9 Welding Safety Practices You Should Never Ignore

Welding is an activity that can turn very dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. If you’re in the welding industry, here are nine safety tips you must follow every time!

Hot Work Permit

The permit provides detailed guidance for hot firework safety so that individuals involved in welding are aware of the hazards associated with this activity.

It ensures that people involved in welding carry out necessary precautions before, during, and after the hot work activities.

Fire Resistant Clothing

It’s recommended to wear chemically-treated cotton. This specific clothing will help protect workers from fire and burns. In addition, it prevents workers’ clothing from getting ignited, even if they accidentally catch fire. As a result, the workers can work without having to worry about heat stress.

Protective Helmet

The headgear is necessary to protect the eyes, face, and neck from dangerous UV rays and sparks. However, the activity has an external cost involved. It can also affect the people in the vicinity of welding; hence the protective gear should be worn not only by the welders but also by people nearby.

Welding Gloves

Cutting, soldering, grazing, and other spark-producing operations require wearing flame-resistant and insulated gloves.

 

Welding is hot work, and the gloves and boots protect the person from the heat of the welding process. In addition, the leather gloves give enhanced resistance and grip to the welders.

Welding Boots

The workers could be working with open flames or live current. There is also a fear of burns, slips, and falls. Additionally, sharp and dangerous objects can penetrate the shoes, so the welding boots protect workers from electric shocks, burns, and challenging things. Hence, the welding boots must be flame-resistant, slip-resistant, and sturdy.

Hearing Protection

Prolonged exposure can lead to hearing loss; hence, custom-molded earplugs or fire-resistant foam can help prevent a painful and life-long injury. This type of protection is also needed in the activity which precedes welding, that is, grinding.

Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)

There are a lot of hazardous and toxic gases in the air, which increase the risk of workers having pneumonia, asthma, throat and lung irritation, and other harmful diseases. RPE protects people from these life-threatening diseases by protecting the wearer against inhalation of hazardous substances present in the workplace air.

Proper Fire Watch

Maintaining a proper fire watch is essential. The fire watch should be in place for at least half-hour after welding has ceased so that any smoldering fires are detected and extinguished. In addition, the fire watchers ensure that firefighters are brought in on time should any accidents occur.

Adequate Ventilation

Airflow is needed to ensure that workers are not over-exposed to hazardous gases, especially when welding in closed spaces such as a machine shop. In addition, ventilation provides that there is no oxygen deficiency or accumulation of toxic materials.

Terrace Steel Works

If you’re not a welding expert, you shouldn’t try it yourself and let professionals handle the job. At Terrace Steel Works, we provide portable welding services – so give us a call today!

 

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