How to Weld Safely

It is, of course, critical that you are safe when welding and that you never compromise your safety or that of other people. You must be aware of all of the safety rules that follow before starting welding and keep them in mind all the time in order to make sure everyone is safe. In excess of one thousand eye injuries happen every day in the US according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The majority of these injuries happen to mechanics and you should always wear good eye protection when welding and when doing other jobs around your workshop.

Guidelines for Welding Safely

1. Ensure you have sufficient grounding by attaching metal connections that are not covered with paint or other materials. Never use wire ropes or chains or other inadequate grounding connections.

2. Make sure you place the welder on an even surface far away from any inflammable materials, paper, gasoline etc and do not use in wet conditions which will increase the chances 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 you move them. Hoses used should be specially made for welding use.

4. Hoses must be looked at for leaks regularly by applying soapy water. Bubbling will alert you to gas leaks. Replace any worn looking hoses before they start to leak and never use duct tape to patch them! Also check out loose connections and tighten if necessary.

5. Clear the area of paper, tools 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 and keep them out of the way. This also prevents damage from kinks and tangles.

6. Make sure you have the right equipment for various tasks and use them! Even though you are wearing heavy gloves don't pick up hot metal but always use pliers and always use the proper tools for tasks such as brushing off slag, sanding etc.

7. You should always be wearing high impact glasses when you are grinding or cutting and put them on as soon as you enter the workshop. Wear them at all times until you leave, be careful not to keep taking them off as you will forget you are not earing them and that's when an injury will happen!

8. It is essential that there is good ventilation. For a larger workshop you need a small fan for extracting the fumes from welding but for a smaller workshop you may get adequate ventilation by leaving open windows and doors.

9. Face and eye protection is essential. The arc releases radiation which can cause permanent damage to eyes and skin. Safety glasses should be worn at all times in the workshop and under your helmet when welding. Make sure that auto darkening helmets are up to the National Standards Institute guidelines. When wearing auto darkening helmets it is easy to reposition pieces without having to flip up the helmet repeatedly.

10. Take care all of your safety gear conforms to the OHSA guidelines and make sure you always wear it. It You won't be protected if it's sitting on the bench! Skin must always be covered by flame resistant clothing to prevent spatter or spark injuries and pockets and cuffs must be buttoned down properly. It is essential to wear leather shoes to give adequate foot protection. Do not wear trainers or tennis shoes and certainly not plastic shoes which can melt and will stick to skin. It is important to always wear heavy, specially designed gloves for welding.

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