Welding is a hard and dangerous job, and welding workers know this better than anyone. That is why safety requirements for welders are stringently established by OSHA and other regulatory organizations. OSHA welding guidelines encourage the use of personal protective equipment, industrial safety partitions, and other measures to ensure the safety of all workers on a job site. It can be hard to keep track of all of the essential protective measures if you are new to the construction industry or the use of arc welders. Let’s go through ten critical welding safety tips that anyone should know if they are interested in the work of welding.
1. Proper Training Requirements for Welders
Welding is dangerous work that legally can only be done by those with the correct training. Welding workers can hold certifications in several types of welding, from the specific kind of welder they use to the materials involved. There are even requirements for the physical positions from which they weld. For a starting source on welding certifications, look through the options available from the American Welding Society. They have courses available for every conceivable certification relevant to welding.
2. Hot Work Permits
Even when the worker is trained and certified, Hot Work Permits are one of the unavoidable requirements for welders to conduct their work. Hot work refers to work that uses spark or flame-producing technologies, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Strict fire prevention protocols accompany any approved hot work operations. Some states also have their own state-specific hot work requirements, so do your research before welding on the work site.
3. General Protection
Direct contact with electrical arcs and hot metal is disastrous for health. Welding workers must always wear a full suite of personal protective equipment that is tough, fire-resistant, and non-conductive. Inhalation of fumes is another common hazard in welding work. To avoid this, only weld when you have proper ventilation. Protecting others from the risks of welding is equally important to protecting oneself. This is why OSHA welding standards mandate the use of safety screens to avoid glare and noise from affecting passersby.
4. Ear Protection
Loud sounds and noises are an immense danger to welding workers. Even brief instances of loud noise without ear protection put workers at risk of irreparable hearing loss. The process of arc welding is very loud even before factoring in peripheral equipment like compressors, generators, and ventilation systems. Always wear over-the-ear protection to keep your hearing safe and use protective industrial noise control barriers. Short exposure and long-term exposure alike can cause damage to hearing later in life. For this reason, diligence is key to preserving your hearing health.
5. Eye Protection
The importance of eye protection is twofold in welding safety. Firstly, runoff slag, shards of metal, and sparks emanate from welded materials at high speeds. A heavy-duty face mask blocks these particles from striking the vulnerable parts of the face. Secondly, electrical arcs and plasma let off large quantities of UV radiation which can burn skin. Over time, this also causes inflammation in the form of conjunctivitis, sometimes called “arc eye.” To avoid this, choose a mask with a darkening lens that blocks UV rays.
6. Inspect Equipment
It is essential for welders to regularly inspect their equipment. Welding uses volatile forms of energy to function. If the arc welder, protective equipment, or surrounding tools malfunction, it risks the lives of all of the workers in the vicinity. OSHA welding standards exist to protect welding workers, but they are only effective if workers remain vigilant in following them.
7. Fire and Electrical Safety
OSHA welding safety also requires careful attention to potential fire hazards and electrical risks. Make sure equipment remains grounded, all tools are properly insulated, and there is easy access to fire extinguishers. Ventilation is also key on enclosed hot work sites with dust present in the air. Dust is highly flammable and can cause a chain reaction if ignited. Proper ventilation removes dust and airborne contaminants from your environment, greatly increasing its safety.
8. Materials Storage and Safety
Compressed gas cylinders must be kept in a dry, well-ventilated place where they are not at risk of rusting, being punctured, or coming into contact with high heat and combustion. One of the biggest dangers for welding workers is undetected gas leakage. Additionally, if they are available, inspect the material safety data sheets for your work to better understand the materials involved.
9. Know Your Emergency Procedures
This point may seem obvious, but knowing what to do in an emergency will keep you safe. Know where your fire exits are. If there are frequent minor injuries on your work site, learning the essentials of proper first aid for those injuries will reduce the risk of infection and improve workplace morale. Lastly, memorize the contact information for the local authorities so you will not waste time finding it in a crisis.
10. Regular Health Checkups
For all the benefits of a career in welding, it does have potential impacts on your long-term health and wellness. Accrued damage to the eyes, ears, respiratory tract, joints, and more builds up over time even if it doesn’t bother you in your day-to-day work. Sticking to a regular checkup schedule keeps these potential consequences under control. Your doctor will advise you on the best ways to maintain your health throughout your entire career.
Singer Safety Company – Proud Providers of Your Safety Essentials
Singer Safety Company has over 70 years of experience providing curtains, partitions, barriers, screens, and other solutions for industrial safety. We are proud innovators in the industrial safety field providing high-quality protection for welding workers and the workers around them. When it comes to welding safety, there is no substitute for the best. From our portable standing barriers to our roll-up safety screens, our transparent welding curtains to trifold screens, we have an option for every conceivable work environment and welding safety need. If you are looking for safety barriers for your welding work, browse our online offerings, then contact us for a quote or with any questions you may have.
