Welding, Cutting, and Brazing
Safety
Welding and Cutting
Objectives
Describe welding safety requirements for:
Eye protection
Protective clothing
Fire Prevention Requirements
Ventilation Safety Requirements
Electrical Hazard Prevention Requirements
Hazard Statistics
An estimated 562,000 employees are at risk for
exposure to chemical and physical hazards of
welding, cutting and brazing.
For the construction industry, welders flash (burn
to the eyes) accounts for 5.6% of all construction
eye injuries (2).
Hazard Statistics
Fifty-eight deaths from welding and cutting
incidents, including explosions, electrocutions,
asphyxiation, falls and crushing injuries were
reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics every
year.
Health Hazards
There are numerous health hazards
associated with exposure to fumes, gases
and ionizing radiation formed or released
during welding, cutting and brazing,
including:
Heavy metal poisoning,
Lung cancer,
Metal fume fever,
Flash burns, and others.
Health Hazards
FUMES MAY PRODUCE
METAL FUME FEVER
SYMPTOMS:
Respiratory disturbances
Infection - Influenza
Fever - Acute Bronchitis
Pneumonia - Chills, Shivering,
Trembling, Nausea, Vomiting
Welding and Cutting General
Requirements
Welders, cutters, and their supervisors
shall be trained in the safe operation of
the equipment, safe welding/cutting
practices, and welding/cutting
respiratory and fire protection.
10.A.01
Shielding
Workers, watchers,
and the public shall
be shielded from
welding rays,
flashes, sparks,
molten metal, and
slag.
10.A.04
Shielding
Is this an
acceptable welding
screen to protect
workers, watchers
and the public?
Use Protective Clothing and
Equipment
Welders should consider using
appropriate protective clothing which
should include:
Shield or helmet with a filtered lens;
Fire resistant gloves; a leather apron;
Boots;
Leather spats;
Felt skull-cap or beret and preferably
overalls.
Volatile combination of heat
and gas
Fatalities have resulted where drums and other
containers have exploded as a result of some
welding or cutting work.
The nature of the previous contents should be
established to ensure that any heating does
not liberate toxic fumes or
cause an explosion.
Flameproof Skullcap
Eye Safety Shield Helmet with Filter Lens
No Pockets
Collar Buttoned
Full Sleeves Fire Protection
Gauntlet Gloves
Leather Apron or
Shirt Outside Trousers
Clean Fire Resistant
No Cuffs Clothing
Safety Shoes
Welding and Cutting PPE
Protective Eye Equipment
Worn during all welding
operations
Safety glasses and a head
shield
Helmet equipped with a
suitable filter glass to protect
against the intense ultraviolet
and infrared rays.
Arc-Welding
• Non-combustible welding
screen to protect others
in the vicinity of the
welding
Welding and Cutting PPE
Welder
wearing
eye shield
without a
hard hat.
Non-
compliant
Welding and Cutting PPE
Protective Clothing
Woolen instead of cotton
Free from oil
Sleeve and collars buttoned
No cuffs on trousers
Capes or shoulder covers
made of leather or other
suitable materials
Flame-proof gloves
Welding in Confined Spaces
Local mechanical exhaust ventilation or
personal respiratory protection shall be
used when performing welding, cutting or
heating operations in a confined space.
10.B.05.a
Fire Protection
Before welding or
cutting operations,
survey area for:
Combustible
Materials
Potential Explosive
Atmospheres
Oxygen Enriched
Atmospheres
10.C.02
Ventilation & Protection
General ventilation to maintain welding smoke
and fumes within safe limits
When welding in confined spaces mechanical
ventilation or local exhaust
If ventilation blocks access/egress to confined
space, air line and attendant required
Fire Protection
When welding near
walls, partitions,
ceilings or roofs of
combustible
construction fire
resistant guards shall
be provided.
10.C.08
Fire Protection
Before welding on drums or hollow structures which
have contained toxic or flammable materials either:
Completely fill with water before proceeding, or
Thoroughly clean, ventilate, and TEST!
Before applying heat to any container
drum, or hollow structure a vent or
opening must be provided
10.C.11
Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders
Cylinders in storage shall be
separated from flammable or
combustible liquids and from
easily ignitable materials
(wood, paper, packaging
materials, oil, and grease) at
least 40 ft or by a fire
resistive partition having at
least 1 hr rating. 20.D.03.c
Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders
Separation of 20 feet for storage of
oxygen/fuel cylinders
20.D.03.d
Never take OXYGEN or ACETELYNE
cylinders into
confined spaces!
Safe g
din
Wel
20.D.06
Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders
When work is
finished, when
cylinders are empty,
or when cylinders
are moved at any
time, the cylinder
valve shall be
closed.
20.D.07.a
Compressed gas cylinders
All compressed gas
cylinders in service
shall be secured in
substantial fixed or
portable racks or
hand trucks.
20.D.08
Transporting, Moving &
Storing Gas Cylinders
Cylinders secured in
upright position at all
times
Except for hoisting or
carrying
20.D.10
Hoses
Welding Hose
Not more than four of every twelve inches covered with
tape for fuel and oxygen hoses taped together
Fuel hose inspected prior to each shift
Defective hose removed from service
Torches
Clogged tips cleaned
with suitable devices
Torches inspected prior
to each shift
Torches lit by strikers or
other approved methods
No matches!
Not off of hot work!
10.D.04
Arc Welding
Manual electrode holders must be designed for
that purpose and capable of carrying the
maximum rated electrode current
Only fully insulated holders to contact hands
10.E.02
Arc Welding
Arc welding cables completely insulated and
flexible type
Free of splice minimum ten feet from electrode
cable end
Cables in need of repair not allowed
10.E.03
Arc Welding
Ground return cables must have sufficient
current carrying capacity for maximum voltage
No grounding on pipelines containing gasses or
flammable liquid
Arc Welding
Always shield operations with flameproof
screens to protect employees eyes
10.E.12
Welding and Cutting
In summary
Wear eye protection
Wear protective clothing
Fire Protection Controls
Provide ventilation in confined or
enclosed spaces
Protect workers, watchers, and public
from the electrical hazards of arc-
welding
