1.2 General Shop SafetyEvery professional welder should be familiar with the latest safety and health information. The most complete and influential safety document available today is entitled Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes (ANSI Z49.1). The American Welding Society (AWS) publishes this document, which outlines the procedures and practices that will keep you and others safe from the many potential dangers of welding, cutting, and related processes. This is an essential document for every welding shop. It contains everything you need to know to protect yourself and your coworkers from the hazards involved with welding and cutting.
Working and moving about in a welding shop or welding environment can present many dangers such as heat, sparks, arc rays, fumes, radiation, high voltage, hot metal, gas cylinders, moving vehicles, hazardous machinery, and moving overhead cranes and their loads. However, through training and the use of adequate safety equipment, all of these safety hazards can be controlled. To increase safety awareness, safety posters and charts should be posted throughout the shop. Time should be regularly allotted to studying and reviewing the safety guidelines listed on charts such as the one shown in Figure 1-1. |
Welders must also have working knowledge of safety instructions, labels, and material safety data sheets that correspond to equipment, tools, machinery, and materials used in the welding environment. Special attention should be given to following all guidelines provided by the manufacturers of the equipment in use. Today's welding industry requires that every worker must know and follow all written and verbal safety instructions.
Due to the various dangers existing in the welding shop, including heat, sparks, hot metal, fire, and hazardous materials, a standard piece of safety equipment is a safety shower. See Figure 1-2. (Be sure to consult the owner's manual as well as a first-aid manual for guidance on when to use water as a proper treatment for various burns.) If necessary, a welder can douse his or her entire body or only the face and eyes using a special sink designed to flush the eyes in an emergency.
See Figure 1-1. In addition to having a high level of safety awareness, every welder should possess a working knowledge of first-aid in order to be able to quickly respond and treat injuries that may occur in the welding shop.
Due to the various dangers existing in the welding shop, including heat, sparks, hot metal, fire, and hazardous materials, a standard piece of safety equipment is a safety shower. See Figure 1-2. (Be sure to consult the owner's manual as well as a first-aid manual for guidance on when to use water as a proper treatment for various burns.) If necessary, a welder can douse his or her entire body or only the face and eyes using a special sink designed to flush the eyes in an emergency.
See Figure 1-1. In addition to having a high level of safety awareness, every welder should possess a working knowledge of first-aid in order to be able to quickly respond and treat injuries that may occur in the welding shop.