5 Basic tips for safe welding:
Anyone who carries out welding work professionally has usually completed several courses and taken the relevant exams. 5 Basic tips for safe welding. As evidence of existing knowledge and skills, the welding tests must also be repeated at regular intervals.
But many people also regularly use welding machines in their private lives. Welding machines for household use are available in every major hardware store and can be used to carry out smaller welding jobs without any problems.
But regardless of whether welding is done professionally or as a hobby, the dangers and risks must under no circumstances be underestimated. Welding involves working at high temperatures and sometimes dangerous fumes and gases develop. A small moment of carelessness can be enough to cause serious damage. Click here for Safe Welding course
Tip 1: Proper protective equipment is mandatory!
When welding, there is no way around personal protective equipment. The protective equipment ensures, among other things, that UV and infrared radiation do not cause skin damage, burns or damage to the eyes. Components of protective armor
- Work clothing that is flame-retardant,
- A leather apron,
- Gloves approved for welding,
- Safety shoes that close tightly and prevent embers or hot slag from penetrating the skin, and
- A welding helmet with a protective filter and automatic darkening, but at least a welding umbrella or welding goggles.
Depending on the welding work, the process used and the body position, hearing protection and headgear are also part of the welder’s personal protective equipment.
For some hobby welders, this may seem a little excessive, especially if you are just welding a small seam. However, the welder should not risk his health carelessly! Flashed eyes or burned skin will keep the welder busy for much longer than it would have taken to put on proper protective gear.
Tip 2: Check the welding machine and the electrics
Electricity, even at low levels, can pose a real danger to humans. Before working with a welding machine, both the welding machine itself and the electrical system must be checked. This includes a visual inspection of the electrical cables, the electrode holder, the ground cable and the ground terminal. It goes without saying that a welding machine may only be used for the purposes for which it is intended and approved.
Particular caution is required when working while kneeling, lying down, overhead or in other forced positions. The same applies if the distance to electrically conductive parts is less than two meters. The risk of accidental contact is particularly high here. If the workplace is very warm or humid, only a welding machine that is suitable for areas with increased electrical hazards may be used. Such a welding machine is marked with an S in a square.
Older welding machines instead have a K in a square or the designation 42V in a circle as the corresponding marking. Since moisture and sweat massively reduce the electrical resistance of the skin, work clothing and protective equipment, the welder must also use a non-conductive base.
It is important that the ground points are firmly connected to the workpiece and are located as close as possible to the welding point. The welding machine must be connected to a circuit that is equipped with a residual current circuit breaker. The trigger current should be a maximum of 0.03 mA.
Tip 3: Take fire protection measures:
Great heat develops during the welding process. In addition, flying sparks and weld spatter can always occur. All materials that are highly flammable must therefore be removed from the danger area. The same applies to flammable liquids.
At the same time, a fire extinguisher or other suitable extinguishing agent should always be available to hand. Welding work on components such as fuel tanks is absolutely taboo for inexperienced hobby welders!
Tip 4: Ensure good ventilation:
During welding, various fumes, fumes, gases and fine dust are developed. Even with a stick electrode, for example, the burning of the coating releases harmful chromates, while welding of alloyed or coated steels sometimes produces carcinogenic substances.
In order to protect themselves, the welder should definitely ensure good ventilation. One possibility here is suction devices, which can be implemented as permanently installed or mobile devices.
Another option is welding helmets that are equipped with a corresponding filter. Of course, the welder should not only think about his own protection, but also about the protection of other people. Information signs, partition walls or suitable curtains are a mobile and quick solution for this.
Tip 5: It doesn’t work without specialist knowledge:
Of course, no one is born an experienced welder and of course the more often the actions and processes are done, the better they work. Nevertheless, it makes little sense to start welding at random. Without certain prior knowledge, for example with regard to the selection of the welding process, the necessary settings or the required welding additives, the work will not be successful.
Instead of clean connections, the welder will produce holes. The welder should therefore inform himself in advance. If he doesn’t want to take a welding course straight away, he can inquire at the local hardware store. Short workshops are sometimes offered here that provide practical, basic knowledge.
When it comes to welding work, a distinction is made between the regulated and unregulated areas for employees. In order to be able to carry out welding work in the regulated area, the welder must meet certain requirements and have passed certain tests. When working in non-regulated areas, no special welding qualifications are required. But here, too, the welder must have acquired the necessary expertise in a course and must have received instruction from the employer. for more blogs https://www.slangfeed.com/
