FUMES AND GASES can be hazardous to your health.
Cutting produces fumes and gases. Breathing these fumes and gases can be hazardous to your health.
1.Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe the fumes.
2.If inside, ventilate the area and/or use exhaust at the arc to remove cutting fumes and gases.
3.If ventilation is poor, use an approved
4.Read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and the manufacturer’s instruction for metals to be cut, coatings, and cleaners.
5.Work in a confined space only if it is well ventilated, or while wearing an
6.Do not cut in locations near degreasing, cleaning, or spraying operations. The heat and rays of the arc can react with vapors to form highly toxic and irritating gases.
7.Do not cut on coated metals, such as galvanized, lead, or cadmium plated steel, unless the coating is removed from the cutting area, the area is well ventilated, and if necessary, while wearing an
8.Do not cut containers with toxic or reactive materials inside or containers that have held toxic or reactive materials – they must be emptied and properly cleaned first.
PLASMA ARC can cause injury.
The heat from the plasma arc can cause serious burns. The force of the arc adds greatly to the burn hazard. The intensely hot and powerful arc can quickly cut through gloves and tissue.
1.Keep away from the torch tip.
2.Do not grip material near the cutting path.
3.The pilot arc can cause burns – keep away from torch tip when trigger is pressed.
4.Wear proper
5.Point torch away from your body and toward work when pressing the torch trigger – pilot arc comes on immediately.
6.Turn off power source and disconnect input power before disassembling torch or changing torch parts.
7.Use only torch(es) specified in the Owner’s Manual.
FLYING SPARKS AND HOT METAL can cause injury.
Chipping and grinding cause flying metal. As welds cool, they can throw off slag.
1.Wear approved face shield or safety goggles with side shields.
2.Wear proper body protection to protect skin.
3.Wear
CYLINDERS can explode if damaged.
Gas cylinders contain gas under high pressure. If damaged, a cylinder can explode. Since gas cylinders are normally part of metalworking processes, be sure to treat them carefully.
1.Protect compressed gas cylinders from excessive heat, mechanical shocks, slag, open flame, sparks, and arcs.
2.Install and secure cylinders in an upright position by chaining them to a stationary support or equipment cylinder rack to prevent falling or tipping.
3.Keep cylinders away from any cutting or other electrical circuits.
4.Never allow electrical contact between a plasma arc torch and a cylinder.
5.Never cut on a pressurized cylinder – explosion will result.
6.Use only correct gas cylinders, regulators, hoses, and fittings designed for the specific application; maintain them and associated parts in good condition.
7.Turn face away from valve outlet when opening cylinder valve.
8.Keep protective cap in place over valve except when cylinder is in use or connected for use.
9.Read and follow instructions on compressed gas cylinders, associated equipment, and CGA publication
PRINCIPAL SAFETY STANDARDS
Safety in Welding and Cutting, ANSI Standard Z49.1, from American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Rd, Miami FL 33126
Safety and Health Standards, OSHA 29 CFR 1910, from Superinten- dent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
Recommended Practices for Plasma Arc Cutting, American Welding
Society Standard AWS C5.2, from American Welding Society, 550 N.W.
LeJeune Rd, Miami, FL 33126
Recommended Safe Practices for the Preparation for Welding and Cut-
ting of Containers That Have Held Hazardous Substances, American
Welding Society Standard AWS F4.1, from American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Rd, Miami, FL 33126
National Electrical Code, NFPA Standard 70, from National Fire Protec- tion Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269.
Safe Handling of Compressed Gases in Cylinders, CGA Pamphlet
Code for Safety in Welding and Cutting, CSA Standard W117.2, from Canadian Standards Association, Standards Sales, 178 Rexdale Bou- levard, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada M9W 1R3.
Safe Practices For Occupation And Educational Eye And Face Protec- tion, ANSI Standard Z87.1, from American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.
Cutting And Welding Processes, NFPA Standard 51B, from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269.
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