Handbook-Safety Practices

DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR HAZARDS AND PRECAUTIONS

FUMES and GASES can harm your health. Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe fumes and gases caused by the flame. Use proper ventilation. The type and the amount of fumes and gases depend on the type of materials, equipment and supplies used. Air samples can be used to find out what respiratory protection is needed. 1. Provide enough ventilation wherever gas welding, cutting, and heating operations are performed. Proper ventilation will protect the operator from the evolving noxious fumes and gases. The degree and type of ventilation needed will depend on the specific operation. It varies with the size of work area, on the number of operators, and on the types of materials used. Potentially hazardous materials may exist in certain fluxes, coatings, and filler metals. They can be released into the atmosphere during heating, such as for welding and cutting. In some cases, general natural-draft ventilation may be adequate. Other operations may require forced-draft ventilation, local exhaust hoods, booths, personal filter respirators or air-supplied masks. Operations inside tanks, boilers, or other confined spaces require special procedures, such as the use of an air supplied hood or hose mask. DO NOT BREATHE FUMES AND GASES CAUSED BY THE FLAME. KEEP YOUR HEAD OUT OF FUMES. USE PROPER VENTILATION