helmet and replace any cracked or
broken filter lenses IMMEDIATELY.
•
To prevent an arc flash from being
created on contact do not allow the unin-
sulated portion of the wire feed
gun to touch the ground clamp or
grounded work.
•
Provide bystanders with shields or
helmets fitted with a #10 shade filter lens.
•
Wear protective clothing. The intense
light of the welding arc can burn the skin
in much the same way as the sun, even
through light-weight clothing. Wear dark
clothing of heavy material. The shirt worn
should be long sleeved and the collar
kept buttoned to protect chest and neck.
•
Protect against REFLECTED ARC RAYS.
Arc rays can be reflected off shiny surfaces
such as a glossy painted surface,
aluminum, stainless steel, and glass. It is
possible for your eyes to be injured by
reflected arc rays even when wearing a
protective helmet or shield. If welding with a
reflective surface behind you, arc rays can
bounce off the surface, then off the filter
lens on the inside of your helmet or shield,
then into your eyes. If a reflective
background exists in your welding area,
either remove it or cover it with something
non-flammable and non-reflective.
Reflective arc rays can also cause skin
burn in addition to eye injury.
FIRE HAZARDS
WARNING
FIRE OR EXPLOSION CAN CAUSE
DEATH, INJURY, AND PROPERTY DAM-
AGE! To reduce the risk of death, injury, or
property damage from fire or explosion, read,
understand, and follow the following safety
instructions. In addition, make certain that
anyone else that uses this welding equip-
ment, or is a bystander in the welding area,
understands and follows these safety
instructions as well. REMEMBER!
Arc welding by nature produces sparks, hot
spatter, molten metal drops, hot slag, and hot
metal parts that can start fires, burn skin, and
damage eyes.
•
Do not wear gloves or other clothing that
contains oil, grease, or other
flammable substances.
•
Do not wear flammable hair
preparations.
•
Do not touch the hot weld bead or weld
puddle until fully cooled.
•
Do not weld in an area until it is checked
and cleared of combustible and/or
flammable materials. BE AWARE that
sparks and slag can fly 35 feet and can
pass through small cracks and openings.
If work and combustibles cannot be
separated by a minimum of 35 feet,
protect against ignition with suitable,
snug-fitting, fire resistant, covers or
shields.
•
Do not weld on walls until checking for
and removing combustibles touching the
other side of the walls.
•
Do not weld, cut, or perform other such
work on used barrels, drums, tanks, or
other containers that had contained a
flammable or toxic substance. The
techniques for removing flammable sub-
stance and vapors, to make a used
container safe for welding or cutting, are
quite complex and require special
education and training.
•
Do not strike an arc on a compressed
gas or air cylinder or other pressure
vessel. Doing so will create a brittle area
that can result in a violent rupture
immediately or at a later time as a result
of rough handling.
•
Do not weld or cut in an area where the
air may contain flammable dust (such as
grain dust), gas, or liquid vapors (such as
gasoline).
•
Do not handle hot metal, such as the work
piece or electrode stubs, with bare hands.
•
Wear leather gloves, heavy long sleeve
shirt, cuffless trousers, high-topped
shoes, helmet, and cap. As necessary,
use additional protective clothing such as
leather jacket or sleeves, fire resistant
leggings, or apron. Hot sparks or metal
can lodge in rolled up sleeves, trouser
cuffs, or pockets. Sleeves and collars
should be kept buttoned and pockets
eliminated from the shirt front.
•
Have fire extinguisher equipment handy
for immediate use! A portable chemical
fire extinguisher, type ABC, is
5