HYPERTHERM Plasma Systems
SAFETY
1-2
Eye Protection
• Wear dark safety glasses or goggles with side
shields, or a welding helmet, in accordance with
applicable national or local codes, to protect eyes
against the plasma arc’s ultraviolet and infrared rays.
Lens Shade
Arc Current
AWS (USA)
ISO-4850
Up to 100 A
No. 8
No. 11
100–200 A
No. 10
No. 11-12
200–400 A
No. 12
No. 13
Over 400 A
No. 14
No. 14
• Replace the glasses, goggles or helmet when the lens
becomes pitted or broken.
• Warn other people in the area not to look directly at
the arc unless they are wearing glasses, goggles or a
helmet.
• Prepare the cutting area in a manner that reduces the
reflection and transmission of ultraviolet light:
–
Paint walls and other surfaces with dark colors to
reduce reflection.
–
Install protective screens or curtains to reduce
ultraviolet transmission.
Skin Protection
• Wear protective clothing to protect against burns
caused by ultraviolet light, sparks and hot metal:
–
Gauntlet gloves, safety shoes and hat.
–
Flame-retardant clothing which covers all
exposed areas.
–
Cuffless trousers to prevent entry of sparks and
slag.
Toxic Fume Prevention
• Keep the cutting area well ventilated.
• Remove all chlorinated solvents from the cutting area
before cutting. Certain chlorinated solvents
decompose when exposed to ultraviolet radiation to
form phosgene gas.
• Wear proper breathing mask and use proper
ventilation when cutting galvanized metal.
• Do not cut containers with toxic materials inside.
Clean containers that have held toxic materials
thoroughly before cutting.
WARNING — Toxic Fumes
Do not cut metal or painted metals
containing zinc, lead, cadmium or beryllium
unless the operator, or anyone else subjected
to the fumes, wears respiratory equipment or
an air-supplied helmet.
5-98
Fire Prevention
• Make fire extinguishers available in the
cutting area.
• Remove all combustible materials from the immediate
cutting area to a distance of at least 35 feet (10 m).
• Quench freshly cut metal or allow metal to cool
before handling it or bringing it into contact with
combustible materials.
• Never use a plasma system to cut containers with
potentially flammable materials inside. Such
containers must be thoroughly cleaned prior to
cutting.
• Ventilate potentially flammable atmospheres before
cutting with a plasma system. When cutting with
oxygen as the plasma gas, an exhaust ventilation
system is required.
• Never operate the plasma system in an atmosphere
which contains heavy concentrations of dust,
flammable gas or combustible liquid vapors unless
properly vented.
Electric Shock Prevention
All Hypertherm plasma systems use high
voltage (up to 300 VDC) to initiate the plasma
arc. Take the following precautions when
operating the plasma system:
• Wear insulated gloves and boots, and keep body and
clothing dry.
• Do not stand, sit or lie on—or touch—any wet surface
when using the plasma system.
• Maintain proper insulation against electrical shock. If
you must work in or near a damp area, use extreme
caution.
• Provide a wall-mounted disconnect switch with
properly sized fuses close to the power supply. This
switch allows the operator to turn the power supply off
quickly in an emergency situation.
• Conform to all local electrical codes for primary wiring
sizes and types.
• Inspect the primary power cord frequently for damage
or cracking of the cover. Bare wiring can kill. Do not
use a system with a damaged power cord. Replace a
damaged power cord immediately.
• Inspect the torch leads. Replace if frayed or
damaged.
• Do not pick up the workpiece, including the waste
cutoff, while you cut. Leave the workpiece in place or
on the workbench with the work cable attached during
the cutting process.
