Arc Welding Safety

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Arc Welding Safety

• Ag Mechanics

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Burns

• One of most common and painful injuries
• Caused by
• Ultraviolet light rays
• Contact with hot material
• Chance of infection high because of dead tissue
• Reduce chance by proper medical treatment

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Burns

• Degrees of severity
• First-degree burns
• Second-degree burns
• Third-degree burns

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Burns

• First-degree burn symptoms
• Surface of skin is reddish in color, tender, and
  painful
• Skin is unbroken

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First-Degree

• Treatment
• Put under cold (not icy) water OR
• Apply cold-water compresses (clean towel, or
  washcloth soaked in cold water)
• Cover area with sterile bandages or a clean cloth
• DO NOT apply butter or grease or any other home
  remedies or medications

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Burns

• Second-degree
• Surface of skin is severely damaged
• Formation of blisters
• Possible breaks

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Second-Degree

• Treatment
• Put under cold (not icy) water OR
• Apply cold-water compresses
• Gently pat dry with clean towel
• Cover with sterile bandage or clean cloth to
  prevent infection
• Seek medical attention

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Burns

• Third-degree burns
• Surface of skin and possibly tissue below skin
  appear white or charred
• Little pain may be present initially because
  nerve endings have been destroyed

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Third-degree

• Treatment
• Do not remove any clothes that are stuck to the
  burn
• Do not put ice water or ice on burns
• Do no apply ointments, sprays, antiseptics, or
  home remedies
• Cover area with thick, sterile, nonfluffy
  dressings
• Seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY

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Light Burns

• Caused by light
• Ultraviolet
• Not visible to unaided human eye
• Infrared
• Not visible to unaided human eye
• Visible
• During welding, one or more of the three types of
  light may be present

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Ultraviolet Lights

• Most dangerous
• Can cause first-degree and second-degree burns to
  a welders eyes or exposed skin
• So intense a welder can receive a flash burn to
  eyes within seconds and skin can be burned within
  minutes

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Infrared Lights

• Light wave felt as heat
• Can cause burns
• Will immediately feel this type of light
• Burns can be easily avoided

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Visible Light

• Light that we see
• Produced in varying quantities and colors during
  welding
• Too much may cause temporary night blindness
  (poor eyesight under low-light conditions)
• Too little visible light may cause eye strain,
  but not hazardous

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Fire Protection

• Fire extinguishers suitable for Class A, B, and C
• Fire Blanket
• First-Aid Kit
• All grease, oil, sawdust, paper, rags, and other
  flammable materials must be removed

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Eye protection

• Always at risk of getting particles in your eyes
  when welding, grinding, sanding, or wire brushing
• Adequate eye protection is critical
• Eye injuries should be considered serious
• Susceptible to infection

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Eye protection

• Goggles
• Wear safety glasses underneath
• Shade 5
• Use for
• plasma cutter
• Oxy-acetylene torch

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Eye Protection

• Face Shields
• Wear safety glasses underneath
• Also protect entire face from flying sparks

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Eye Protection

• Welding helmets
• Wear safety glasses underneath
• Shade 10 filter lens
• Reduces intensity of light waves given off by arc
• Also protects face and neck from hot welding
  sparks

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Flash Protection

• Any device that shields your eyes or exposed skin
  OR
• protects onlookers from light produced by a
  welding arc
• Curtains, screens, barriers, or other similar
  devices protect workers in welding area

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Welding Gloves

• Protects hands from damage caused by ultraviolet
  and infrared light waves, hot metal, and sparks
• Soft, all-leather with cloth insulated liner
• Some metal still too hot to handle even with
  gloves
• Use metal tongs or pliers

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Good Example
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Welding Fumes

• Welding fumes can be harmful to the welder
  causing implications such as
• Irritation of the respiratory tract
• Metal fume fever
• Slightly increase the risk of lung cancer
• For these reasons, one should take precaution
  with welding fumes

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Welding Fumes

• Welding should be done in a well ventilated area
• Should attempt to control fumes at the source
• Common ways
• Local exhaust ventilation