Safety when welding is extremely important and you should never take shortcuts when your safety, or other peoples safety is concerned. We’ve put together essential welding safety tips to keep you safe and prevent visits to the emergency room.

It is claimed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that 1,000 injuries to the eye happen every day on workplaces in the US, the majority of which are experienced and novice mechanics. Good eye protection whether welding or doing any other hazardous procedure in the workshop is a must.

1. Ensure the welder is placed on a flat surface and that water, flammable materials, oil, gasoline, paper, cloth rags etc are far enough away. Never use a welder in wet conditions as this increases the chance of electric shock.

2. Ensure grounding is adequate. Use a metal on metal connection with no paint or other materials present. Wire rope, chains etc should never be used for grounding connections.

3. Chain gas cylinders securely to a cart or support. Fasten the protective cap securely before moving cylinders and only use hoses specially designed to be used for welding.

4. Clear your work area of any unneeded tools, paper etc. Organise your tools and equipment on shelves or in draws so that it is easy to find when needed. Never leave cables and hoses trailing underfoot as you could trip on them. Excess hose should be coiled when not in use to prevent tangles and kinks.

5. Check hoses for leaks or worn spots regularly and check welding equipment for loose connections. Loose connections and leaks can be easily spotted by spraying with soapy water which will bubble where gas is leaking through. Worn or leaking hoses should be replaced not temporarily patched with duck tape!

6. Use the correct tools for the job. Picking up hot metal, even when wearing heavy duty gloves is not recommended. Use pliers and also use the correct tools when sanding, chipping, brushing off the slag etc.

7. Use a pair of high impact glasses for cutting and grinding. Get into the habit of wearing them as soon as you enter the workshop and only removing them when you leave. Don’t be tempted to remove them when you aren’t doing anything hazardous or one day you will forget and that’s exactly when accidents happen.

8. Ensure proper ventilation in your work area. For a small workshop adequate ventilation can be achieved by leaving doors and windows open and running a small box fan to extract fumes from the welding.
9. Wear proper safety gear that meets the guidelines set out by the OSHA. Sparks and spatter are produced by arc welding and skin should be covered by wearing flame resistant clothing with cuffs and pockets buttoned down. Never wear tennis shoes, only use leather shoes. Other shoes can smolder and the plastic materials can melt and stick to the skin. Proper leather gloves designed specifically for welding are necessary.

10 Always wear proper eye and face protection. Permanent injury can occur to eyes and skin from repeated exposure to radiation from the arc. Wear safety glasses all the time you are in the workshop and underneath your welding helmet. Use an auto darkening helmet that complies with the American National Standards Institute standards.

With an auto darkening helmet there is no need to flip up the helmet when repositioning work material or hands and they protect the welder from both harmful UV light and sparks.

Image by PittCaleb