Hobart Welding Products OM-184 693C ARC Rays can burn eyes and skin, Flying Metal can injure eyes

ARC RAYS can burn eyes and skin.

Arc rays from the welding process produce intense visible and invisible (ultraviolet and infrared) rays that can burn eyes and skin. Sparks fly off from the weld.

￿Wear a welding helmet fitted with a proper shade of filter to protect your face and eyes when welding or watching (see ANSI Z49.1 and Z87.1 listed in Safety Standards).

￿Wear approved safety glasses with side shields under your helmet.

￿Use protective screens or barriers to protect others from flash and glare; warn others not to watch the arc.

￿Wear protective clothing made from durable, flame-resistant material (leather and wool) and foot protection.

WELDING can cause fire or explosion.

Welding on closed containers, such as tanks, drums, or pipes, can cause them to blow up. Sparks can fly off from the welding arc. The flying sparks, hot workpiece, and hot equipment can cause fires

and burns. Accidental contact of electrode to metal objects can cause sparks, explosion, overheating, or fire. Check and be sure the area is safe before doing any welding.

￿Protect yourself and others from flying sparks and hot metal.

￿Do not weld where flying sparks can strike flammable material.

￿Remove all flammables within 35 ft (10.7 m) of the welding arc. If this is not possible, tightly cover them with approved covers.

￿Be alert that welding sparks and hot materials from welding can easily go through small cracks and openings to adjacent areas.

￿Watch for fire, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

￿Be aware that welding on a ceiling, floor, bulkhead, or partition can cause fire on the hidden side.

￿Do not weld on closed containers such as tanks, drums, or pipes, unless they are properly prepared according to AWS F4.1 (see Safety Standards).

￿Connect work cable to the work as close to the welding area as practical to prevent welding current from traveling long, possibly unknown paths and causing electric shock and fire hazards.

￿Do not use welder to thaw frozen pipes.

￿Remove stick electrode from holder or cut off welding wire at contact tip when not in use.

￿Wear oil-free protective garments such as leather gloves, heavy shirt, cuffless trousers, high shoes, and a cap.

￿Remove any combustibles, such as a butane lighter or matches, from your person before doing any welding.

FLYING METAL can injure eyes.

￿Welding, chipping, wire brushing, and grinding cause sparks and flying metal. As welds cool, they can throw off slag.

￿Wear approved safety glasses with side shields even under your welding helmet.

OM-184 693 Page 2

BUILDUP OF GAS can injure or kill.

￿ Shut off shielding gas supply when not in use.

￿ Always ventilate confined spaces or use approved air-supplied respirator.

HOT PARTS can cause severe burns.

￿Do not touch hot parts bare handed.

￿Allow cooling period before working on gun or

torch.

MAGNETIC FIELDS can affect pacemakers.

￿ Pacemaker wearers keep away.

￿ Wearers should consult their doctor before going near arc welding, gouging, or spot welding operations.

NOISE can damage hearing.

Noise from some processes or equipment can damage hearing.

￿Wear approved ear protection if noise level is high.

CYLINDERS can explode if damaged.

Shielding gas cylinders contain gas under high pressure. If damaged, a cylinder can explode. Since gas cylinders are normally part of the welding process, be sure to treat them carefully.

￿Protect compressed gas cylinders from excessive heat, mechanical shocks, slag, open flames, sparks, and arcs.

￿Install cylinders in an upright position by securing to a stationary support or cylinder rack to prevent falling or tipping.

￿Keep cylinders away from any welding or other electrical circuits.

￿Never drape a welding torch over a gas cylinder.

￿Never allow a welding electrode to touch any cylinder.

￿Never weld on a pressurized cylinder ± explosion will result.

￿Use only correct shielding gas cylinders, regulators, hoses, and fittings designed for the specific application; maintain them and associated parts in good condition.

￿Turn face away from valve outlet when opening cylinder valve.

￿Keep protective cap in place over valve except when cylinder is in use or connected for use.

￿Read and follow instructions on compressed gas cylinders, associated equipment, and CGA publication P-1 listed in Safety Standards.