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SAFETY
WELDING SPARKS can
cause fire or explosion.
4.a. Remove fire hazards from the welding
area. If this is not possible, cover them
to prevent the welding sparks from
starting a fire. Remember that welding
sparks and hot materials from welding
can easily go through small cracks and
openings to adjacent areas. Avoid
welding near hydraulic lines. Have a
fire extinguisher readily available.
4.b. Where compressed gases are to be used at the job
site, special precautions should be used to prevent
hazardous situations. Refer to "Safety in Welding and
Cutting" (ANSI Standard Z49.1) and the operating
information for the equipment being used.
4.c. When not welding, make certain no part of the elec-
trode circuit is touching the work or ground. Accidental
contact can cause overheating and create a fire haz-
ard.
4.d. Do not heat, cut or weld tanks, drums or containers
until the proper steps have been taken to insure that
such procedures will not cause flammable or toxic
vapors from substances inside. They can cause an
explosion even though they have been "cleaned". For
information, purchase "Recommended Safe Practices
for the Preparation for Welding and Cutting of
Containers and Piping That Have Held Hazardous
Substances", AWS F4.1 from the American Welding
Society (see address above).
4.e. Vent hollow castings or containers before heating,
cutting or welding. They may explode.
4.f. Sparks and spatter are thrown from the welding arc.
Wear oil free protective garments such as leather
gloves, heavy shirt, cuffless trousers, high shoes and
a cap over your hair. Wear ear plugs when welding
out of position or in confined places. Always wear
safety glasses with side shields when in a welding
area.
4.g. Connect the work cable to the work as close to the
welding area as practical. Work cables connected to
the building framework or other locations away from
the welding area increase the possibility of the weld-
ing current passing through lifting chains, crane
cables or other alternate circuits. This can create fire
hazards or overheat lifting chains or cables until they
fail.
4.h. Read and follow NFPA 51B " Standard for Fire
Prevention During Welding, Cutting and Other Hot
Work", available from NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park,PO
box 9101, Quincy, Ma 022690-9101.
4.i. Do not use a welding power source for pipe thawing.
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