Safety precaution for welding and cutting

A PDF document on safety precautions to be taken on the welding shopfloor .

1. SAFETY PRECAUTION
FOR WELDING AND
CUTTING
ARCRAFT PLASMA EQUIPMENTS (INDIA) PVT.LTD.

2. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


1
SAFETY PRECAUTION
FOR WELDING AND
CUTTING

INTRODUCTION
 To prevent injury to personnel, extreme caution should be exercised
when using any types of welding equipment. Injury can result from
fire, explosions, electric shock, or harmful agents. Both the general
and specific safety precautions listed below must be strictly
observed by workers who weld or cut metals.
 The electric arc is a very powerful source of light, including visible,
ultraviolet, and infrared. Protective clothing and equipment must be
worn during all welding operations. During all oxyacetylene
welding and cutting process, operators must use safety goggles to
protect the eyes from heat, glare, and flying fragments of hot metals.
During all electric welding processes, operators must use safety
goggles and a hand shield or helmet equipped with a suitable filter

3. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


2
glass to protect against the intense ultraviolet and infrared rays.
When others are in the vicinity of the electric welding processes, the
area must be screened so the arc cannot be seen either directly or by
reflection from glass or metal.
 Where there is exposure to sharp or heavy falling objects or a hazard
of bumping in confined spaces, hard hats or head protectors must be
used
 For welding and cladding overhead or in confined spaces, steel-toed
boots and ear protection must also be used.
 When welding in any area, the operation should be adequately
screened to protect nearby workers or passers-by from the glare of
welding. The screens should be arranged so that no serious
restriction of ventilation exists. The screens should be mounted so
that they are about 2.0ft above the floor unless the work is performed
at such a low level that the screen must be extended closer to the
floor to protect adjacent workers. The height of the screen is
normally 6.0ft (1.8 m) but may be higher depending upon the
situation. Screen and surrounding areas must be painted with special
paints which absorb ultraviolet radiation yet do not create high
contrast between the bright and dark areas. Light pastel colors of a
zinc or titanium dioxide base paint are recommended. Black paint
should not be used

4. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


3
ELECTRIC SHOCK
Arc welding equipment’s operates at a voltage which is safe under normal
working conditions. But the shock hazard should not be ignored. It
increases in warm & damp conditions, because an electric arc welder has
to work with electric current which may pass through his body. The human
body resistance to current passage is not constant. The highest resistance
is offered by the skin. Wet skin conducts electric current better than dry
skin under normal condition.
Safety precautions:
 Check that equipment is correctly
earthed when installed & when in use.
 Make sure welding cables and
machines are capable of handling
maximum voltage & current as rated for the equipment & for the
desired applications.
 Check for damage to insulation on cables,
holders, guns and connectors. Please do not
operate the equipment without properly
insulating them.
 Ensure ARC welding machines are designed
as per applicable standards.
 Please operate equipment’s strictly as per printed instructions and
rules specified by respective original equipment manufacturers.

5. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


4
 Make sure all earthing connections are mechanically strong.
 Ensure all welding equipment’s are inspected once a week.
 Do not carry holder and earthing together when welding machine is
ON.
 Always wear rubber soled safety shoes.
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
The welding arc provides intense visible and invisible light (or radiation)
and heat. Eyes must be protected from ultraviolet and infrared radiation to
avoid “Arc Eyes” and “Arc Burns”. Light intensity of Welding arc is
10,000 times that of the safe unit for human body. A welding arc should
not be looked at with unprotected eyes. Failure to observe this rule may
result in various degrees of eye burn or Flashed eyes (Arc eyes). The
affected person has pronounced irritations in the eyes. The symptoms
remain for 1 to 2 days. Radiation effects are up to a distance of 15 meters.
Safety precautions:
 Do not look at welding arc with naked eyes
 Use Heat –Resisting Quality of Welding screen
 Use helmet or face shield fitted with the correct shade of filter glass
 Do not use cracked or defective helmets or shield
 If possible, coat individual welding booths with a mat & light
absorbent type of paint with a very low reflecting quality.

6. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


5
 Use safety clothing (safety shoes, leather hand gloves, leather apron,
leather leggings and leather cap) when welding.
 As a thumb rule, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld
zone. Then go to the lighter shade gives sufficient view of the weld
zone without going below the minimum.
 These values apply where the actual arc is to be seen. Lighter filter
shades may be used when arc is hidden by work piece & only
reflected light is seen.

7. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


6
Operation Arc Current
(A)
Minimum
Protective shade
No.
Suggested Shade
No.
Shield Metal Arc
Welding
Less than 60
60-160
160-250
250-550
7
8
10
11
10
10
12
14
Gas Metal Arc
Welding & Flux
Cored Arc
Welding
Less than 60
60-160
160-250
250-550
7
10
10
10
11
12
14
14
Gas Tungsten
Arc Welding
Less than 50
50-150
150-500
8
8
10
10
12
14
Air Carbon Less than 50 10 12
Air Cutting 500-1000 11 14
Plasma Arc
Welding
Less than 20
20-100
100-400
400-800
6
8
10
11
6-8
10
12
14
Plasma Arc
Welding
Less than 20
20-100
100-400
400-800
6
8
10
11
6-8
10
12
14
Plasma Arc
Cutting
Less than 300
300-400
400-800
8
9
10
9
12
14

8. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


7
FIRE & EXPLOSION
FIRE:
 When any material starts burning, we call it “FIRE”. Material
(FUEL), start burning on application of Heat in presence of AIR and
OXYGEN.
 Any fire requires three supports – fuel, oxygen and ignition. When
these three entities meet proportionately with each other, then a fire
breaks out.
 When an outbreak of fire is discovered, immediate corrective action
is essential to provide life and damage to property.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE:
 When material burns, it behaves in different manners, depending
upon its physical properties. Extinguishing methods depend on these
physical properties. Portable Extinguishers are in according with the
extinguishing method. The various classification of fires are.
 “Class A” Fire:
It involves ordinary combustibles (wood, cloth, paper, rubber and
some plastics).
 “Class B” Fire:
Such fire involve flammable/combustible liquids (kerosene, petrol,
spirit, thinner etc.).

9. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


8
 “Class C” Fire:
Involves substances in gaseous from like LPG, Acetylene, Halogen,
Hydrogen etc.
 “Class D” Fire:
Those involving combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium,
potassium etc.
EXPLOSION:
 It is very rapid process of combustion, accompanied by rapid
liberation of heat and formation of a very large volume of gaseous
products fire can be controlled by reducing Fuel or Heat or Air
Before extinguishing any fire, it is essential to know the
classification of fire.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
 While repairing tanks, vessels, drums or pipes by welding or gas
cutting, remove all traces of earlier stored material, to avoid
possibility of explosion.
 Remove all flammable materials from working areas.
 Avoid excessive release of fuel gas into the atmosphere.
 Ensure that appropriate firefighting equipment is available at hand
and that all concerned know how to use it.
 Have a bucket of water at the work station for cooling overheated
blow pipes.

10. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


9
 Where a “permitted to work” system is in operation, ensure that all
instruction are fully complied with.
 Do not use adaptors for hose connections.
 Check emergency escape route.
 Gas welding, brazing and cutting are familiar processes today in
every industry and as such, the equipment is designed and
manufactured, to be as safe as possible. However, there are a number
of aspects to safety and design and manufacture is only the first step.
SAFETY DEVICES FOR MINIMIZING RISK:
 Flash back arrestor
 Non return value
 Cut off value
 Relief value
PRECAUTIONS IN CASE OF FIRE:
Do’s
 Raise alarm ‘FIRE’ at peak of your voice, if you notice a fire within
your vicinity
 Approach the scene in quickest possible time
 Try to attract other’s attention on your way to the scene of fire

11. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


10
 Make sure no life is trapped
 Tell others the type of fire and which extinguisher to use
 Put off the supply in case of electrical fires
 Dial 101 & give exact location as needed
 Open all doors and windows after the fire is completely
extinguished, to avoid inhalation of fumes
Don’ts
 Don’t run in panic.
 Don’t take undue risk
 Don’t tamper with any machinery during firefighting. Leave it for
authorized handling
 Don’t argue on the scene of fire
 Don’t throw sand on machinery parts. Use CO2 or dry powder
instead
 Don’t flood the affected area with water
 Don’t crowd the scene of fire
 Don’t close the valve of a inflammable gas cylinder on fire

12. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


11
FUMES & GASES
Proper ventilation is must to maintain good health. It is true that when a
welder gets clean air to breathe, he can see better, work better, work longer,
quality of his work improves & productivity of people working nearby
increase in an improved environment. Most common toxic fumes are from
materials such as Zinc Oxide, Carbon Monoxide, Mercury, and Lead &
Cadmium.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
 Carry out all welding operations in safe, clean and dry location
 Under normal workshop conditions, use a local fume extractor
wherever possible and maintain its position close to the weld as
work progresses
 Check for possible toxic hazards from parent metal (Specially if
surface is painted, plated or chemically treated), or from welding
consumables
 Check for adequate ventilation and / or breathing apparatus when
welding in an enclose space
 Use a face respirator when toxic fumes are present

13. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


12
CYLINDER HANDELLING
Cylinders, if mishandled, can rupture and violently release gas. Sudden
rupture of cylinder, valve, or relief device can injure or kill. Use the proper
gas for the process and use the proper pressure reducing regulator designed
to operate from the compressed gas cylinder. Do not use adaptors.
Maintain hoses and fittings in good condition. Follow manufacture’s
operating instructions for mounting regulator to a compressed gas cylinder.
Locate cylinders away from heat, sparks, and flames. Never strike an arc
on a cylinder.
Do’s
 Always secure cylinders in an upright position
by chain or strap to suitable hand trucks, under
carriages, benches, wall, post, or racks
 When not in use, keep cylinder valves closed.
Have valve protection cap in place if regulator
is not connected. Secure and move cylinders by
using suitable hand trucks

14. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


13
Don’ts
 Never secure cylinders to work tables or fixtures where they may
become part of an electrical circuit
 Avoid rough handling of cylinder
 Do not keep cylinders close to heat, sparks and flames. Never an arc
on a cylinder
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
Faulty or improperly maintained equipment can cause injury or
death. Therefore the Safety Precautions are:
 Always have qualified personnel perform the installation,
troubleshooting, and maintenance work. Do not perform any
electrical work unless you are qualified to perform such work
 Before performing any maintenance work inside a power source,
disconnect the power source from the incoming electrical power
 Maintain cables, grounding wire, connections, power cord, and
power supply in safe working order. Do not operate any equipment
in faulty condition.

15. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


14
 Do not abuse any equipment or accessories. Keep equipment away
from heat sources such as furnaces, wet conditions such as water
puddles, oil or grease, corrosive atmospheres and inclement
weather.
HEAT
 Heat & Spatter are expelled during cutting and welding. The work
pieces will remain hot for some time after welding
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
 Wear correct protective clothing in good condition, free from grease
and oil
 Treat all metal connected with welding and cutting as HOT
 Mark work HOT when so (remove notice when cool)

“Wishing Safe & Healthy Welding & Cutting!”

16. SAFETY PRECAUTION FOR WELDING AND CUTTING


15















Arcraft Plasma Equipments (I) Pvt Ltd.,
124, Diamond Industrial Estate,
Ketkipada, Dahisar (East),
Mumbai- 400068.
INDIA.

Visit us : arcraftplasma.com
Email us : [email protected]
Contact us:
Ph -: 00-91-22-28965890, 28965745, 28963247
Fax-: 00-91-22-28966418