Most people who spend time in their garage know that to come up with high-quality welding customization, you need to start with personal safety. A glob of red hot metal or spark can significantly ruin your day and also your project. In severe cases, you might end up spending time and money in the emergency room.
Becoming a victim of a welding accident is easy, especially when working without protection. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 1000 eye injuries take place in workplaces in the United States. Mechanics sustain most eye injuries regardless of their experience.
Eye protection is vital for anyone working with metal, and this is just the beginning. Injuries often happen because of a lack of proper working gear. It is essential to learn about safety from an informative welding blog before you begin your project. You will get detailed information about the suitable equipment that can keep you safe while working and also tips on welding. In this article, we highlight suggestions on improving safety when welding at home.
IMAGE: PEXELS
Get The Proper Gear
Short-sleeved shirts and shorts do not belong in the welding environment. Most people are lazy to get safety gear like gloves, clothing, and helmets with the excuse that they are completing a quick welding task. It is essential to wear anti-flame clothing like a welding jacket or a shirt made of tightly-woven material. Long are the days when welding jackets were heavy, cumbersome, and hot.
Today, manufacturers are producing lightweight clothing made from flame-resistant pigskin leather, cloth, and combinations of the two. The clothing eases movement and offers protection to the welder. Gloves have also advanced from one-size-fits-all type. They come with ergonomically curved fingers and designs to fit different welding processes.
Leather boots or industrial shoes are the best since they offer foot protection. Putting on cloth or tennis shoes is risky since they can smolder or create a burning sensation during welding.
Ensure That There Is Sufficient Ventilation
Welding fumes and smoke are hazardous. Ensure there is adequate ventilation if you are welding in a confined space. Open all doors and windows and, if possible, run a box fan to suck the fumes away from your workspace. You can also use an exhaust hood to remove the smoke from the area, leaving you with clean breathing air.
Avoid Direct Light
Direct exposure to a welding arc’s rays causes arc flash, a condition that is painful and takes time to recover. Fit your welding helmet with a filter shade that can protect your eyes and face from hot sparks when welding. Wear your approved ear protection and glasses with side shields under the helmet. If there are other activities around your working space, install screens to protect others from the arc.
Make Safe Welds
Your aim should be to come up with a high-quality weld that is structurally sound. However, failing to grind out cracks or using an insufficient current can leave you with a weld that fails under the demanding conditions on the road even if it appears safe. When a crack forms on metal, the operator is likely to weld over it and forget that it has gone way past where he can see.
Such an approach creates an unsafe situation since only a small amount of weld material is expected to hold the same amount of force and weight that caused the crack in the thick piece of metal. You can avoid this hazardous situation by grinding out the crack from all sides of the metal to ensure that the crack does not reform and continue to spread.
To create sound welds, you also need to make multiple passes. May welders make the mistake of going too slowly, thinking the new metal they are depositing can cause stronger welds. Avoid this error by welding at the recommended pace. You can then go back and make several passes.
Safety is an essential aspect of welding. Whether it is a small weld or a significant project, make sure you wear the right safety gear to avoid spending time and money in the hospital. The right gear can also make it easier for you to come up with a high-quality weld within a short time.
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