1
Precautions
and Safe Practices
FUMES
and GASES can harm your health.
Keep
your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe fumes and gases caused by the arc.
Use enough
ventilation.
The type and the amount of fumes and gases depend on the equipment and supplies
used.
Air samples can be used to find out what respiratory protection is needed.
Provide enough ventilation
wherever welding and cutting are performed. Proper ventilation will protect
the
operator from the evolving
noxious fumes and gases. The degree and type of ventilation will depend on the
specific welding and cutting
operation. It varies depending on: the size of the work area; the number of
oper-
ators; and the types of
materials to be welded or cut. Potentially hazardous materials may exist in
certain
fluxes, coatings, and
filler metals. They can be released into the atmosphere during welding and cutting.
In
some cases, general natural-draft
ventilation may be adequate. Other operations may require forced-draft
ventilation, local exhaust
hoods or booths, or personal filter respirators or air supplied masks. Welding
inside
tanks, boilers or other
confined spaces requires special procedures, such as the use of an air supplied
hose
or hood mask.
Check the welding atmosphere
and ventilation system if workers develop unusual symptoms or
complaints. Measurements
may be needed to determine whether adequate ventilation is being provided. A
qualified person, such
as an industrial hygienist, should survey the welding operations and environment.
Follow their recommendations
for improving the ventilation of the work area.
Do not weld on dirty plate
or plate contaminated with unknown material. The fumes and gases which are
formed could be hazardous
to your health. Remove all paint and galvanized coatings before welding. All
fumes and gases should
be considered potentially hazardous.
More complete information
on health protection and ventilation recommendations for general welding and
cutting
can be found in the American National Standard Z49.1, ”Safety in Welding
and Cutting.”
