Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

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Welding, Cutting, and Brazing
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Welding safety program guidelines

• Determine who is accountable for enforcement of
  welding operations
• Hot work permitting system
• Perform a job hazard assessment of welding
  equipment

1a
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Welding safety program guidelines

• Special procedures for equipment used in welding
  process
• Care of cylinders
• Ventilation systems
• Fire prevention

1b
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Welding safety program guidelines

• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Personal protective equipment
• Equipment inspection and maintenance
• Incident investigation

1c
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Welding hazards

• Damage to eyes and skin
• Ultraviolet (UV) rays
• Infrared rays
• Purging and cleaning of closed containers prior
  to welding operations

2a
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Welding hazards

• Toxic gases, fumes, and dusts
• Fire hazards from welding and cutting operations

2b
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Welding hazards

• Metal splatter
• Electric shock
• Explosion hazards

2c
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General safe work practices

• Use a platform with toeboards when working from
  elevated surfaces
• Protect workers from stray sparks or slag in
  areas below elevated work surfaces

3a
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General safe work practices

• Warn others of hot metal by marking work areas
• Keep floor areas clear of electrodes and/or
  electrode stubs

3b
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General safe work practices

• Never use bare conductors, damaged regulators,
  torches, or electrode holders
• Never arc weld or resist weld while standing on
  damp surfaces

3c
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General safe work practices

• Keep fire extinguishers near areas where hot
  work is performed

3d
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Never accept compressed gas cylinders (CGCs) that
  were shipped in a horizontal position
• Store CGCs upright
• Keep CGCs secured with chains or cables

4a
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Group cylinders by type of gas
• Store full and empty cylinders apart
• Store gases so that old stock is removed and used
  first

4b
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Keep protective caps on stored CGCs
• Prevent the dropping or banging of CGCs
• Dont roll CGCs along the bottom rim

4c
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Dont lift CGCs by the cap unless using hand
  trucks designed for this purpose
• Prevent cylinders from falling, or from having
  objects fall on them

4d
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Ensure that valves, hoses, connectors, and
  regulators are in good condition

4e
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Never open valves until regulators are drained of
  gas and pressure adjusting devices are released
• When empty, close and return CGCs to the vendor

4f
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Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage

• Empty CGCs must be labeled MT or Empty
• Keep oil and grease away from oxygen CGCs,
  valves, and hoses

4g
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Fire watches for welding operations
5a
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Designate a fire watch whenever these conditions
exist

• Combustible material is within 35 feet of the
  point of operation
• Combustibles are more than 35 feet away, but are
  easily ignited by sparks

5b
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Designate a fire watch whenever these conditions
exist

• Wall or floor openings within a 35-foot radius
  expose combustible material in adjacent areas
• Combustible materials opposite of walls or
  ceilings can be ignited by conduction or radiation

5c
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Fire watchers will

• Have fire extinguishers readily available, and be
  trained in their use
• Be familiar with alarm systems and their
  operation in the event of a fire

5d
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Fire watchers will

• Watch for fires in all exposed areas
• Only try to extinguish fires obviously within the
  capacity of the equipment

5e
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Fire watchers will

• Stay in hot work areas for at least one half hour
  after hot work operations have ceased to detect
  and extinguish smoldering fires

5f
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Welding safety in confined spaces

• Before entry, test the work space for the
  following types of hazards
• Flammability
• Combustibility
• Toxic fumes
• Slippery floor surfaces

6a
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Welding safety in confined spaces

• When and where applicable, wear respiratory
  protection and a safety harness attached to a
  lifeline

6b
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When hot work in a confined space is interrupted

• Disconnect power to arc welding or cutting
  equipment
• Remove electrodes from holders
• Turn off torch valves

6c
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When hot work in a confined space is interrupted

• Turn off gas supply to gas welding and cutting
  units at a point outside the space
• Remove the torch and hose from the confined
  space, if possible

6d
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Make housekeeping a priority

• Keep welding areas free of combustibles
• Ensure proper storage of compressed gas cylinders

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Dont take shortcuts

• Getting the job done safely is the first
  consideration
• Always evaluate the job and implement appropriate
  safety precautions

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