9.16 GMAW and FCAW Safety
The safety precautions for arc welding covered in Chapter 1 and in other chapters of this book also apply to GMAW and FCAW.
Adequate eye protection must always be worn. If welding for long periods, flash goggles with a #2 lens shade should be worn under the arc helmet. A #11 lens is recommended for nonferrous GMAW and a #12 for ferrous GMAW. Lens shades up to #14 may be worn as required for comfort. Figure 9-67 shows a welder with a proper auto-darkening helmet. All welding should be done in booths or in areas shielded by curtains. This is done to protect others in the weld area from arc flashes. |
Suitable dark clothing must be worn to protect all parts of the body from radiation and hot metal burns. Leather clothing offers the best protection from burns.
All welding should be done in well-ventilated areas. Ventilation and/or filtering equipment should be provided, as necessary, to keep the atmosphere around the welder clean. Carbon monoxide gas is generated when CO2 is used as a shielding gas for GMAW and FCAW. Ozone is also produced during GMAW and FCAW. Ozone is a highly toxic gas.
Welding should not be performed on any base metals with chemicals on the base metal. Even metals that had chemicals on them or in them must be cleaned per codes prior to welding. Many chemicals are hazardous. Many chemicals become hazardous when exposed to the heat of welding. Refer to Chapter 1 for information on safety in the welding environment.
Protect welding cables from damage. Do not touch energized parts of the welding gun with bare skin or wet gloves. A fatal shock could result. Do not weld in wet or damp areas.
Shielding gas cylinders must be handled with great caution. Refer to Chapters 1, 12, and 13 for a review of how to handle high-pressure cylinders. Chapters 12 and 13 should also be referred to for instructions about setting up regulators and other gas equipment.
All welding should be done in well-ventilated areas. Ventilation and/or filtering equipment should be provided, as necessary, to keep the atmosphere around the welder clean. Carbon monoxide gas is generated when CO2 is used as a shielding gas for GMAW and FCAW. Ozone is also produced during GMAW and FCAW. Ozone is a highly toxic gas.
Welding should not be performed on any base metals with chemicals on the base metal. Even metals that had chemicals on them or in them must be cleaned per codes prior to welding. Many chemicals are hazardous. Many chemicals become hazardous when exposed to the heat of welding. Refer to Chapter 1 for information on safety in the welding environment.
Protect welding cables from damage. Do not touch energized parts of the welding gun with bare skin or wet gloves. A fatal shock could result. Do not weld in wet or damp areas.
Shielding gas cylinders must be handled with great caution. Refer to Chapters 1, 12, and 13 for a review of how to handle high-pressure cylinders. Chapters 12 and 13 should also be referred to for instructions about setting up regulators and other gas equipment.