SAFETY INFORMATION
4
General Welding Safety
The Workshop Environment
Housekeeping is extremely important to avoid
injury from slips, trips and falls, damage to
equipment and fire. The work area should be
kept clean and tidy at all times. Combustible
materials must not be discarded or stored in the
vicinity of the welding area.
Avoid using your welder in the vicinity of:
a) other supply cables, control cables, signalling
and telephone cables; above, below and
adjacent to the welding equipment;
b) radio and television transmitters and
receivers;
c) computer and other control equipment;
d) safety critical equipment, e.g. guarding of
industrial equipment;
e) pacemakers and hearing aids etc.;
f) equipment used for calibration or
measurement;
g) other equipment in the environment. The user
shall ensure that other equipment being used
in the environment is compatible. This may
require additional protection measures;
It may be possible to avoid the above by
changing the time of day that welding or other
activities are to be carried out.
The size of the surrounding area to be
considered will depend on the structure of the
building and other activities that are taking
place. The surrounding area may extend beyond
the boundaries of the premises.
Electrical Safety
Electric Shock Can Kill.
Touching live electrical parts can
cause fatal shocks or severe
burns. The electrode and work
circuit is electrically live whenever
the output is on. The input power circuit and
machine internal circuits are also live when
power is on. In semiautomatic or automatic
wire welding, the wire, wire reel, drive roll
housing, and all metal parts touching the
welding wire are electrically live. Incorrectly
installed or improperly grounded equipment
is a hazard.
1.
Do not touch live electrical parts.
2.
Wear dry, hole-free insulating gloves and
body protection.
3.
Insulate yourself from work and ground
using dry insulating mats or covers.
4.
Disconnect input power or stop engine
before installing or servicing this equipment.
Lock input power disconnect switch open,
or remove line fuses so power cannot be
turned on accidentally.
5.
Properly install and ground this equipment
according to its Owner’s Manual and
national, state, and local codes.
6.
Turn off all equipment when not in use.
Disconnect power to equipment if it will be
left unattended or out of service.
7.
Use fully insulated electrode holders. Never
dip holder in water to cool it or lay it down
on the ground or the work surface. Do not
touch holders connected to two welding
machines at the same time or touch other
people with the holder or electrode.
8.
Do not use worn, damaged, undersized, or
poorly spliced cables.
9.
Do not wrap cables around your body.
10. Ground the workpiece to a good electrical
(earth) ground.
11. Do not touch electrode while in contact with
the work (ground) circuit.
12. Use only well-maintained equipment. Repair
or replace damaged parts at once.
13. In confined spaces or damp locations, do
not use a welder with AC output unless it is
equipped with a voltage reducer. Use
equipment with DC output.
14. Wear a safety harness to prevent falling if
working above floor level.
15. Keep all panels and covers securely in
place.