1.4 Specific Areas of Danger,
Caution or Warning
Electrical Shock
WARNING!
Electric arc welders can produce a shock that can
cause injury or death. Touching electrically live
parts can cause fatal shocks and severe burns.
While welding, all metal components connected
to the wire are electrically hot. Poor ground con-
nections are a hazard, so secure the ground lead
before welding.
- Wear dry protective apparel: coat, shirt, gloves
and insulated footwear.
- Insulate yourself from the work piece. Avoid con-
tacting the work piece or ground.
- Do not attempt to repair or maintain the welder
while the power is on.
- Inspect all cables and cords for any exposed wire
and replace immediately if found.
- Use only recommended replacement cables and cords.
- Always attach ground clamp to the work piece or
work table as close to the weld area as possible.
- Do not touch the welding wire and the ground or
grounded work piece at the same time.
- Do not use a welder to defrost frozen pipes.
Fumes and Gases
WARNING!
- Fumes emitted from the welding process displace
clean air and can result in injury or death.
- Do not breathe in fumes emitted by the welding process.
Make sure your breathing air is clean and safe.
- Work only in a well-ventilated area or use a ventila-
tion device to remove welding fumes from the envi-
ronment where you will be working.
- Do not weld on coated materials (galvanized, cad-
mium plated or metals containing zinc, mercury or
barium). They will emit harmful fumes that are dan-
gerous to breathe. If necessary use a ventilator, res-
pirator with air supply or remove the coating from
the material in the weld area.
- The fumes emitted from some metals when heated
are extremely toxic. Refer to the material safety
data sheet for the manufacturer's instructions.
- Do not weld near materials that will emit toxic
fumes when heated. Vapors from cleaners, sprays
and degreasers can be highly toxic when heated.
UV and IR Arc Rays
DANGER!
The welding arc produces ultraviolet (UV) and infra-
red (IR) rays that can cause injury to your eyes and
skin. Do not look at the welding arc without proper
eye protection.
- Always use a welding mask (helmet) that covers
your full face from the neck to top of head and to
the back of each ear.
- Ensure that mask is fitted with appropriate shade
lens as well as with safety plate.
- Cover all bare skin areas exposed to the arc with
protective clothing and footware. Flame-retardant
cloth or leather shirts, coats, pants or coveralls are
available for protection.
- Use welding protection curtains or other barriers to
protect other people from the arc rays emitted when
welding.
- Warn people in your welding area when you are
going to strike an arc so they can protect themselves.
Fire Hazards
WARNING!
Do not weld containers or pipes that contain or have
had flammable, gaseous or liquid combustibles in
them. Welding creates sparks and heat that can
ignite flammable and explosive materials.
- Do not operate any electric arc welder in areas
where flammable or explosive materials are present.
- Remove all flammable materials at least 10 m away
from the welding arc. If removal is not possible,
tightly cover them with fireproof covers.
- Take precautions to ensure that flying sparks do not
cause fire or explosion in hidden areas, cracks or
areas you cannot see.
- Keep a fire extinguisher readily accessible in case
of fire.
- Wear oil-free clothing with no pockets or cuffs that
might collect sparks (sparking debries).
- Do not carry in your pockets any combustible items
such as lighters or matches.
- Keep the earth lead connected as close as possible
to the welding place to prevent any unknown, unin-
tended paths of electrical current that might cause
electrical shock and fire hazard.
- To prevent any unintended arcs, cut wire back to
5-10 mm stick out after welding.
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