CobraTig
®
150 Owner's Manual
- Page i
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 G E N E R A L P R E C A U -
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
