Welding Cutting and Brazing Welding safety program guidelines

Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

Welding safety program guidelines v Determine who is accountable for enforcement of welding operations v Hot work permitting system v Perform a job hazard assessment of welding equipment 1 a

Welding safety program guidelines v Special procedures for equipment used in welding process • Care of cylinders • Ventilation systems • Fire prevention 1 b

Welding safety program guidelines v Engineering controls v Administrative controls v Personal protective equipment v Equipment inspection and maintenance v Incident investigation 1 c

Welding hazards v Damage to eyes and skin • Ultraviolet (UV) rays • Infrared rays v Purging and cleaning of closed containers prior to welding operations 2 a

Welding hazards v Toxic gases, fumes, and dusts v Fire hazards from welding and cutting operations 2 b

Welding hazards v Metal splatter v Electric shock v Explosion hazards 2 c

General safe work practices v Use a platform with toeboards when working from elevated surfaces v Protect workers from stray sparks or slag in areas below elevated work surfaces 3 a

General safe work practices v Warn others of hot metal by marking work areas v Keep floor areas clear of electrodes and/or electrode stubs 3 b

General safe work practices v Never use bare conductors, damaged regulators, torches, or electrode holders v Never arc weld or resist weld while standing on damp surfaces 3 c

General safe work practices v Keep fire extinguishers near areas where hot work is performed 3 d

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Never accept compressed gas cylinders (CGCs) that were shipped in a horizontal position v Store CGCs upright v Keep CGCs secured with chains or cables 4 a

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Group v Store apart cylinders by type of gas full and empty cylinders v Store gases so that old stock is removed and used first 4 b

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Keep CGCs protective caps on stored v Prevent of CGCs the dropping or banging v Don’t roll CGCs along the bottom rim 4 c

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Don’t lift CGCs by the cap unless using hand trucks designed for this purpose v Prevent cylinders from falling, or from having objects fall on them 4 d

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Ensure that valves, hoses, connectors, and regulators are in good condition 4 e

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Never open valves until regulators are drained of gas and pressure adjusting devices are released v When empty, close and return CGCs to the vendor 4 f

Compressed gas cylinder handling and storage v Empty CGCs must be labeled “MT” or “Empty” v Keep oil and grease away from oxygen CGCs, valves, and hoses 4 g

Fire watches for welding operations 5 a

Designate a fire watch whenever these conditions exist v Combustible material is within 35 feet of the point of operation v Combustibles are more than 35 feet away, but are easily ignited by sparks 5 b

Designate a fire watch whenever these conditions exist v Wall or floor openings within a 35 -foot radius expose combustible material in adjacent areas v Combustible materials opposite of walls or ceilings can be ignited by conduction or radiation 5 c

Fire watchers will: v Have fire extinguishers readily available, and be trained in their use v Be familiar with alarm systems and their operation in the event of a fire 5 d

Fire watchers will: v Watch areas for fires in all exposed v Only try to extinguish fires obviously within the capacity of the equipment 5 e

Fire watchers will: v Stay in hot work areas for at least one half hour after hot work operations have ceased to detect and extinguish smoldering fires 5 f

Welding safety in confined spaces v Before entry, test the work space for the following types of hazards: • Flammability • Combustibility • Toxic fumes • Slippery floor surfaces 6 a

Welding safety in confined spaces v When and where applicable, wear respiratory protection and a safety harness attached to a lifeline 6 b

When hot work in a confined space is interrupted v Disconnect power to arc welding or cutting equipment v Remove v Turn electrodes from holders off torch valves 6 c

When hot work in a confined space is interrupted v Turn off gas supply to gas welding and cutting units at a point outside the space v Remove the torch and hose from the confined space, if possible 6 d

Make housekeeping a priority v Keep welding areas free of combustibles v Ensure proper storage of compressed gas cylinders 7

Don’t take shortcuts v Getting the job done safely is the first consideration v Always evaluate the job and implement appropriate safety precautions 8