Welding is a popular welding process that joins two pieces of metal together. It is a fabrication process that uses heat to melt and join metals together. Welders must take some precautions to stay safe while welding. So, here are some welding dos and don’ts.
1. Try To Use Full Penetration Welding
There are two primary types of welding; gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding. Gas metal arc welding uses an electric arc to strike the metals together. This creates a molten metal that joins the pieces. It is best to use full penetration welds in this type of process because they create stronger connections than partial penetrations. Full penetration welds also reduce spatter, which is small bits of molten metal that form when you are welding. Full penetration welds usually require less filler material than partial penetrations. Using a full penetration weld helps to avoid the risk of creating a cold lap joint. This will create a weak point in the weld.
2. Use Welding Shields To Protect Your Eyes And Skin
When manipulating strong metals like tungsten, welders must keep their safety at utmost priority. Therefore, they should always use welding shields to protect their eyes and skin from the harmful UV and IR radiation that is produced by the welding arc. The radiation can cause eye damage and skin cancer. It is also important to wear a welding helmet with a good shield to protect your eyes. The shield should be made of light-blocking materials so that you are not exposed to radiation. You should also wear flame-resistant clothing and gloves when welding. It is critical because the welding process can produce extremely hot sparks and spatter. You have to be careful not to get these sparks and spatter on your skin because they can cause severe burns.
3. Make Sure That Your Welding Area Is Clear Of Obstructions
It is significant to make sure that your welding area is clear of obstructions before you start welding. You don’t want anything to get in the way of the weld puddle. The puddle should be able to travel in a straight line. If it is blocked, you won’t get the cleanest weld. You also don’t want anything laying on or near your welding area because it could catch fire or melt when you are welding. Make sure that there aren’t any chemical containers near your workstation. The chemicals inside them can explode when exposed to heat during welding. The sound of the explosion can damage your hearing and mask important noises around you.
4. Always Wear Safety Goggles And Proper Clothing
Welding will create sparks that are very hot and molten metal particles that are ejected from the surface of the metals being welded together. These sparks are extremely hot and can cause severe burns. The hot molten metal particles can also cause skin damage. Even the UV and IR radiation created during welding can cause skin cancer. It is essential to wear proper welding goggles and clothing when you are welding to protect your eyes and skin from all of these hazards. Goggles with a dark shade of 16 or higher will block most of the harmful UV light produced by the welding arc. These goggles may also have side shields that prevent stray sparks from hitting your face and eyes.
5. Avoid Contact With Aluminum When Welding
You should avoid contact with aluminum when you are welding because it could produce dangerous gasses that could kill you if they were inhaled in large quantities, such as aluminum fume fever, hydrogen sulfide, and phosphine. These gasses can cause serious health problems, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. They can also cause long-term health issues, such as cancer and respiratory issues. You should always read the Material Safety Data Sheet for the aluminum that you are welding to find out more about the dangers of exposure to these gasses. It is also a good idea to have a gas mask available in case of an emergency.
6. Make Sure That Your Welding Equipment Is In Good Condition
Before you start welding, you should make sure that your welding equipment is in good condition. You don’t want to start welding and then have to stop because your equipment isn’t working properly. Make sure that the electrodes are in good condition and that the cables are not damaged. The cables should be clean and free of oil, grease, and dirt. You should also check the polarity of the electrode to make sure that it is set up correctly. If you are not sure how to do any of these things, you should ask a qualified welder to help you.
7. Don’t Weld In A Confined Space
Welding can produce dangerous fumes and gasses that can cause health problems if they are inhaled. It is important to avoid welding in a confined space because it could cause these fumes and gasses to build up and make breathing difficult. Some of the most dangerous weld fume combinations include: Fumes can also condense in confined spaces and fall back down as welding continues. This can produce a double whammy because you will be inhaling any fumes that were released when you started welding, along with the ones that formed from the fuming process. Welding in a confined space like this is very dangerous because it could lead to serious health issues such as carbon monoxide poisoning or suffocation.
8. Never Leave A Hot Torch Unattended
Never leave a hot torch unattended. If you have to walk away from your workstation, turn off the torch. A hot torch can easily start a fire if it is left unattended. You should also make sure that the area around your workstation is clear of flammable materials, such as newspapers, rags, and aerosol cans. These materials can easily catch on fire when exposed to a hot torch. Also, children and pets should be kept away from your workstation when you are welding. The sparks that are created by welding can cause severe burns, and the molten metal particles can cause serious skin damage.
Welding is a very dangerous activity if it is not done properly. By following these safety tips, you can help to avoid some of the most common hazards associated with welding. This will make sure that you stay safe and healthy when working with welding equipment.
