Miller Electric Digi-Meter RMS (AC-DC) owner manual ARC Welding Safety Precautions

ARC WELDING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING

ARC WELDING can be hazardous.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. KEEP CHILDREN AWAY. PACEMAKER WEARERS KEEP AWAY UNTIL CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR.

In welding, as in most jobs, exposure to certain hazards occurs. Welding is safe when precautions are taken. The safety information given below is only a summary of the more complete safety information that will be found in the Safety Standards listed on the next page. Read and follow all Safety Standards.

HAVE ALL INSTALLATION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ONLY BY QUALIFIED PEOPLE.

ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill.

Touching live electrical parts can cause fatal shocks or severe burns. The electrode and work circuit is electrically live whenever the output is on. The input power circuit and machine internal circuits are also live when power is on. In semiautomatic or automatic wire welding, the wire, wire reel, drive roll housing, and all metal parts touching the welding wire are electrically live. Incorrectly installed or improperly grounded equipment is a hazard.

1.Do not touch live electrical parts.

2.Wear dry, hole-free insulating gloves and body protection.

3.Insulate yourself from work and ground using dry insulating mats or covers big enough to prevent any physical contact with the work or ground.

4.Disconnect input power or stop engine before installing or servicing this equipment. Lockout/tagout input power according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 (see Safety Standards).

5.Properly install and ground this equipment according to its Owner’s Manual and national, state, and local codes.

6.Always verify the supply ground – check and be sure that input power cord ground wire is properly connected to ground terminal

in disconnect box or that cord plug is connected to a properly grounded receptacle outlet.

7.When making input connections, attach proper grounding conductor first – double-check connections.

8.Frequently inspect input power cord for damage or bare wiring – replace cord immediately if damaged – bare wiring can kill.

9.Turn off all equipment when not in use.

10.Do not use worn, damaged, undersized, or poorly spliced cables.

11.Do not drape cables over your body.

12.If earth grounding of the workpiece is required, ground it directly with a separate cable – do not use work clamp or work cable.

13.Do not touch electrode if you are in contact with the work, ground, or another electrode from a different machine.

14.Use only well-maintained equipment. Repair or replace damaged parts at once. Maintain unit according to manual.

15.Wear a safety harness if working above floor level.

16.Keep all panels and covers securely in place.

17.Clamp work cable with good metal-to-metal contact to workpiece or worktable as near the weld as practical.

ARC RAYS can burn eyes and skin; NOISE can damage hearing; FLYING SLAG OR SPARKS can injure eyes.

Arc rays from the welding process produce intense visible and invisible (ultraviolet and infrared) rays that can burn eyes and skin. Noise from some processes can damage hearing. Chipping, grinding, and welds cooling throw off pieces of metal or slag.

NOISE

1. Use approved ear plugs or ear muffs if noise level is high.

ARC RAYS

2.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).

3.Wear approved safety glasses with side shields.

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

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

		FUMES AND GASES can be hazardous	5.	Work in a confined space only if it is well ventilated, or while
		to your health.		wearing an air-supplied respirator. Always have a trained
		Welding produces fumes and gases. Breathing these		watchperson nearby. Welding fumes and gases can displace air
				and lower the oxygen level causing injury or death. Be sure the
		fumes and gases can be hazardous to your health.
				breathing air is safe.
			6.	Do not weld in locations near degreasing, cleaning, or spraying
1.	Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe the fumes.
				operations. The heat and rays of the arc can react with vapors to
2.	If inside, ventilate the area and/or use exhaust at the arc to			form highly toxic and irritating gases.
	remove welding fumes and gases.		7.	Do not weld on coated metals, such as galvanized, lead, or
3.	If ventilation is poor, use an approved air-supplied respirator.			cadmium plated steel, unless the coating is removed from the
4.	Read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and the			weld area, the area is well ventilated, and if necessary, while
	manufacturer’s instruction for metals, consumables, coatings,			wearing an air-supplied respirator. The coatings and any metals
	cleaners, and degreasers.			containing these elements can give off toxic fumes if welded.
		CYLINDERS can explode if damaged.	4.	Never drape a welding torch over a gas cylinder.
		Shielding gas cylinders contain gas under high	5.	Never allow a welding electrode to touch any cylinder.
		pressure. If damaged, a cylinder can explode. Since	6.	Never weld on a pressurized cylinder – explosion will result.
		gas cylinders are normally part of the welding	7.	Use only correct shielding gas cylinders, regulators, hoses, and
		process, be sure to treat them carefully.		fittings designed for the specific application; maintain them and
				associated parts in good condition.
1.	Protect compressed gas cylinders from excessive heat,		8.	Turn face away from valve outlet when opening cylinder valve.
			9.	Keep protective cap in place over valve except when cylinder is
	mechanical shocks, slag, open flames, sparks, and arcs.			in use or connected for use.
2.	Install cylinders in an upright position by securing to a stationary		10.	Read and follow instructions on compressed gas cylinders,
	support or cylinder rack to prevent falling or tipping.			associated equipment, and CGA publication P-1 listed in Safety
3.	Keep cylinders away from any welding or other electrical circuits.			Standards.

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