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Safety considerations, Electric arc welding equipment – MK Products Cobra MX Gun - ACWC User Manual

Page 5

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Cobra

®

MX Owner's Manual Page i

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 training in the use of

such equipment. Training is available

from many public and private schools or

similar facilities.
Safe practices in the installation,

operation and maintenance of this

equipment requires proper training in the

art, a careful 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 PRECAUTIONS

A. Burn Prevention

ELECTRIC ARC WELDING PRODUCES

H I G H I N T E N S I T Y H E AT A N D

ULTRAVIOLET RADIANT ENERGY

WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS AND

PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE AND

WHICH MAY DAMAGE ANY EXPOSED

SKIN AREAS.
Wear helmet with safety goggles or

glasses with side shields underneath,

appropriate filter lenses or plates

(protected 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

result in exposure to chemicals known

to the State of California to cause cancer

and birth defects or other reproductive

harm.
Adequate ventilation. Severe discomfort,

illness 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 ventilation 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 supply at source to prevent

possible accumulation 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 decomposed 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:

combustibles reached by the arc, flame,

flying sparks, hot slag, or heated

material, misuse of compressed gases

and cylinders, and short circuits.
BE AWARE THAT flying sparks or falling

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-fitting, 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 (including

building construction) are within 35

feet.
2. Appreciable combustibles are further

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,

ceilings, 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.
A n e m p t y c o n t a i n e r t h a t h e l d

combustibles, 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

washing, depending on the combustible’s

solubility), followed by purging and

inerting with nitrogen or carbon dioxide,

and using protective equipment.
Water-filling just below working level may

substitute for inerting.
A container with unknown contents

should be cleaned (see paragraph

above). Do NOT depend on sense of

smell or sight to determine if it is safe

to weld or cut.
Hollow castings or containers must be

vented before welding or cutting. They

can explode.
Explosive atmospheres. NEVER weld or

cut where the air may contain flammable

dust, gas, or liquid vapors (such as

gasoline).
D. Compressed Gas Equipment

The safe handling of compressed gas

equipment is detailed in numerous

industry publications. The following

SAFETy CONSIDERATIONS

ELECTRIC ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT

CAUTION : READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING INSTALLATION, OPERATION

OR MAINTENANCE OF THIS EQUIPMENT