate
room or
enclosed
bay
is best.
In
open
areas,
sur
round the
operation
with
low-reflective,
non-combusti
ble
screens or
panels.
Allow for free air
circulation,
par
ticularly
at
floor level.
Viewing
the weld. Provide face shields for all
persons
who will be
looking directly
at
the weld.
Others
working
in
area.
See
that all
persons
are
wearing
flash
goggles.
Before
starting
to
weld,
make
sure
that
screen
flaps
or
bay
doors
are
closed.
B.
Toxic Fume PreventIon
Comply
with
precautions
in
1
-2B.
Generatorengine
exhaust
must
be vented
to
the outside
air. Carbon monoxide
can
kill.
C.
FIre
and
ExplosIon
Prevention
Comply
with
precautions
in
1
-2C.
Equipments
rated
capacity.
Do
not
overload
arc
weld
ing equipment.
It may
overheat cables and
cause a
fire.
Loose cable
connections may
overheat
or
flash and
cause a
lire.
Never strike
an arc on a
cylinder
or
other pressure
ves
sel. It
creates
a
brittle
area
that
can cause a
violent rup
ture
or
lead
to
such
a
rupture
under
rough handling.
D.
Compressed
Gas
EquIpment
Comply
with
precautions
in 1 -2D.
E.
Shock Prevention
Exposed
hot conductors
or
other bare metal in the weld
ing
circuit,
or
in
ungrounded, electrically-HOT equip
ment
can
fatally
shock
a
person whose
body
becomes
a
conductor. DO NOT
STAND, SIT, LIE,
LEAN
ON,
OR
TOUCH
a
wet
surface when
welding,
without suitable
protection.
To
protect
against
shock:
Wear
dry insulating gloves
and
body protection. Keep
body
and
clothing
dry.
Never work
in
damp
area
without
adequate
insulation
against
electrical shock.
Stay
on a
dry duckboard,
or
rubber
mat
when
dampness
or
sweat
can
not
be avoided.
Sweat,
sea
water,
or
moisture be
tween
body
and
an
electrically
HOT
part
or
grounded
metal reduces the electrical
resistance,
and could
en
able
dangerous
and
possibly
lethal
currents to
flow
through
the
body.
A
voltage
will
exist between the electrode and any
con
ducting object
in the work circuit.
Examples
of conduct
ing objects
include,
but
are
not
limited to,
buildings,
elec
trical
tools,
work
benches,
welding
power
source
cases,
workpieces,
etc. Never
touch the electrode and
any
metal
object
unless the
welding
power
source
Is
off.
1.
Grounding
the
Equipment
Arc
welding equipment
must
be
grounded according
to
the
National Electrical
Code,
and the work
must
be
grounded according
to
ANSI Z49.1
Safety
In
Welding
And
Cutting.
When
installing,
connect the frames of each unit such
as
welding
power
source,
control,
work
table,
and
water cir
culatorto
the
building ground.
Conductors
must
be ade
quate
to
carry
ground
currents
safely. Equipment
made
OM-296
Page
4
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