Welding Safely - Some Guidelines

Safety when welding is critical and that you never take chances your own safety or that of people around you. You must be familiar with all the safety rules that follow before you begin to weld and keep them in mind all the time to keep everyone safe. In excess of 1,000 eye injuries take place every day in the US as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Most of these accidents are suffered by mechanics but you must wear eye protection at all times both when welding and when doing other jobs in the workshop.

Guidelines for Welding Safely

1. Take care that you have adequate grounding by making use of metal connections without a coating of paint or other types of material. Don’t use chains or wire ropes or other deficient connections for grounding.

2. Make sure you place the welder on an even surface far away from any sources of inflammable materials, gasoline, paper etc and never operate when conditions are wet which increases the risks of electric shock.

3. Gas cylinders need to be securely attached to supports or carts by metal chains and always secure protective caps properly before moving. Only use hoses that have been specially made for use in welding.

4. All hoses should be looked at for leaks on a regular basis by dripping on soapy water. Bubbling will alert you to gas leaks. Swap any worn looking hoses before they start to leak and never just patch them up with duct tape! Also look for any loose fittings and tighten them.

5. Keep your work area clear of rags, tools, paper etc. Put tools away in containers and drawers. Do not let hoses and cables trail on the ground where anyone can trip over them. Coil them up and store them away, which prevents injuries and damage from tangles and kinks.

6. Make sure you have available the right equipment for different jobs and always use them! Even if you are wearing welding gloves don’t try to pick up hot metal, use pliers instead and use the correct equipment for jobs like brushing off slag, sanding etc.

7. You should always be wearing high impact glasses when grinding or cutting and make sure you put them on when you enter the workshop. Wear them until you leave, do not take them off or you will forget to put them back on one day and that’s when an accident will happen!

8. Adequate ventilation in your workshop is essential. In a sizable workshop you will require a fan to remove the welding fumes however for a small workshop you may get adequate ventilation by leaving open windows and doors.

9. Face and eye protection is essential. Radiation from the arc may cause lasting eye and skin damage. Always wear safety glasses while in the workshop and underneath your helmet when welding. Make sure that auto darkening helmets are in compliance with standards set out by the National Standards Institute. While wearing an auto darkening helmet it is easy to move around work without flipping open your helmet.

10. Make certain all of safety gear conforms to the guidelines of the OHSA and wear it at all times. It You won’t be protected while it is sitting on the bench! Skin must always be covered by flame resistant clothing to prevent spatter and spark injuries and make sure cuffs and pockets are buttoned down. It is essential to wear leather shoes to give proper foot protection. Do not wear trainers or tennis shoes or plastic shoes which melt when heated and will stick to your skin. At all times wear heavy gloves specifically designed for welding.

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