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Safety considerations, Electric arc welding equipment – MK Products CobraTig 150 XM User Manual

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SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

ELECTRIC ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT

CAUTION : READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING INSTALLATION, OPERATION

OR MAINTENANCE OF THIS EQUIPMENT

1-1 INTRODUCTION

This equipment is intended for ultimate

application by commercial/industrial users

and for operation by persons trained and

experienced in the use and maintenance

of welding equipment. Operation should

not be undertaken without adequate train-

ing in the use of such equipment. Training

is available from many public and private

schools or similar facilities.
Safe practices in the installation, opera-

tion and maintenance of this equipment

requires proper training in the art, a care-

ful study of the information provided with

the equipment, and the use of common

sense. Rules for safe use are generally

provided by suppliers of welding power

sources, compressed gas suppliers, and

electrode suppliers. Careful compliance

with these rules will promote safe use of

this equipment.
The following Safety Rules cover some

of the more generally found situations.

READ THEM CAREFULLY. In case of

any doubt, obtain qualified help before

proceeding.

1-2 GENERAL PRECAU-

TIONS

A. Burn Prevention

ELECTRIC ARC WELDING PRODUCES

HIGH INTENSITY HEAT AND ULTRAVI-

OLET RADIANT ENERGY WHICH MAY

CAUSE SERIOUS AND PERMANENT

EYE DAMAGE AND WHICH MAY DAM-

AGE ANY EXPOSED SKIN AREAS.
Wear helmet with safety goggles or

glasses with side shields underneath,

appropriate filter lenses or plates (pro-

tected by clear cover glass). This is a

must for welding or cutting (and chipping)

to protect the eyes from radiant energy

and flying metal. Replace cover glass

when broken, pitted, or spattered.
Medical first aid and eye treatment.

First aid facilities and a qualified first aid

person should be available for each shift

unless medical facilities are close by for

immediate treatment of flash burns of the

eyes and skin burns.
Wear protective clothing - leather (or

asbestos) gauntlet gloves, hat, and high

safety-toe shoes. Button shirt collar and

pocket flaps, and wear cuffless trousers

to avoid entry of sparks and slag.
Avoid oily or greasy clothing. A spark

may ignite them.
Flammable hair preparations should not

be used by persons intending to weld

or cut.

Hot metal such as electrode stubs and

work pieces should never be handled

without gloves.
Ear plugs should be worn when working

on overhead or in a confined space. A

hard hat should be worn when others work

overhead.

B. Toxic Fume Prevention

WARNING: The use of this product may re-

sult in exposure to chemicals known to the

State of California to cause cancer and birth

defects or other reproductive harm.
Adequate ventilation. Severe discomfort, ill-

ness or death can result from fumes, vapors,

heat, or oxygen enrichment or depletion that

welding (or cutting) may produce. Prevent

them with adequate ventilation. NEVER

ventilate with oxygen.
Lead-, cadmium-, zinc-, mercury-, beryllium-

bearing and similar materials, when welded

or cut, may produce harmful concentrations

of toxic fumes. Adequate local exhaust ven-

tilation must be used, or each person in the

area, as well as the operator, must wear an

air-supplied respirator. For beryllium, both

must be used.
Metals coated with or containing materials

that emit toxic fumes should not be heated

unless coating is removed form the work

surface, the area is well ventilated, or the

operator wears an air-supplied respirator.
Work in a confined space only while it is

being ventilated and, if necessary, while

wearing an air-supplied respirator.
Gas leaks in a confined space should be

avoided. Leaked gas in large quantities can

change oxygen concentration dangerously.

Do not bring gas cylinders into a confined

space.
Leaving confined space, shut OFF gas sup-

ply at source to prevent possible accumula-

tion of gases in the space if downstream

valves have been accidentally opened or

left open. Check to be sure that the space

is safe before reentering it.
Vapors from chlorinated solvents can be de-

composed by the heat of the arc (or flame)

to form PHOSGENE, a highly toxic gas,

and other lung and eye irritating products.

The ultraviolet (radiant) energy of the arc

can also decompose trichloroethylene and

perchloroethylene vapors to form phosgene.

DO NOT WELD or cut where solvent vapors

can be drawn into the welding or cutting

atmosphere or where the radiant energy

can penetrate to atmospheres containing

even minute amounts of trichloroethylene

or perchloroethylene.

C. Fire and Explosion Prevention

Causes of fire and explosion are: combus-

tibles reached by the arc, flame, flying

sparks, hot slag, or heated material, mis-

use of compressed gases and cylinders,

and short circuits.
BE AWARE THAT flying sparks or fall-

ing slag can pass through cracks, along

pipes, through windows or doors, and

through wall or floor openings, out of

sight of the goggled operator. Sparks

can fly many feet.
To prevent fires and explosion:
Keep equipment clean and operable, free

of oil, grease, and (in electrical parts) of

metallic particles that can cause short

circuits.
If combustibles are in area, do NOT weld

or cut. Move the work if practicable, to

an area free of combustibles. Avoid paint

spray rooms, dip tanks, storage areas,

ventilators. If the work cannot be moved,

move combustibles at least 35 feet away,

out of reach of sparks and heat; or protect

against ignition with suitable and snug-fit-

ting, fire-resistant covers or shields.
Walls touching combustibles on opposite

sides should not be welded on (or cut).

Walls, ceilings, and floor near work

should be protected by heat-resistant

covers or shields.
Fire watcher must be standing by with

suitable fire extinguishing equipment

during and for some time after welding

or cutting if:
1. Appreciable combustibles (includ-

ing building construction) are within

35 feet.
2. Appreciable combustibles are fur-

ther than 35 feet, but can be ignited by

sparks.
3. Openings (concealed or visible) in

floors or walls within 35 feet may expose

combustibles to sparks.
4. Combustibles adjacent to walls, ceil-

ings, roofs, or metal partitions can be

ignited by radiant or conducted heat.
Hot work permit should be obtained

before operation to ensure supervisor’s

approval that adequate precautions have

been taken.
After work is done, check that area is free

of sparks, glowing embers, and flames.
An empty container that held combus-

tibles, or that can produce flammable or

toxic vapors when heated, must never

be welded on or cut, unless container

has first been cleaned in accordance with

industry standards.
This includes: a thorough steam or

caustic cleaning (or a solvent of water

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