ESAB CIGWELD WeldSkill 205AC/DC Operating Manual page 11

WARNING
FUMES AND GASES can be hazardous to your
health.
Welding produces fumes and gases. Breathing
these fumes and gases can be hazardous to
your health.
1. Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breath
the fumes.
2. If inside, ventilate the area and/or use exhaust at
the arc to remove welding fumes and gases.
3. If ventilation is poor, use an approved air-sup-
plied respirator.
4. Read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
and the manufacturer's instruction for metals,
consumables, coatings, and cleaners.
5. Work in a confined space only if it is well
ventilated, or while wearing an air-supplied
respirator. Shielding gases used for welding can
displace air causing injury or death. Be sure the
breathing air is safe.
6. Do not weld in locations near degreasing, clean-
ing, or spraying operations. The heat and rays
of the arc can react with vapours to form highly
toxic and irritating gases.
7. Do not weld on coated metals, such as galva-
nized, lead, or cadmium plated steel, unless the
coating is removed from the weld area, the area
is well ventilated, and if necessary, while wear-
ing an air-supplied respirator. The coatings and
any metals containing these elements can give
off toxic fumes if welded.
WARNING
WELDING can cause fire or explosion.
Sparks and spatter fly off from the welding arc.
The flying sparks and hot metal, weld spatter,
hot workpiece, and hot equipment can cause
fires and burns. Accidental contact of electrode
or welding wire to metal objects can cause
sparks, overheating, or fire.
1. Protect yourself and others from flying sparks
and hot metal.
2. Do not weld where flying sparks can strike flam-
mable material.
3. Remove all flammables within 35 ft (10.7 m) of
the welding arc. If this is not possible, tightly
cover them with approved covers.
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4. Be alert that welding sparks and hot materials
from welding can easily go through small cracks
and openings to adjacent areas.
5. Watch for fire, and keep a fire extinguisher
nearby.
6. Be aware that welding on a ceiling, floor, bulk-
head, or partition can cause fire on the hidden
side.
7. Do not weld on closed containers such as tanks
or drums.
8. Connect work cable to the work as close to the
welding area as practical to prevent welding
current from travelling long, possibly unknown
paths and causing electric shock and fire haz-
ards.
9. Do not use welder to thaw frozen pipes.
10. Remove stick electrode from holder or cut off
welding wire at contact tip when not in use.
WARNING
FLYING SPARKS AND HOT METAL can cause
injury.
Chipping and grinding cause flying metal. As
welds cool, they can throw off slag.
1. Wear approved face shield or safety goggles.
Side shields recommended.
2. Wear proper body protection to protect skin.
WARNING
CYLINDERS can explode if damaged.
Shielding gas cylinders contain gas under high
pressure. If damaged, a cylinder can explode.
Since gas cylinders are normally part of the
welding process, be sure to treat them carefully.
1. Protect compressed gas cylinders from exces-
sive heat, mechanical shocks, and arcs.
2. Install and secure cylinders in an upright posi-
tion by chaining them to a stationary support
or equipment cylinder rack to prevent falling or
tipping.
3. Keep cylinders away from any welding or other
electrical circuits.
4. Never allow a welding electrode to touch any
cylinder.
5. Use only correct shielding gas cylinders,
regulators, hoses, and fittings designed for
the specific application; maintain them and
associated parts in good condition.
1-3 GENERAL INFORMATION