1. Chapter 2
Welding Safety
SMAW

2. Construction, Transportation, Manufacturing, Natural Resources
Welding Industry
Construction, Transportation, Manufacturing, Natural Resources
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

3. In electric arc welding, name four elements for which a welder operator requires protective clothing and equipment.
1) SPARKS
2) HEAT
3) LIGHT
4) FUMES
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

4. Examples of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used in welding.
GOGGLES, HELMET, SAFTEY GLASSES, EAR PLUGS
FLAME RETARDANT CLOTHING
GLOVES
SAFETY FOOTWARE
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

5. A welding arc gives off these 3 types of radiation:
Bright visible light
Non-visible infra-red radiation
Non-visible ultra-violet radiation
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

6. What causes eye flash?
Looking at an unscreened arc without proper eye protection
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

7. Describe the effects of eye flash.
A BURNING SENSATION AND AN IRRITAION SIMILAR TO THAT CAUSED BY SAND IN THE EYES
A SUNBURN TO THE CORNEA LAYER ON YOUR EYE
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

8. Conestoga College Recommended
Lens Shades
Page 154
Lowest Shade Number
Comfort Shade Number
Conestoga College Recommended
Under 60 7 - 8 10 12
Above 250 11 14
13 -14
Welding lens shade is selected based on welding amperage – WHY?
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

9. What hazards are associated with slag?
1) WHEN FIRST DEPOSITED IT IS VERY HOT
2) WHEN COOL IT BECOMES SOLID AND HARD
CARE MUST BE TAKEN WHEN CHIPPING OFF THE SLAG
MAKE SURE THE SLAG DOES NOT STRIKE YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE
Arc Welding Safety – Unit #8

10. Burns Classifications First-degree burns Second-degree burns
Skin surface is reddish, tender, and painful
Do not involve broken skin
Immediate treatment: cold water or compress
Second-degree burns
Skin is severely damaged
Result in blisters and possibly breaks
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

11. Burns
FIGURE 2-1 First-degree burn—only the skin surface (epidermis) is affected.
© Cengage Learning 2012
FIGURE 2-2 Second-degree burn—the epidermal layer is damaged, forming blisters or shallow breaks.
© Cengage Learning 2012
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

12. Classifications (CONT’D.) Third-degree burns
Skin surface appears white or charred
Immediate treatment: cold cloth or cool water on burns of the face, hands, or feet and cover
Burns caused by light
Types of light: ultraviolet, infrared, and visible
Ultraviolet light waves: most dangerous
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

13. Burns
FIGURE 2-3 Third-degree burn—the epidermis, dermis, and the subcutaneous layers of tissue are destroyed.
© Cengage Learning 2012
FIGURE 2-4 Portable welding curtains.
Frommelt Safety Products
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

14. General Work Clothing Should minimize burn chances Guidelines
Wool is the best choice
All-cotton is a good second choice
Stay away from synthetic material – burn/melt stick
Guidelines
Shirts: long-sleeved, collared, long enough to tuck in, and flapped pockets
Pants: cover top of boots and without cuffs
Boots: high tops and steel toes
Caps: thick
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

15. Special Protective Clothing
Includes:
Hand protection: all-leather, gauntlet-type gloves
Body protection: full leather jackets and capes
Waist and lap protection: bib or full aprons
Arm protection: full- or half-sleeves
Leg and foot protection: leather pants or leather aprons with leggings
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

16. SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

17. Respiratory Protection
Equipment should be certified by NIOSH, CSA (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Canadian Standards Association etc)
Air-purifying respirators
Atmosphere-supplying respirators
Demand respirators
Positive pressure respirators
Powered air-purifying respirators
Self-contained breathing apparatuses
Supplied-air respirators
Filtering face piece
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

18. Respiratory Protection
FIGURE 2-14 Typical respirator for contaminated environments. The filters can be selected for specific types of contaminant.
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

19. Ventilation Actual welding area Forced ventilation
Should be outside or well-ventilated
Natural ventilation is the best
Forced ventilation may be required
Forced ventilation
Required in small shops or shops with a large number of welders
May be general or localized
Using fixed or flexible exhaust pickups
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

20. SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

21. Electrical Safety Electric shock Can cause injuries and even death
Proper precautions must be taken
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

22. What are the four rules to help prevent electric shock?
1) TURN OFF MACHINES WHEN NOT IN USE
2) WEAR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING EQUIPMENT
3) KEEP EQUIPMENT DRY
4) BEWARE OF DAMPNESS OF ANY KIND
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

23. Ear Protection Ear protection Earplugs
Disposable ear plugs available in shop to all students
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

24. General Safety & House Keeping
Lighters
State of Equipment
Handling Material
Work Area Tidiness
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

25. What safety precautions must be taken with regards to matches or fuel lighters?
DO NOT CARRY MATCHES OR LIQUID FUEL LIGHTERS IN YOUR POCKET
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

26. What action should be taken when welding and cutting equipment appears to be defective?
REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

27. How does one test for heat radiation of a piece of metal?
BY HOLDING THE PALM OF THE HAND, ABOVE THE PIECE OF METAL
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

28. Waste Material Disposal
Welding shops generate waste materials
Mostly scrap metal
All scrap metal can be easily recycled
Good for the environment
Source of revenue
Hazardous waste disposal
Consult local, provincial, and federal regulations
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

29. When should an electrode stub be discarded?
AT APPROXIAMETELY 50 MM (2 INCHES)
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

30. Work Area Should be kept picked up and swept clean
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

31. Fire Protection Fire: constant danger to the welder Fire watch
Provided by anyone who knows how to sound the alarm and use a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguishers
Type A, B, C, and D (type C best for weld shop)
Should be located near materials
Work by breaking the fire triangle of heat, fuel, and oxygen
End Chapter # 1
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

32. Points to Remember
Welding fumes should be ventilated away from the person welding, not across the welder's face.
Avoid arc flash; Report all eye flashes
Electrode stubs and slag are sources of danger
Welding fumes are harmful.
Work in well-ventilated areas to prevent suffocation or fume sickness.
Never wear synthetic fibre clothing or weld with flammables in your pocket.
Synthetic fibres’ are highly flammable. If ignited by a welding spark, flammable (i.e. matches, butane lighters, fuel sticks, etc.) could cause serious burns.
Avoid electrical shock.
Make certain that the electrode holder and all electrical connections and cables are properly insulated.
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

33. Points to Remember cont’d.
Check to see that the welder is properly grounded.
Never weld in damp locations because of the shock hazard.
Gloves help to insulate against possible shock.
Keep the cables from coming in contact with hot metal and sharp edges.
Do not drive over cables.
When welding, avoid wrapping electrode cables around your body.
To reduce fatigue, use both hands for welding.
Handle hot metal with pliers or tongs.
Submerge hot metal completely in water to prevent steam burns.
Do not allow electrode to stick.
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2

34. Points to Remember cont’d.
If the electrode sticks, cut off the switch, allow electrode to cool, and then break it loose with your gloved hand.
Never allow the hot electrode or electrode holder to touch bare skin.
Avoid letting the electrode touch the grounded cable.
Remove hot metal from the work area when you are finished welding to prevent burns to others.
Use a welding table to hold welds securely in place.
Clamps and vices can be used to hold odd-shaped work or field work.
Securing work will also prevent injury from accidental dropping of metal on your feet or body
SMAW Safety In Welding – Chapter #2